But the logic of it becomes clear when you learn that Cobalt Boats, the boat builder in question, is located in the town of Neodesha, Kansas, down in the southeastern corner of the state—on the outskirts of the Ozarks with their abundant lakes and rivers—and that the name of the town comes from the Osage word “nee-oh-de-shay” which means “the meeting of the waters.” 

Truth is it wouldn’t really matter where Cobalt Boats is located. The company has earned a reputation for building some of the best boats on the water, and its customers are intensely loyal. Boaters would likely travel across the country if they needed to, to buy a Cobalt. Fortunately, the company’s worldwide network of dealers makes that unnecessary.

Cobalt was founded in 1968 by Pack St. Clair, whose son, Paxson, is now president of the privately held company. Currently, Cobalt employs more than 700 people, and builds 2,500 boats annually.

Cobalt offers 15 models, with two new yacht models in development. The yachts will be built at its recently acquired and refurbished 375,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Vonore, Tennessee. The yacht-building facility presently employs about 100 people. The Tennessee workforce is expected to reach 350 by year’s end.

Paxson St. Clair says that his company is proud of its advanced engineering and manufacturing technologies, but is prouder still of its reputation for excellent customer service and satisfaction. In 2006, for the fifth consecutive year, Cobalt was ranked highest in its category by the J.D. Power and Associates Boat Competitive Information Study. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), also awarded the company the highest customer service recognition in its manufacturing category, as part of its Customer Satisfaction Index.

“We know that, in comparison to the competition, Cobalt owners pay a small premium for their boats,” St. Clair says. “But we work very hard to ensure that purchase price becomes, over time, a minor consideration in the long-term enjoyment of the boat. We work to deliver a boat with essentially no problems in its operation or maintenance, a boat supported throughout its long life by dealers committed to enduring customer satisfaction.”

St Clair says his company’s employees are the reason it’s enjoyed such success. “We’ve worked hard to create a culture that places high value on relationships between our associates and between the company and its customers. Our boats are the best, because our people are the best.”