Tom McLaughlin built his first boat in 1965 at the age of seven. It had its maiden voyage in the family garden. By 1977 with a strong desire to avoid going back to school, Tom started his own business with his first sea-worthy vessel. That boat - a simple wooden construction called Redbay One - is now on display in the company showroom. Since that early sale (which he managed to purchase back some years later from the customer), Tom has been making making boats of varying shapes and sizes at his Cushendall base in the Glens of Antrim. Around 20-25 each year. Redbay Boats specialises in RIBs (rigid inflatable boats). They're hard-hulled vessels with an inflatable collar - "like a life jacket for the boat" says Tom. They're renowed for their safety in rough conditions. And there's nowhere better to test them than just off his Antrim Coast base in the choppy waters of Rathlin Sound or near Torr Head on the famous Causeway Coast. A top of the range Redbay Boat could set you back £1.5 million. A more modest vessel might run to £60,000. These are bespoke boats where the customer has a big input into the build process. And the connection with the customers continues long after they've got their boat as Tom, and his team, manage the ongoing relationships. "Our customers become our friends," says Tom, with absolute sincerity. Tom's son Conor is now taking a central role at the business, having learnt his trade (like his father) in the workshop. In this episode Tom and Conor tell Jim about their business journey and how they deal with customers ranging from government agencies to leisure enthusiasts and spread from across Ireland and Scotland to far flung places such as the Falklands and Svalbard in the Arctic.
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