b'Saltwater RecreationC orpusChristinativeJohnHearnTen Fat Cat models have been created, ranging from a 16-foot skiff to a 28-foot high-speed fishing rig wasveryblessedduringhisfortydesignedbylegendaryracingboatbuilderDoug years in the oil and gas industry. AsWright. The companys mission to deliver high-per-co-owner of one of the many explo- formance, custom built fishing boats is about much ration companies that struck it big in the Eagle-Fordmore than speed. Standards of excellence and ob-Shale formation, Hearn eventually took their com- sessive attention to detail at Fat Cat started with pany public. A lifelong fisherman, Hearn owned oneHearns success in the energy industry, where mis-boat after another, but when he put a deposit downtakes on any level can cost lives and fortunes.on a new boat from a builder that went under, heThe culture of high standards that Hearn and his decided to take matters into his own hands and getteammates have successfully incubated and main-into the boat building business.In 2012, the seed for Fat Cat Boatworks was plant- tained at Fat Cat Boatworks is not unlike what you ed in a 3,500-square-foot warehouse on NAS Drivefind in factories of the worlds most prestigious au-inFlourBluffwhereHearnappliedhistechnicaltomakers, like Bentley in the U.K. and Ferrari in Ita- More than just super-speedy fishing boatsAvid fish-acumen to his personal preferences as an angler, inly. Maintaining high standards is a function of howerman John Hearn (above/top) designed his ultimate, an effort to create the ultimate high-performanceeffective leadership is in spreading pride-in-workhigh-performance fishing boat ten years ago in a 3,500 fishing boat. A decade later and situated in a multi- throughout the company, and over the past decadesquare-foot warehouse. His effort grew to become Fat acre compound on Flour Bluff Drive, Fat Cat BoatsJohn Hearn has recruited and retained a crew thatCat Boatworks, which has earned a reputation as the has evolved into a high-end, boutique, custom boatbuys fully into the Fat Cat Way.Bentley or Ferrari of the boating world, and has to date manufacturer with production of less than two doz- The result is a product that its owners and fanstheproduced ten models while expanding in its six-acre en per year. Fat Cat Familyconsidered the Bentley or Ferraricompound on Flour Bluff Drive in Corpus Christi.46 THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'