Honoring the Legacy of Scott Henley: The Life and Lasting Impact of a Boatbuilding Legend

STUART, FL — The marine industry lost one of its most respected craftsmen in July 2025 with the passing of Scott Henley — a man whose passion, precision, and pursuit of perfection left an unmistakable mark on the world of custom and production boatbuilding. From his earliest days shaping hulls in South Florida to founding and refining some of the most respected center-console brands on the water, Scott’s name became synonymous with integrity, innovation, and timeless design.

A True South Florida Boatbuilder

Scott’s journey began in the heart of Florida’s marine corridor, surrounded by the hum of outboards, the smell of resin, and a culture deeply tied to the sea. He started his career in the 1980s, learning every aspect of the trade — from lamination and tooling to rigging and sea trials. Those early years shaped his philosophy that a great boat begins long before it hits the water — it starts with discipline, hands-on craftsmanship, and an understanding of how every detail impacts performance offshore.

In the decades that followed, Scott became a driving force in the rise of the modern offshore center-console. He played a pivotal role in Venture Boatworks, where his ability to balance speed, fishability, and seakeeping earned Venture a reputation as one of the finest rides in its class. His vision and standards became benchmarks that other builders sought to emulate.

The Bahama Era: Craftsmanship Elevated

After leaving Venture, Scott went on to found Bahama Boatworks, a brand that distilled his lifetime of experience into a line of boats that truly represented the best of everything he’d learned. Every Bahama hull was designed with the offshore angler and family cruiser in mind — built to handle the roughest crossings with confidence and grace.

Owners of Bahama boats often say they can “feel” Scott’s touch in every corner of their vessels — the way a hatch closes, the symmetry of a console, the weight balance at speed. He was known to personally inspect each hull before it left the shop, ensuring it met his unrelenting standards. He didn’t just build boats; he built legacies that families passed down through generations.

A Collaboration with Twin Vee and the Final Hulls

In May 2025, Twin Vee PowerCats of Fort Pierce, Florida, acquired Bahama Boatworks and began working directly with Scott to bring his traditional craftsmanship into a modernized production process. It was a partnership rooted in respect — Twin Vee sought not to change Bahama’s DNA, but to help scale it while preserving the artistry and quality that made it legendary.

Before his tragic passing, Scott and the Twin Vee engineering team were collaborating on several refinements to the Bahama line, focusing on advanced resin-infusion techniques, updated rigging systems, and an optimized build workflow to reduce delivery times without compromising structural integrity.

To honor his life’s work, Twin Vee will complete and deliver Scott’s final five hulls — one Bahama 37 and four Bahama 41s — as “Henley Signature Editions.” Each will bear a commemorative plate and build record acknowledging Scott’s direct involvement and the legacy of craftsmanship he leaves behind. Owners of these rare vessels will not just receive boats — they’ll take delivery of pieces of history.

The Man Behind the Boats

While his technical mastery defined his career, those closest to Scott remember him as humble, generous, and quietly proud of the community he helped build. He mentored countless young craftsmen, many of whom have gone on to lead production teams at major marine manufacturers across Florida. His workshop was as much a classroom as it was a factory floor — filled with lessons about precision, pride, and doing things “the right way, not the easy way.”

Scott’s impact extended far beyond the shop. He was a devoted husband, father, and friend — the kind of man who treated every customer like family and every project like it carried his name on the transom.

A Legacy That Will Never Fade

The completion of the Henley Signature Editions marks both an end and a new beginning — a bridge between Scott’s lifelong pursuit of perfection and the future of Bahama Boatworks under Twin Vee’s guidance.

Though the boating world lost a giant, his influence endures every time a Bahama, Venture, or one of the countless boats he helped shape slices cleanly through the Gulf Stream. His philosophy continues to guide the next generation of builders: build it strong, build it right, and build it as if your family’s life depends on it.

Fair winds and following seas, Scott Henley.
Your craftsmanship, humility, and legacy will forever be part of the waters you loved.