(November 14, 2025) Merced, CA–It started with a simple request. Deborah Lyn Porter, Professor of Engineering at UC Merced reached out, looking for someone from the engineering world to speak with her students not just about theory, but about real engineering, real production, real products.
The message found its way to Amy Mauzy, and because Centurion & Supreme Boats were practically neighbors to the campus, the opportunity felt natural. So, she got with Shane Stillman, Vice President of Product Development and Engineering, and convinced him to give this lecture with her help to these engineering students at UC Merced.
Neither Shane nor Amy wanted to give the students a generic talk about engineering. They wanted to bring them into the world they live every day, the world of design, tooling, fiberglass, molds, assembly, testing, and innovation. So, Amy built a presentation around the entire lifecycle of the Centurion product.
The two walked the students through how a boat begins its life in design, how molds are created, how fiberglass is laid, cured, trimmed, and strengthened. They showed the assembly process piece by piece and then added visuals that turned abstract processes into something real. Students learned that 90% of the 235 person workforce at Centurion & Supreme Boats physically touch and work on the boat.
In the lecture, students also learned about new product development, how ideas become prototypes, how tools are designed, how problems are solved, and how the team moves from concept to production. It was the kind of behind-the-scenes look students rarely get, and the room lit up with curiosity.
Hands shot into the air. Students jumped in with technical questions, practical questions, industry questions. By the end, the feedback was so overwhelmingly positive that Shane extended an invitation right there: if they wanted to see the process firsthand, the Centurion factory doors were open.
And they came.
Two class sections, 22 students total, plus their professor, took Shane up on the offer. The factory tour turned presentations into reality: the molds, the fiberglass layup, the build sequence, the buzz of production. For many of these students, the engineering industry had always felt distant, theoretical. Suddenly it was happening right there, in their own backyard.
For some, the visit connected dots across their entire academic journey. Mechanical engineering student Joshua Riley described the impact of seeing manufacturing in action:
“The main thing that stood out to me is that everything I’ve seen in lecture is actually seen here, assembly lines, interchangeable parts, molding. We talked a lot about molding in class, especially extrusion and cold drawing, and I’ve seen a lot of that. And then things like thermal deformation, materials science, strength of materials, even thermodynamics… I’m not only seeing intro to manufacturing, I’m seeing all my other classes and the application behind them.
What impressed me most is how Centurion has everything labeled, all the different parts, and that the same buildings they’ve had since 1976 are still used today with modern production standards and new technology. The manufacturing they started with is still integrated with what they’re doing now.”
Other students echoed that sense of discovery. Many were surprised by the level of craftsmanship behind every boat. Several remarked that they expected heavy automation but instead found a team of skilled builders crafting each component by hand. One student shared that seeing the gelcoat repairs, paint details, and finishing touches done so meticulously “was fascinating, every scuff, every mark was something the team immediately addressed. It showed how much pride they take in their work.”
Another common theme was teamwork.
“I don’t think you see teamwork like that very often. Everybody works well together, and you can see how much experience and trust goes into the build.”
Another added that watching employees move from station to station made the factory feel less like an assembly line and more like a coordinated craft.
For many, the scale of the operation was surprising. Students noted that with a workforce smaller than they expected, the volume and quality of production was even more impressive. The experience shattered assumptions about manufacturing being impersonal or purely automated; instead, it highlighted the human side of engineering, where skill, care, and collaboration shape every product.
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.