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Fishing Boat Maker Vexus Launches in Flippin

3 min read

Nearly 50 years after Forrest and Nina Wood launched Ranger Boats, the largest maker of bass boats in the U.S., the legendary builder’s grandson Keith Daffron unveiled his own startup, called Vexus, in his hometown of Flippin. 

The fishing boat manufacturer held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the company’s new north Arkansas headquarters on Dec. 1.

“Sportsmen have long relied on the talent and success of the industry professionals behind the new Vexus brand,” Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston in a news release. “We’re excited that the experts behind Vexus are making Flippin the home of their new corporate headquarters.”

Owned by Advanced Marine Performance LLC, Vexus will specialize in innovative aluminum and fiberglass designs and custom-matched trailers. The 23,000-SF production facility is designed to expand to 115,000 SF as demand grows. Right now, Vexus employs about 20 specialists focusing on research, development and product prototyping. But Daffron hopes to employ a few hundred people once the operation is at full capacity.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have a great group of industry veterans already working with us,” Daffron said. “With so many talented craftsmen and committed dealers, and even customers vying for the first completed models, it’s a humbling and exciting time.”

Vexus plans to debut its products at the Bassmaster Classic in Greenville, South Carolina, in mid-March and open the Flippin plant by May 1. According to Daffron, the boats will be sold exclusively through a global network of independent dealers.

Historically, Japan and Canada have been the group’s most successful foreign markets, while states like Florida, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin have seen strong domestic sales due to high numbers of freshwater fisheries and outdoor enthusiasts.

“We anticipate to enter the market at the upper end of the segment,” Daffron said. “We want to make sure we give people a really high quality product and better value overall with cost of ownership. There is a real sense of reward in creating something people desire to have and might have saved up their entire lives to purchase.” 

When it came to choose the headquarters location, Daffron considered his hometown’s rich history and vast boat building experience. The specialized workforce and ability to test products on the nearby White River made Flippin the natural choice. 

“This area is home to generations of skilled craftsmen that we know and trust,” he said. “We now look forward to passing down those skills and knowledge to young people in our area. It is our hope that they can learn and refine a trade in an environment where they are proud to work.”

North Arkansas has been revered in the sport of bass fishing since the 1950s and the construction of large-scale dams like Bull Shoals. Daffron’s grandparents, who operated a successful fishing guide and float expedition business, quickly became interested in creating high quality maneuverable lake boats. Over the next few decades, their company, Ranger Boats, became responsible for a number of innovation fishing boat and trailer innovations. The Wood family sold Ranger Boats in 1987; the company is now owned by Bass Pro Group LLC. The Ranger Boats plant remains the largest employer in Marion County.

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