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2014 Spencer 44 | World Class Carolina Custom Yachts With A History

One of our latest listings, the 2014 Spencer 44, comes with a rich history of custom yachts built and designed by Paul Spencer. We wanted to dive deeper into this one-of-a-kind vessel and shed light on the history of the build.

Spencer Yachts: A Look At The Past

Based upon the Carolina Custom model, Spencer Yachts was officially formed in 1996 and today builds numerous custom yachts from 37 to 80+ feet including the 44 Spencer. His builds integrate a functional interior with a sea-worthy hull and are known for an exceptionally smooth ride, even at speed.

The 2014 Spencer 44

The deck and transom are one of a kind and feature teak throughout as well as a large insulated fish box and Pompanette Marine fighting chair. She boats two 338 gallon fuel tanks, two fresh water tanks, an ice maker, and 2000 lb recessed trim tabs.

Photos are the only way to truly highlight this vessel so please enjoy the highlights below. For the full photo set, please click here to view the full listing!

If you are interested in this vessel, please contact:

BRIAN DRESSLER AT (919) 971-8953 ~ [email protected]

SCOTT CLEMENTS AT (615) 364-5350 ~ [email protected]

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Spencer Yachts For Sale

Spencer Yachts are among the elite when it comes to custom, tournament-ready sportfishing boats that need to perform under an extreme competitive atmoshpere. Known for excellent performance, beautiful lines, and all of the customization options owners want today, every vessel produced is a work of art. United Yacht Sales is experienced in the building and sale of custom sportfishing boats and can assist you in your search for the right Spencer.

Learn More About Spencer And Find Your Next Boat

Founded in 1996 by Paul Spencer, on a rich heritage of Carolina boatbuilding including his father-in-law, charter captain and boatbuilder Sheldon Midgett, who had encouraged Paul to build sportfishing boats after 20 years as a successful charter captain. Paul Spencer, who grew up in the sportfishing hub of Oregon Inlet near the Outer Banks of North Carolina, began working as a deck mate while in his teens and obtained his captain’s license at age 19. His love for fishing and the sea, along with years of charter and tournament fishing, served to inform his design and construction of the elegantly functional custom Spencer sport fishing yachts, ranging from 37 ft to 87 ft in length—lean, fast, with a great ride. Though each boat is a custom handcrafted build, the distinct Spencer signature, a blend of Carolina flare and the sleek Florida style is uniquely recognizable and a source of Spencer Yachts and owners’ pride. Paul Spencer is joined in the business by 3 of his five children; Cliff Spencer is construction foreman of the entire company and enjoys tournament fishing as captain, mate or angler. Daniel Spencer, who also has a passion for fishing and obtained his captain’s license at age 21 has already won numerous tournaments; he represents Spencer Yachts in fishing tournaments and as spokesman, and customer liaison.

United Yacht Sales has a team of expert brokers that have decades of experience with custom sportfish . From winning tournaments as captains, to working with the builders on behalf of a client, to selling them on the brokerage market for top dollar, our team at UYS has the expertise you need. Whether looking to custom builder a Spencer or sell your existing one, contact us today to speak with one of our custom boat specialists.

List Of Spencer Yachts On The Brokerage Market

Page 1 of 1

Spencer Yachts hulls are handcrafted using the cold-molded method, using modern composites in the Manns Harbor, NC facility that was built in 1996, and then transported to the Wanchese, NC facility that includes an in-house paint shop, metal machine shop (marine welding, fuel tanks, specialty shafts), and a carpenter’s shop for completion of each custom vessel. Spencer Yachts strives to utilize new ideas and exceed previous innovations for continuous improvement to deliver unsurpassed world class fishing yachts.

These progressively innovative, masterfully crafted, tournament-winning sports fishing yachts are what Spencer Yachts is renowned for.

The ever-increasing demand for speed and performance has led to use of lighter, stronger composite materials such as Divinycell and carbon fiber, and the Volvo IPS power system with joystick controls. There are several significant advantages to the Volvo IPS system first utilized in a 43 ft Spencer in 2004. Greater speed, maneuverability, and efficiency; performance is enhanced as the longitudinal center of gravity is moved back, and engine room size is reduced, allowing more living and storage space, and the smaller props create a smaller wake closer to the boat’s centerline.

Another nice feature is the switch-operated low-speed bypass to send exhaust above waterline (no bubbles below) or underwater to eliminate exhaust fumes on pleasure cruises. Spencer still builds most yachts with conventional power plants, according to a customer’s preferences and usage plans. Spencer Yachts departs from most custom yachts and production brands with a narrower flybridge in keeping with its signature sleek lines; Spencer Yachts are built with fishing in mind and must perform, spin, turn, and handle well, besides its stunning beauty and luxurious comfort for overnight or long-distance offshore destinations.

In addition to the ultimate in fishing equipment and navigation electronics, the interiors are beautifully elegant with hand-selected wood veneers, natural stones, and other high-end materials, along with the accommodations, appliances, entertainment electronics—customized to the owner’s wishes and style. Comfortable for long distance fishing trips or a family offshore fishing vacation.

Jet propulsion is another advanced technology being utilized for sport fishing vessels, with its benefits of shallow draft, increased speed, greater maneuverability, and “clean” trolling water. Combined with new composites, laminates, and post-curing methods to reduce hull weight and increase performance, Spencer Yachts has managed to hit the 50-knot mark with small 6-cylinder engines and jet-propulsion! Another advance in Spencer’s ever-developing quest to deliver the ultimate sport fishing experience for their customers. And with over 100 handcrafted yachts in marinas and marlin destinations all over the world, Spencer Yachts, has become a legend in its own right.

For those serious fishermen who want to get on a Spencer Yacht now, some brokerage yachts are currently available, ranging in price from just over $1,000,000 for a 2012 Spencer 45 Express Sportfish to about $7,500,000 for a 2014 Spencer Custom Carolina 87ft Sportfish. Model years range from a 2009 Spencer 59ft Sportfish listed at about $3,500,000 to a 2021 Spencer Custom Carolina 48ft Sportfish Express listed at $2,600,000.

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Speak to A United Sales Professional About Spencer Yachts

Paul Spencer

Boat-building innovator Captain Paul Spencer began his career in the industry at the age of 12, working during the summer as an offshore mate. Raised on the waters of the Atlantic, throughout his youth he gained offshore experience from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. Following a decade of running one of the best charter operations in renowned Oregon Inlet, North Carolina, Spencer set out to modernize the world of boat building in 1996, using his vast charter experience to trailblaze new ideas and surpass what had been done previously. The result is the world-renowned Spencer Yachts, recognized for their “Carolina Style” craftsmanship and unmatched sport fishing performance.

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Spencer 70 IPS

By Dean Travis Clarke
Updated: March 22, 2011

Paul Spencer qualifies as about the most progressive custom boatbuilder in America. He pushes the limits even amidst naysayers. And so it has been with his several boats powered by Volvo Penta’s Inboard Propulsion System (IPS). Skeptics abound, but so far everyone who actually drives one develops the passion of a convert. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Spencer’s boats are all fast, beautiful and successful fishing machines no matter how they’re powered — which is why Volvo commissioned Paul Spencer to build its new corporate flagship to showcase the abilities and efficiencies of IPS power.

Penta Gone is a 70-footer with three engines totaling 2,700 horsepower. Most 70-footers will come with a pair of 2,400- or 2,600-horsepower diesels — almost twice the horsepower of Penta Gone . Consequently, weight and distribution became the most critical design challenges. Going back through many previous tests of comparable boats, my sea trial showed that this Steve French designed Spencer 70 IPS burned up to 40 percent less fuel than the higher-powered machines did at the same speeds. The balance of this boat is so exacting that it has barely measurable bow rise and the running attitude virtually never changes.

Leaving tiny Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach, Virginia, conditions proved downright sporty, with six-foot seas and a hundred tiny johnboats dotting our path as they filled their bilges with speckled trout. Cruising straight into the offshore seas at 20 knots proved a nonevent — at least until we came suddenly upon some 8- to 10-footers that caused us to back off. Once past the shallows, we turned beam-to the seas and ran smoothly and dryly at 30 knots turning 2040 rpm.

Volvo QL trim tabs actually stem from a design by Humphree Interceptor trim tabs. Not only do they adjust fore, aft and lateral trim, but they shave four to six seconds off time to plane. They also work automatically as stabilizers.

Penta Gone was off to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show the following morning and had already been fully loaded with fuel. Despite this, I topped out at just over 38 knots turning 2362 rpm and burning 134 gallons per hour total. The triple 900-horsepower diesels burned about 77 gallons per hour at 25.5 knots while turning 1800 rpm. And where most boats this size cruise today — at 30 knots — we used a total of 108 gallons per hour. I’m certain a half-load of fuel would improve both speed and efficiency. With the pods rotating rather than rudders, this 70-footer turns beautifully at cruise and, when slowing, scribes an ever-tighter arc.

A common complaint from anglers and crew is that the IPS through-prop exhaust system deposits too much turbulence in the wake. On this boat, you can press a button and have cutoffs channel the exhaust through the transom. Seven knots showed a clean wake with the cutouts opened. There’s a “snail” button for slow trolling-valve mode.

Sport-fish mode on this boat qualifies as truly remarkable. Back down straight as an arrow at 10 knots without taking a drop over the covering boards. Spin like a 30-footer. Change direction like a quarter horse. And the dynamic positioning system will hold you within a few feet of any position.

Everything in the boat is weight conscious. The modular interior consists mostly of tri-cell coring and light-ply. The composite hull (with solid glass at each through-hull) has a layer of Kevlar over a foam composite core.

The fuel tank runs almost full length on centerline, placing the weight of the fuel on the center of gravity, so no matter what the fuel level, the attitude of the hull never changes.

The Volvo team made only minor design changes in the running surface of Spencer’s proven 70 hull, including more aggressive chines and decreased rocker at the transom.

Spencer moved equipment from the engine compartment to the forward cabin bilge for several reasons: to place the center of gravity accurately and to clean out the engine spaces since they end up needing considerably less room with IPS. As a result, this compartment turned out to be one of the most maintenance-friendly I have seen. Access to crew’s quarters, with its two athwartship singles, head and shower, is through the door in the engine room.

There are fine wood veneers and lots of ambient light below, but up top, the flybridge with its all black décor sucks up light like a sponge — and that’s purposeful. You see no reflection while looking through the flybridge windows when driving from the aft station.

From those aft overhang controls, you can see the fighting chair and everything else. On Penta Gone , the aft window opens, making the view much clearer.

Not that Volvo expects problems, of course, but the mezzanine, with refrigerators, freezers, stowage, Kenyon grill and the like, is completely removable. The transom livewell with its aquarium window is large enough to double as a sizable fish box.

The elevated galley affords an unobstructed view both outside and down into the cockpit. There’s an almost-full-width dining table all the way forward and the tinted cabin-front window provides a great view of the bow.

The master cabin has in-hull windows that look beautiful from the inside (not so much from the outside, in my opinion). There’s a guest double to port and the larger guest cabin in the bow sports an island queen berth and private head with shower. It also gives access to the unusual belowdecks compartment where lots of equipment that normally resides in the engine room hides.

It’s no secret that the offshore fishing community is change-averse. But pod propulsion represents a truly improved mousetrap. As for raising fish, during last summer’s tournament circuit, Penta Gone had one two-week stretch when it released 42 marlin. That’s good enough for me. ** LOA:** 70’6″ Beam: 20’4″ Draft: 5’1″ Displ.: 83,000 lb. Fuel: 1,380 gal. Water: 220 gal. Engines Tested: 3 x 900-hp Volvo IPS diesels Price: Upon request

Spencer Custom Yachts, 252-473-6567; www.spenceryachtsinc.com ; Volvo Penta, 757-436-2800; www.volvopenta.com

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Outer Banks boat-building innovator Paul Spencer receives 2023 IGFA Tommy Gifford Award

Famed Outer Banks boat builder Paul Spencer has been honored by The International Game Fish Association as a member of the Tommy Gifford Award Class of 2023.

Spencer began his career in the industry at the age of 12, working during the summer as an offshore mate.

Raised on the waters of the Atlantic, throughout his youth he gained offshore experience from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond, and earned his captain’s license at 19 years old.

Drawing on his years of charter boat experience, Paul’s boats marry function and performance with elegant “Carolina Style” craftsmanship.

Spencer Yachts has become known for being progressively innovative and masterfully crafted fishing yachts. Shelly was the original bookkeeper for the company. She developed some of the systems that are still in place at the company today.

Spencer Boats operates two main facilities, with hulls constructed in Manns Harbor and then transported to Wanchese for completion.

The Manns Harbor facility has five bays reserved entirely for new hull construction, where cold molding method is used.

They have six more construction bays and 12 docking slips in Wanchese to enable rapid completion. Also located on site is an in-house paint shop, a metal machine shop, and a carpenter’s shop to accommodate custom specifications.

The award is named for Tommy Gifford (1896-1970) considered one of the most innovative bluewater anglers who ever lived, and one of the greatest charter skippers to guide anglers to the major game fishes of the sea.

Gifford was the first to use spreader outriggers on the U.S. East Coast and the first to catch an Atlantic blue marlin with the new devices.

Over his 50-year career, he developed an encyclopedic knowledge of game fish and techniques to catch them, and he served as guide and consultant to some of the most famous names in saltwater angling: Ernest Hemingway, Michael Lerner, Charlie Lehman, and Van Campen Heilner.

Tommy Gifford Award recipients are chosen by a panel of 11 legendary captains and crews.

Other members of the Class of 2023 Gifford Award winners include Capt. Karl Anderson, Capt. Ray Rosher, Capt. Brad Simonds, and Capt. Gene Vander Hoek. The induction ceremony was held Thursday in Fort Lauderdale.

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Pacific Coast Sportfishing Magazine

The saltwater fishing magazine for America's West Coast and beyond!

Interview with Daniel Spencer on the new 62′

Boats and Electronics May 19, 2020

Mix in Miami weather, South Beach night life, and a healthy stock of sailfish and swordfish within 15 miles of your hotel, and you have the makings of an Atlantic paradise.

Captain Spencer grew up fishing the waters off the Atlantic and started working as a mate at just 12 years of age. At 19, he got his captain’s license and earned a living in the charter business and competing in local tournaments where he quickly became one of the top captains in competition.

In 1996, Spencer decided to try his hand at boat building. Drawing on his years of charter-boat experience, he combined both performance and function into elegant “Carolina Style” craftsmanship. The Spencer Yachts style also draws influence from other areas and has evolved into something unique.

The result of his efforts has been a series of progressively innovative, masterfully crafted sportsfishing yachts that Spencer Yachts is known for today. Paul is happily married to his high school sweetheart, Shelly, for 39 years and they have five children and 12 grandchildren.

He has worked in the family business since graduation from high school and enjoys the building process of each boat. Daniel is the “go-to” man representing Spencer Yachts in tournaments. He has two children with his wife, Rebecca.

Here is the text

of that interview:

Daniel, tell us about the Volvo IPS 1200’s on the 62-footer

“These Volvo IPS power systems are new to the sport fishing industry. We did our first hull with Volvo IPS six years ago, which was a 43. I ran the 43 for a guy for several months prior to us selling it and it took some time to get used to the joy sticks–especially when backing down on a fish. I was used to working the throttles and steadying the wheel some. With the IPS pulling more from the center of the boat you learn to steer the boat with the joy stick.”

How does the wake look on the Spencer hulls with the Volvo IPS power?

“I think they are actually a little bit cleaner. The props are smaller in diameter and they are also closer to the hull’s center line which gives it cleaner lanes where the flat lines are supposed to be–especially when we’re bait fishing. We also have the low speed by-pass which you can turn on to get rid of the exhaust bubbles and have them run out above the water line. Other times when you are steaming or booze cruising and you don’t want the smell of diesel fume exhaust around the boat, you can turn the bypass on so the exhaust fumes are underwater and out behind the wake.”

“Depending on what you are doing, this cockpit was designed to handle the heavy tackle 130’s from the chair and there is also plenty of room for stand-up style fishing. Depending on customer preference, when building these boats we design everything about the boat to meet their style of fishing.”

The bridge is designed with the ladder on port side. Tell us about this design feature.

“Depending on your ladder application, many are built with the latch type that will take away space for a helm chair. Our boats tend to get a little bit narrower on the bridge as you get up top–I like the way it looks; the sleekness of the boat–versus many custom boats that do a ‘shoe box’ look on the bridge.

Our boats do the opposite and get narrower on the bridge. We don’t have as big a bridge when compared to a production boat like a 61-foot Viking or a Hatteras.”

“Thank you. One last thing on the Volvo IPS power systems, one of the biggest advantages is the amount of room we save in the engine room. The IPS are literally tucked under the mezzanine. On the 57’, check out the virtual tour, where there once was an engine room is now another stateroom. Everybody wants more room out of their boat today, so we switched the fuel tanks and moved them up forward and moved the engines back.The pod is 33 percent more efficient. That Honda (Spencer 62’) at 40 knots burns only 88 GPH at wide open throttle. You’ve got the capability to be cruising in the 31 to 34 knot range and burning from 50-60 GPH in a 60-foot, four-stateroom boat. So there really are a lot of different pluses in that power system. We can build these boats with a lot more range and a very fast cruise. If your weather window is short, you don’t have to carry extra bladders or anything like that and can steam out at 30 knots the whole way there and you are burning less fuel, which everybody loves in this day and time.”

After reading about the epic blue marlin fishing a couple hundred miles offshore Costa Rica last season, this is the boat I would want to live that dream. Having seen first-hand Spencer’s fish raising ability, speed and overall sleek “Carolina” classic lines, Paul Spencer and family know how to build custom sport fishers for any gamefish in any ocean.

Learn more about Spencer Yachts at spenceryachtsinc.com. ■

June 24, 2016 at 9:42 am

I would love to see the Miami Boat Show one day. I love sportfishing and would like to get a new boat. Maybe I’ll save for a Volvo IPS power system so I can go sportfishing more efficiently. Great post!

Spencer 59 – Boat Review

By Capt. Ken Kreisler
Updated: April 28, 2015

Paul Spencer made his mark as a respected captain and fisherman on the offshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean. As with most of his ilk, his passion for all things nautical began at an early age with summer jobs in the North Carolina fishing charter business, and he earned his ticket by the time he was 20 years old. Armed with a personal vision of what a sport-fishing boat should be able to do and a hands-on, experienced-based approach to design and construction, he founded Spencer Yachts in 1996 in Manns Harbor, North Carolina. From its humble beginnings in a tin shed, the facility now boasts some 125 employees and custom builds from 37 to 87 feet in length. Attitudes is owned by Joe Pregont, a seasoned boat owner with a passion for real wood and sport-fishing boats with style and flair. He was drawn to Spencer Yachts with an image for his own version of the company’s time-tested, sea-proven 59-footer. “I saw Mimi , a Spencer 59 in Harbour Island in the Bahamas and really liked it,” Pregont says. “After I met Paul there and finished making the rounds stateside, I decided to build my first custom boat with him. This is my second Spencer now, and I can’t wait to get her out on the water.”

As with any custom build, the needs of the individual owner must be met. And for this particular project, it began with a request to make sure the living spaces of Attitudes were big enough, in terms of height, for the Pregont family. “Most of the boys, including my son-in-law, are on the tall side, averaging about 6 feet, 5 inches,” says Pregont. “So when we laid out the interior, we made sure Spencer and his people took that into consideration.” To that end, and without sacrificing that sleek and proportional Spencer profile, Attitudes has an average of 78 inches of headroom or more everywhere inside, from the 80 inches in the accommodations area to as high as 84 inches in the forepeak master. With some of the larger builds, there’s obviously a bit more wiggle room. However, the art aboard this boat meant that the design needed to be just right. “We measured every room layout and every space, not only on Attitudes but on others to make sure it was done to the family’s specifications,” adds Capt. Jamie Van Winkle.

A fully found galley is forward of that, and a comfortable dinette sits to starboard. For the accommodations below, it was agreed that the three–stateroom, two-head layout would include an open starboard hallway bunk, measuring some 80 inches long and 36 inches wide with massive storage below. And whether in the forepeak or guest quarters, there is more than ample space in which to keep all those necessary items for extended trips.

With excellent fit and finish noted everywhere, the salon features tons of rod and reel storage below the portside seating area.

A rod closet below allows storage for all the gear you could need.

Engine Room

Well-lit and beautifully finished, the engine room is accessed through a centerline hatch forward in the cockpit. “I had that hatch and dogging entrance door made wide enough to slide my spare props right in, eliminating any need for boxes being on the deck when we are traveling,” Van Winkle says. Once inside, the engine room offers more than ample space to access all equipment, including batteries and electric systems, pumps, valves, refrigeration units, air conditioning, sea chest, and switches. The CAT 21.5 kW generator came encased in a sound enclosure and mounted athwartships in front of the twin C18 1,150 hp Caterpillar mains. An alleyway leads from the engine space to the lazarette. Not only is it an excellent storage area with easy access, it also eliminates the need for a deck hatch, thus preventing any chance of water intrusion during a tussle with a big fish or big water.

The cockpit featured all the necessary accessories, such as mezzanine seating, fish boxes, livewell, refrigerator and freezer compartments, and a BlueWater chair. “I’ve been dealing with the company for years and really like the way Tom Ackel and his crew deliver a product,” says Van Winkle. Made with high-grade stainless hardware and selected teak, it’s the biggest one they make, and it will definitely see a lot of action on this boat. Her coamings and transom are all teak. This owner really likes his boat trimmed out as much as possible; to show off the aft end of Attitudes , about 30 coats of varnish were applied to the transom before being covered with clear coat, after which the gold-leaf name was applied and then buried in multiple layers of clear coat as well. “We go out of our way to keep the deep-drop lead and the marlins from scratching it up,” Van Winkle says. “All this stuff is the real deal with a custom boat.”

Simplicity was key to laying out the bridge area. To that end, the helm features a three-screen electronics display. Practical and kind of old school by some standards, it offers a clean, uncomplicated seating area forward for guests, while giving the skipper all the tools and view aft for when the action is hot and heavy. Electric reels and radios are in separate overhead compartments, and I found excellent storage areas here as well. The Pipewelders tower is an outstanding piece of equipment and finished off as well as any I’ve seen anywhere. “I try not to overdo it up here,” Van Winkle says, noting how easy it is to reach anything he could need while fishing or getting from place to place.

Construction

Once the jig is set up in the Manns Harbor shop, the hull is trucked to Wanchese where the interiors, engines, painting (with Imron) and the rest of the finishing projects are completed. Attitudes is a cored boat, using Divinycell and Core-Cell, and it upgrades tried-and-true construction methods with new materials. For strength, her backbone — being the stringers — is still laminated wood, as are the chines. All that is set on coring, which is glassed over and vacuum-bagged. Once the whole boat is done, it is then cooked by building an oven around it to cure it and get rid of some post-cure issues. “She’s the second boat we’ve done this way. Because of the resultant weight loss, strength and stiffness, Spencer Yachts will be doing it from now on,” says Van Winkle.

Performance

“I just didn’t like the harmonics of the five-bladed props,” Van Winkle says to me as we headed out of Pirates Cove Marina in Stuart, Florida, for some time out on the water. Swapping them out for a pair of Veem four-blade, 31-inch wheels, his reaction was immediate: “Now that’s how things should sound,” he says. “Quiet.” Having not been aboard with the former props, I could not judge the difference, but a smooth increase in speed was quite apparent as we approached 1,750 rpm with a 70 percent load.

Holding her there, Attitudes moved through the water at 29 knots at what I would call a slow cruise. (Not too shabby at 1,500 as well, with a 23-knot rate.) When we advanced the throttles to 2,000 rpm, at 76 percent load, I noted 34.5 knots. She has a definite sports-car feel with quick response to the helm as she cut tight and steady turns, and she tracked straight and true.

Spencer’s particular knack for building a boat results in a sleek, well-proportioned look wrapped around an impressive performance package. From the front of the house, to the shape and size of the windows, to the sweep of the overhang, Spencer boats share a unique profile. With the 66-foot Alpha Bravo , a 74 named Flight Plan , Inappropriate , a 69-footer, and Gratitude , which measures 62 feet along with several others in the works, you’ll be seeing a lot more Spencer Yachts on the water in the near future. And that’s a good thing. Photo Courtesy Spencer Yachts

More: Boat Reviews , Spencer Yachts , Sport Fishing Boats

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