(May 12, 2026) Merced, CA — The Product Development and Engineering (PD&E) team at Centurion & Supreme Boats hosted its second PD&E Summit on May 8–9, 2026 at The Vista Ranch and Cellars in Merced, bringing together more than 40 vendor partners for a weekend focused on collaboration, innovation, and showing appreciation.
The Summit is all about recognizing the important role our suppliers play in the development process while building stronger relationships outside of the day-to-day. It gave engineers, designers, and partners a chance to connect in person and stay aligned on shared goals.
“Our partners are an extension of us, and without them we can’t get boats across the finish line,” said Steve Freitas, Director of New Product.
The weekend kicked off at The Vista with breakfast and opening remarks that highlighted the team’s direction and vision moving forward. PD&E team members led sessions on everything from designing for speed to identifying failure points and improving efficiency by “doing it right the first time.” Each session encouraged open conversation and feedback from partners.
One of the highlights was a team-building exercise where small groups competed in a timed LEGO boat-building challenge. It pushed everyone to think outside the box, communicate clearly, and problem-solve together, a great reminder of how important collaboration is in product development.
The event also included a keynote and Q&A with former MLB pitcher Dave Dravecky, who shared his story of resilience and perseverance. His message about overcoming challenges really connected with the Summit’s focus on growth and continuous improvement.
After a full day of sessions, the group headed to Lake Yosemite for some time on the water, giving everyone a chance to unwind and connect in a more relaxed setting.
Saturday added a competitive twist, with eight participants taking on the 50-mile White Rock Gauntlet bike ride. The ride kicked off at 8 a.m., wrapped up about four hours later, and ended with a medal ceremony celebrating everyone who completed it. The weekend wrapped up with a team dinner hosted by Zach Haubrich, Director of Product Integration, bringing everyone together to celebrate a highly productive Summit.
“This was a great opportunity to step outside of our normal roles and really connect with our partners,” said Patrick Olsen, Mechanical Engineer. “I hope our partners were able to see that the future is bright for Centurion, not just from a product standpoint, but across the organization. We’ve been growing in both size and knowledge as a department, and we’re only going to keep improving from here.”
About Centurion Boats: For 50 years, Centurion Boats has produced the World’s best waves, wakes and ride. These historic distinctions and this golden milestone didn’t just happen. We have been maximizing benefit for our boat buyers since 1976. As a Correct Craft company, we are charged with making life better, and our continuous improvement to our boats is a clear indicator we take that to heart. For our 50th anniversary, we’re not just building boats – we’re honoring with innovation. As a Centurion boat owner, you are equipped as a joy warrior to wake waves of positive change in yourself, your family, your community and our world. To learn more about Centurion Boats, visit http://www.centurionboats.com.
About Correct Craft: Celebrating 100 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Ingenity boat companies, Pleasurecraft Engine Group, Indmar Marine Engines, Velvet Drive Transmissions, Mach Connections, Merritt Precision, Osmosis, Watershed Innovation, and Aktion Parks. For more information, please visit www.correctcraft.com.