Harness the Power Of The Ocean
Jaguar Powerboats was created in the 1980’s with the goal of producing the fastest, most reliable and safest offshore racing powerboats. That mission was accomplished by Jack Clarke with numerous world and US championships, technical innovations and offshore speed records. For John Clarke, Jack’s son and now President of Jaguar Powerboats that same passion is what drives the company today in producing safe, fast, stable leisure craft, using those same proven running surfaces designed by Jack and Michael Peters.
When John was 8 years old Jack brought him into the boat building business. He spent long hours working alongside his legendary father, learning the intricate subtleties of designing and building water craft capable of incredible feats of speed, agility and toughness. He learned by watching, working and competing in one of the most intense, pressure filled environments you can imagine while other kids his age were playing little league baseball and watching cartoons.
The knowledge, skill and artistry to be able to conceptualize and create the world’s finest powerboats is a rare phenomenon. For those who can imagine and appreciate the highest level of craftsmanship and expertise, Jaguar Marine offers a truly unique opportunity.
Our mission today is do more with less: more capability, more range, more efficiency, more usability, more stability, more usable speed, and more safety on the water all while bringing less weight, less fuel consumption, less complex servicing, and using less power.
Our objective is to be the builder of choice for discerning buyers looking for first class semi-custom or fully custom boats, constructed with the finest materials using build techniques that far surpass those used by others. And to do this at a sensible price point that is good for us and which provides our clients with unparalleled value.
The Timeline
1984 - Jack Clarke “Rookie of the Year”
Jack Clarke begins his racing career with a 30-foot Chris Craft catamaran winning the APBA Pro-Stock Championship and APBA Southeast Divisional Championship and is named rookie of the year.
1985 - The First Designs and a new National Champion
Jack Clarke’s success fuels his desire to design and build his own boat. He moves up to the Open Class in a boat of his own design and construction, the 35-foot wooden Jaguar tunnel hull. “It was crude and people were skeptical but it was fast.” He proved the speed when he won the national championship that year, however, the problem was that the wooden construction wasn’t tough enough, so he set out to find a better, lighter and stronger material.
1986 - Development and Testing
Jack Clarke takes the year off from racing to pull composite molds from the wooden 35′ and search for what he felt would be the optimum material and method for construction. His results would become undeniable.
1987 - Jack Clarke earns “Designer of the Year” and “Manufacturer of the Year”
Jack and his 35′ Jaguar “Thriller,” corkscrew flip at the world championships in Key West due to a mechanical failure of the out drive. Because of Clarke’s ingenious installation of the fuel tanks, however, the boat rights itself and miraculously remains 100% structurally sound (minus the engine hatches). With the help of other race crews, Jack Clarke remains in the running and races the same boat, placing 3rd overall despite having had the boat flip. His manufacturing feats earns him both “Offshore Designer of the Year” and “Tunnel-Boat Manufacturer of the year.”
1988 - US Open Class Title
After losing a bet to Jack Clarke, fellow racer John D’Elia funds the construction of the 35′ “Special Edition.” That same year Jack Clarke campaigns the original 35′ Jaguar, repainted as the “Coors Light Silver Bullet” and races with Craig Barrie, the President of Cigarette at the time and the future President of Statement Marine. The funny thing is, that Jack Clarke and Craig Barrie end up racing against D’Elia for the US Open Class title. So, that year Jaguar went home with 1st and 2nd place in the national championship.
1989 - A New Boat and A New Record
John Antonelli contracts Jack to build the first 46′ Jaguar. Jack expands the original, proven 35′ to accommodate the new size and pulls molds. The same year, he runs the original 35′ Jaguar, repainted again as “Spirit of America”. The hull proves itself again and hits 143mph with twin gentry turbo engines. He also builds the 35′ “Recovery” and claims the fastest time ever recorded around Long Island.
1990 - APBA National Champion with Ferrari and the First American Offshore Diesel Race Boat
“Thriller” is repainted as “Ferrari” and wins the APBA national Championship while at the same time Jack Clarke builds Ferrari their own brand new 35′ for keeps. Clarke also builds his own 46′ Jaguar with four 1000hp diesel engines and sells it to Barry Roth who races it the next year as “Insatiable” – the first American diesel race boat engineered to be able to mechanically withstand the rigors of an offshore race and finish.
1991 - 168mph, the New World Speed Record
Jack builds Dan Cambell a 46′ Jaguar which breaks the worlds speed record by nearly 20mph at 168mph. Clarke then builds the first ever 46′ twin engine, Mercury sponsored, Jaguar race boat in just 19 days and races again with the President of Cigarette, Craig Barrie.
1992 - World Champion and “Sportsman of the Year”
Gifford contracts Clarke to build the first 40′ Jaguar, which he modifies from the 46′. In its first year, the new 40′ Jaguar becomes a national champion. This same year, the Jaguar hull proves its strength again when the 46′ barrel rolls during the New Orleans offshore pro tour and races the very next day. Because of this outstanding feat, Jack Clarke wins sportsman of the year again for his unparalleled manufacturing.
1993 - World Champion
Jack and lead singer of Motley Crew, Vince Neil, race as team Jaguar in the original 35′ “Thriller” and place second in San Diego. Later that year, “Thriller” is repainted again, in its seventh year running to win the world championship as “Toshiba”.
1994 - Clarke Wins Another National Title
Clarke races with Barry Roth in “Insatiable” and wins another national title.
1995/96 - The First 50’ Jaguar and Another World Speed Record
Dan Campbell commissions the first 50′ wide body Jaguar, with an 11′ 11″ beam, which breaks the world speed record at 183mph as the “Coca-Cola” boat.
1998 - The First Jaguar Pleasure Craft
Jack Clarke collaborates with his son John on the first 35′ Jaguar pleasure series. It runs at 143mph as a six seater with a full cabin.
1999 - The Legacy Continues: A Father-Son National Title
Jack and John Clarke race the 40′ Jaguar and take the national title as a father-son team.
2001 - 35' Sport Fisherman
John Clarke builds the first official 35′ Jaguar sport fishing boat.
2002/2015 - A New Focus
Jaguar focuses its efforts on designing highly custom sport fishing boats in limited number.
2014 - The Next Generation
Jack Clarke names John Clarke Owner and President of Jaguar Marine, while continuing to keep a close eye on manufacturing standards and methodologies.
2015 - Present
Jaguar Marine becomes Jaguar Powerboats, John Clarke develops the world’s first fully enclosed and air conditioned jet ski cover. The Jaguar pleasure boat line is extended to provide open and fishing boats from 30 - 43’. In 2019 Jaguar is commissioned to construct a 53’ yacht based on the “Coca Cola” wide body hull. In 2020 Jaguar's sister company, Aquantico, partners with Nova, Panterra and Back Bay Cats to undertake contract manufacturing for all three brands and announces the next generation of Jaguar Offshore Fishing series of boats in 3 sizes 28’, 32’ and 36’. The first boat, the 36’ is announced at the Ft Lauderdale show and attracts huge interest. A retrofit of the original “Thriller” boat is commenced and together with the existing open boats gives rise to a “Heritage” line to be produced alongside the new Offshore Series. John collaborates with designers and production engineers to develop a “production line’ capability for Jaguar’s unique construction strategies with a view to increasing capacity whilst continuing to improve construction integrity.
1437 Cunningham Brickyard Rd. Thomasville, NC 27360
info@Jaguarpowerboats.com
844-524-2628