Bryan Pair began building boats in 2015. He got his start under the company name Sea Oxe but recently rebranded with a name that hit a little closer to home: Pair Marine.
With a southern drawl and a heavy amount of humility, Pair speaks with pride about how he “started small” and was able to grow his business to a team of 12 and an order book that is growing exponentially each year.
“We built 50 boats last year,” says Pair. “Before that we were only doin around 27.”
The two boats in Pair’s stable included a 21 and 24 center console that could be considered—excuse the pun—paired down, yet also strong and affordable, ideally suited to chase the inshore bite.
As the demand of his client base grew, aspirations wandered out to the Gulf Stream, and Pair created the 24 Center Console Deep Vee, a model with a 22-degree deadrise that would be better suited for offshore conditions.
“Our substructure is robust; our weight is about 1,000 pounds heavier than the competition,” says Pair. The 24 displaces 4,300 pounds. “I’d rather it be a bit too heavy than too light. I don’t want any rattling or shaking.”
Besides the focus he puts on his boat’s internal grid system of 2-inch stringers, another point of pride on his boats are the fuel tanks. “I spend extra money on my fuel tanks through Best Fabrication; they’re the same company Viking uses.”
When it comes to his boat’s internal integrity, Pair is uncompromising, but he still allows for customer input. “The way I build boats is kind of a la cart. I can build to however simple or complicated someone wants it.”
“What’s it like to be a relative newcomer in one of the most crowded parts of the market?” I ask.
Simplicity can certainly be attractive, but so is the pricing Pair is offering. With a standard 250-hp Suzuki, the 24 Deep Vee can roll out the door and into your driveway for just $70,000. The boat is rated for 400-hp for those with larger wallets and a need for speed.
Hull number one of the Deep Vee had its first sea trial on February 23rd, and by the end of March he sold five of them; it seems word of this humble North Carolina builder and his boats is starting to get out.
Price: $70,000 w/ 250-hp Suzuki
