Stephen French
Every Art & Science has its prodigies. In the world of Sport Fishing boat design, Steve French, owner of Applied Concepts Unleashed and French Yachts rightly qualifies. As a youngster in the Midwest, French fell in love with fishing and was constantly drawing pictures of boats and building boat models. After moving to Florida French started his professional marine industry career as an adolescent, riding his bicycle some 17 miles to Sanford marina where he helped repair rusty, rotten, broken boats as the yard grunt.
By age 16, French had gleaned enough knowledge that AMF Robalo hired him as a staff draftsman. By ages 17 he graduated to taking a greater share of the design work for both Robalo and Cobia where he penned lines for center consoles, cabin boats and several patrol vessels that were manufactured by the hundreds. At nineteen, Seyler Marine hired French to create the revolutionary F22 center console on the proven stepped hull. This model ultimately sold more than 200 units. French remembers that it was considered crazy to make the baitwell round! The F-22, a French design 1983, became a cult classic with owners still refurbishing them today for their great fishability.
At the tender age of 21 with hundreds of boats under his belt, French was counted as a veteran. He then directed what became the wildly successful Hydrasports 3300 Vector. “French thought differently from any other designers. But his radical ideas were spot on!” said Hydrasports president Alex Leva, flashing a broad smile at the memory. “We ended up selling several hundred of those boats” Boat builders today are still catching up with many of the fishing features of that design like the gull-wing rod lockers beside the console with washdown.
French designed production boats paying his dues on his way up the industry ladder. His final chapter in that venue took him to Pursuit Sportfishing Boats, a Florida branch of the Slickers’ family empire in 1987. Here he was in charge of Design, Tooling and Quality Control.
Joel Vega -former tooling supervisor at Pursuit Boats and currently at Meilahn Yachts -also worked with French at Garlington and elsewhere. “At Pursuit, French designed boats that sold well over a 100 hulls,” Vega says. “But his real strong point is his creativity and his feel for the people using the boats. Steve pioneered the use of composites in custom sportfish building and his CNC jig construction revolutionized our industry”.
French felt that the production builders were not serious about fishing features that worked for captain’s and mates so he set his sights on custom boats. His first significant step toward that goal came with Garlington Marine in 1988, today known as Garlington Landeweer.
At age 23, French met Richard Garlington and began designing multi-million dollar custom sportfishing yachts. Starting with the Garlington 63. French recalls “It was amazing to be collaborating ideas with Richard, John Rybovich and one of my mentors Dan McCarthy all at the same time.” In his portfolio you’ll find the Garlington 63’, 44’ as well as the 58’ that ultimately has been produced as the world acclaimed 61-footer. In total, Garlington built over 45 boats using Steve French designs. While Richard had built beautiful boats before, Garlington’s signature looks are the compound curving forms that Steve French has mastered and are so frequently copied today.
With his stature in the industry increasing, French decided, when Richard Garlington retired from his company in 1991, that it was time for the next phase… running his own design firm and even building his own boats. He incorporated his freelance company, Applied Concepts Unleashed. A company that is known today as having written the book on modern sportfish design. Shortly after incorporating, French’s family life took a catastrophic turn and French suddenly found himself a single father of three small children and the office space of Applied concepts took on a slight day-care flavor. French, a committed parent, multi-tasked and the business continued to grow along with his fishing experience on the East Coast. His sons now are all accomplished tradesman in the sport fish industry with his oldest son now directing Applied Concepts.
When the luxury tax hit in 1991 French had landed a contract to design and build his French revolutionary 46’ from the keel up. He would prove through this build that he could engineer a 46’ flybridge with fully positive flotation. Its abilities would be tested by an owner trying to collect on insurance, but when she didn’t go down the Marine Patrol made sure the scuttler did.
Over the next several years, French designed hulls, interiors, superstructures, cockpits, flybridges and consulted for such notable companies as Jim Smith, Kincheloe Nickerson, T&D, Whiticar, Monterey and America Custom Yachts increasing his notoriety with each commission.
L&H Boats founder John Meyer worked closely with French on the build of his family’s Garlington 63’. He had always been impressed with French’s work at Garlington. Meyer commissioned French to design his 33-foot walkaround, which ultimately sold 14 boats and became the standard for all modern walkarounds. “We have done so much with walkarounds since John shared his vision with me for their use, I count him as one of my fishing mentors. He taught me so much about species, trends and technique that still improve my designs today” states French. Meyer recalled, “Steve was the best at taking my thoughts and translating them to what I truly wanted to see! But he also has a real flare for contemporary lines.”
Over the next several years, Applied Concepts drew layouts for Tribute, Jim Smiths, American Custom, Whiticar and more. He was earning his stripes by proving the practicality of his creativity with the world’s best. According to John Vance, President and CEO of Jim Smith Boats, “French is a very talented guy.” Applied Concepts lead the march for 3D design and CNC jigs from 30’ to 85’throughout the nineteen nineties.
In the 2000s Applied Concepts continued building significant relationships in the Outer Banks. They created ground breaking designs with Sunny Briggs at Briggs Boatworks and nurtured one of the most successful custom design contracts in history, Paul Spencer at Spencer Yachts. Both builders are considered apex Carolina sportfish builders and Applied Concepts has worked hand in hand with both of them for over a decade.
Briggs wanted to take advantage of French’s knowledge of advanced composite technology as well as his money-and time-saving construction methods. Spencer was interested in the same with the addition of a more modern style and felt French and Applied Concepts were the best choice to take them in the right direction. Now at over a hundred boats, Applied Concepts has provided Spencer’s design and engineering services as well as CNC Jig systems and composite consulting.
Sunny Briggs started his career at eleven years old working as a mate on charter boats out of the famous Oregon Inlet. “I met Steve in the early 90s. At the time, we were lofting our jigs by hand. Steve French came through visiting builders and I asked him how we could do things better and faster? He talked about computer-cut jigs. I sent Applied Concepts drawings of Carolina-style designs that I liked and he came back with exactly what I envisioned.” says Briggs.
Sunny was the first to step into the Future world of CNC Jig systems with French in 1993. Applied Concepts has designed for Sunny Briggs since their first jig together.
“French knows so much about high performance boats and how they handle in all conditions. In today’s market, things change so fast that no builder can keep up with it all single-handedly. He’s very current on all the latest materials and construction techniques, if a boat has been introduced and includes some new design or functional improvement, French knows about it” says Briggs. “I knew what I wanted and when I brought Steve French into the mix, our boats’ looks improved measurably, performance improved and our customers liked him personally, He is always accommodating.!” So why would I go elsewhere?” Why indeed.
Bridge Jigs like this are now the norm and make it possible for nearly everyone to build complex compound forms that are French’s signature.
Paul Spencer at Spencer Yachts has a somewhat similar story. “When I switched from being a charter captain to building boats, I immediately decided that I didn’t want the usual strip-planked hulls. I knew I wanted a jig-built hull so that I could get exactly the look and dimensions I wanted.”
“I started out making my own jigs,” says Spencer, “but found it very time consuming and in the end, I still needed to do lots of work to assure they were fair. Steve French was, at the time, making quite a name for himself building incredibly precise, computer-generated jigs. So, I gave him the deadrise measurements I wanted at different stations, etc. and French went to work. In no time, I got an easily assembled, accurate and affordable jig. It turned out perfectly. Applied Concepts’ jigs save time and money, but they even impact a builder’s workforce. Rather than requiring master craftsmen in all positions, with computer-controlled design and cutting of jigs, even run-of-the-mill craftsmen can produce a superior product.” With truly skilled artisans harder to come by with each passing year, that’s no small factor. French earned a relationship with Spencer yachts that opened the door to him styling the look that has carried them from 1999 through today.
French’s design firm, Applied Concepts, pioneered 3D modeling and systems that are used widely today to make boat building more accurate and efficient. The 3D models improve fairing, production time and space planning. https://acunleashed.com/jigbuild-systems/hull-jigs/
“Something else that always impresses me is French’s speed,” continues Spencer. “When we sit down to discuss a new design, as fast as we can talk about it, he can draw it! He’s very energetic and creative.” People say that he anticipates the needs of the fisherman because of his vast experience. “Yes, he’s a bit like a race horse… if you completely let him go; he’ll run on a very creative tack. But when I’ve given him my parameters, he’s always given me exactly what I wanted.”
Steve French had created designs for over fifty boats for Carolina builders, including Bayliss, Briggs, Carolina Yachts, Darby, Freedom, Holton, Hudson, Johnson, Kostinas, Perdue, Perry, Sculley, Wanchese and more by 2007 every boat improving the sport and addressing issues important to the crew and family.
By 2003, French’s notoriety had spread from boat builders down to the end users. A mid-Atlantic builder based in Bear, Delaware – F&S Boatworks -once created traditional-looking sportfisherman, but also boasted the courage to give French his head and create something decidedly “futuristic”. F&S Yachts’ president Jim Floyd recounts why he embarked on a journey to the future with French for something more modern with classic appeal. It’s not just style, but a practical sense of what works and can still look great.
F&S has had Applied Concepts design their vessels and provide their CNC Jigs since hull #5. https://www.FSyachts.com
“French came up with a radically different look for us for this one” And F&S has been attracting new customers with that look ever since. “He’s a very progressive thinker.” French and his team at Applied Concepts elevated the looks of my boats into a whole different league. I consider Applied Concepts to be a good company with good people. And French is just a genuinely good guy.
“The F&S 54’ Enclosed express started a revolution in sportfishing design that is ongoing today. (French built the composite tower) One of F&S’s returning customers had already worked with Frenc on their 45’ walk around and then challenged him to create a 54’ that would be equally unique. The result is that French once again challenged us all with what a “traditional” sport fishing yacht is. This function centered design features a signature element of French, a composite Marlin tower, built by Steve French Enterprises. Designed to minimize wash down time, it may take getting used to by some, but the Captain is thrilled with it.
Applied Concepts peaked at around forty custom boat designs per year, each one unique and improving the cockpits and bridges with every build. French states, “someone once asked me who we had not worked for that we wanted to, my answer was Merritt and Scarborough. Then Roy Merritt hired us to design the topsides of the new 86’ and Ricky Scarborough Jr. called and purchased Applied Concepts Jig Systems for two boats. What a dream to be able to serve such a great group of people with something I’m very passionate about. It’s all about the details. No two captains or owners want it exactly the same way, so there is always a challenge to make it great”
ACUI PIONEERED 3D ENGINEERING FOR SPORT FISHING MACHINES-Today it is taken for granted that a multimillion dollar machine will be planned to the nines in modern CAD software and most likely in 3D. Only fifteen to twenty years ago French blew the horn on the battlefront for efficient boat building and claimed that 3D planning would save time and money.
He claims “Only a few at the time believed in it, but today you wouldn’t think of spending that kind of money on a vessel by simply sketching it on a napkin. We have been able to create amazing things in different places and bring them together seamlessly.” Like French’s pride and joy the 86’ Unleashed “Double Down”.
The 86’ Unleashed is French’s custom flagship. Designed in 1995 and built several years later (2008). This is likely the most advanced sport fishing machine on the planet today. Impeccable workmanship, systems and performance all combined with elegance rare to sport fishing. The outstanding feature, the monolith tower is faster to wash down than a small tower.
This is probably the most advanced sport fishing machine on the planet today. French built this all composite, 7200 HP beauty utilizing over a dozen subcontractors from around the Stuart, Florida area. Each tasked in their particular specialty and bonding all of the parts together into a single structure. “When the enclosed bridge and tower were set onto the house there were a lot of doubters, but my team had full confidence that the 3D planning we specialize in would result in a perfect joining of assemblies. It fit like a glove”, recalls French with a smile. This type of thinking gets the new ride on the water faster and better. Owners and crew can interact with French and his team online to see real time design changes as they tweak all the details of a new custom fishing rig. “Today we meet people on every imaginable device anywhere in the world at any time they’re ready to give us input.”
Steve French’s skills in manufacturing planning have placed him as consultant on many builds around the world. Each one taking on the flavor of it’s’ owner and crew. To see an example of French’s flexibility, you need only look at Meilahn Custom Yachts. This handsome custom catamaran was dreamed of by two brothers and French delivered the goods with his design team’s full services. The Gemini 60 was truly a full decade ahead of its’ time in many ways. “French is a true renaissance man, we couldn’t have done it without him” stated Jeff Meilahn.
French’s goal has always been to improve the market with every design he creates. This progressive attitude has brought us many useful innovations and many that we now take for granted. For example he built the first Nidacore, now 3M, honeycomb vessel in the USA way back in 1985. The canyon running center console ran 74 MPH and pioneered vacuum bagging technology with plastic honeycomb. This is just now becoming the norm. We are getting there faster and more comfortably because of his efforts.
His work with composite is still leading the way towards a better future for owners and crew alike.A good example was Makaira. The Leek Family has owned and operated a boat building business on New Jersey’s Mullica Rover since 1721, making them the oldest boat builder in America –by a huge margin. John Leek Sr. launched Ocean Yachts in 1977. John Leek IV had his sights on the future. “We wanted to accommodate our customers who wanted something different'” says JIV. “So we created Makaira Yachts and our first model -a semicustom 64-footer and the flagship of the line- answers that call”.
French and Leek embarked on a very collaborative effort, creating a different type of sportfishing yacht from a clean slate. The hull is a French WaveForm that was tank tested to over 50 knots and the design is composites throughout, including stringers, hull, superstructure, soles, bulkheads and walls, a completely rot free structure all tooled and CNC’d. The goal: To provide the perfect blend of production efficiency and custom performance”. French says is what JIV asked for.
“We couldn’t be happier with the outcome of our first Makaira 64,” says John Leek IV. “We both poured our hearts and souls into this project and the result exceeds our expectations.” Had it not been for the economic debacle of 2009 we are confident that Makaira would have been one of the most desired yachts on the water still today. The boat was simply the most forward-looking sportfisherman to come along in many years.
French still has many productive years ahead of him. His grand vision? To design and build more progressive boats, under his own name-French Yachts. His most recent projects are carrying him in that direction as his customers are demanding things that most boat builders either are not willing to do or don’t have the resources to produce. “There are plenty of boat builders, so I’m only going to set up shop if I can really do it right. I’ve spent the last two years developing strategic alliances, but we’re not ready to break any news just yet” he smiles. “Its important to me that while I’m here I deliver lasting solutions with the talents I’ve been given. https://www.frenchyachts.com
it is estimated there are over 500 custom and 2,500 production fishing boats that embody designs by Steve French. Given that he is in a solid stride today designing things we can’t talk about yet I think we can look forward to more exciting things from this great mind. For more on Steve French and Applied Concepts go to https://www.designyouryacht.com
Keep tabs on custom boats built under his brand at https://www.frenchyachts.com
Additional note: French’s research in composite technologies has lead to the development of hi-tech composite trailer operation which is the only trailer that will never corrode after immersion in saltwater. To check them out go to: https://www.ptrailers.com
