KARNIC BOATS

Karnic is one of the fastest-growing shipyards in the world.

Karnic Powerboats Ltd was founded in 1993 as a private company. In the early years the boats produced by the company were outboard runabout models of up to 18ft in length to satisfy the needs of the local market.

After some years the company introduced the first model of the Bluewater line, a 21ft walkaround with offshore hull design which marked the beginning of a new era for Karnic as it attracted interest from markets abroad. Exports gradually begun in 1998 and by year 2000 nearly all production was exported, to reach at present a destination list of more than 20 countries. Since then, the company has been honoured for their export achievement four times with the Cyprus Export Award.

In year 2000 the company moved operations in private establishments that were custom developed to satisfy their production needs at the time in a land area of 4000 square meters. The continuous growth of the company in the years that followed led to further investments for factory space expansion in order to satisfy increased production requirements. Today the company operates in private premises of 18000 square meters, 5000 of which are covered.

With emphasis on the design and style of the product, in year 2004 the company invested in CAD-CAM technology which enabled the transformation of the Bluewater line to modern, styled designs with high degree of detail. It also enabled the use of advanced construction techniques such as all-composite structures and close mouldings.

The production is organised in all stages, from the supply of parts and materials to assembly, shipping and sales, with numerous controls in the process to ensure product quality and uniformity. In 2006 a drastic restructuring of the production system based on ‘lean’ principles has improved productivity by a high two-figure percentage and has become the base for all subsequent developments and investments in the production methods of the company.

A bookmark for the company is the decision to develop a new range of bigger more luxurious boats, the ‘Cruiser Line’. Prime requirements for the development of this range was to offer multi-purpose boats with unique aggressive style, high level of detail, luxury, comfort and quality, at competitive price so there is highest value of the customer investment. The first model of the range, model 2965, was launched in Summer 2008. Other bigger designs are scheduled to enrich Cruiser Line in the years to come.