Newport Boat Show · Video

Jasper Marine Returns to Newport: How the Defender 22 Tripled Production in Two Years

From eight boats a year to 25, BoatTEST co-founder Jeff Hammond sits down with Jasper Vermillion to find out what's behind the growth and what's new aboard the Defender 22.

Jeff Hammond and Jasper Vermillion aboard a Defender 22 at the Newport Boat Show.

Two years ago, Jasper Marine was building seven or eight boats a year, mostly for clients in the Pacific Northwest. Today the company builds 25 a year, starts a new hull every two weeks, and ships to buyers across North America and into Europe.

At the Newport Boat Show, BoatTEST co-founder Jeff Hammond caught up with Jasper Vermillion, CEO and owner of Jasper Marine, aboard a sister ship of the Defender 22 we tested two years ago. They talked about what's driving the growth and how the boat has evolved since our first look.

A Swiss Army Knife on the Water

Jasper credits much of the company's success to how adaptable the Defender 22 is. Every boat is custom built to order, and owners spec them for very different jobs.

Same Proven Hull, All-Aluminum Build

The running surface hasn't changed, and for good reason. The hull carries 18 degrees of deadrise at the transom and a sharp 57-degree entry at the bow. Jasper explained that a deeper deadrise aft makes a boat rocky at rest, while too shallow a bottom pounds in waves. This combination cuts cleanly through rough water yet stays stable when stopped.

The entire boat, cabin top included, is welded aluminum, with plate thickness stepping down as you go up to keep weight low.

Hull and cabin are built separately. Before the decks go down, the crew lines the structure with sound tile originally developed for the Navy, plus polyurethane spray foam for both sound deadening and thermal insulation.

What's New Since Our First Test

Walking the boat with Jeff, Jasper pointed out a long list of fit-and-finish upgrades.

• Hideaway swim ladder that telescopes out of sight
• Billet aluminum fill caps and cleats, custom branded, with submarine-grade anodizing
• Burnman universal mounts (six aft, six on the roof, two in the bow) that accept rod holders, downriggers, outriggers, cup holders and cutting-board tables
• Black walnut epoxy table made by a local master woodworker
• Full exterior paint option, an epoxy primer and topcoat sprayed in a climate-controlled booth; owners often match their vehicle colors
• Fusion SRX 800 premium stereo as standard, with speaker upgrades available
• Retractable sunshade under the standard glass roof, so the cabin doesn't become a greenhouse
• Air conditioning with a lithium-ion power system, offered alongside or instead of the heater as more boats head to southern waters
• Joystick steering for rotating or walking the boat sideways in the marina
• Stainless windlass, a new bow bolster and standard bow cup holders

Ultradeck flooring, upholstery and interior paint in any color remain standard on every boat.

Power, Price and Where They're Going

Twin-engine setups use a pair of 175, 200 or 225 hp V6 outboards. Single-engine options include a 300, a 400 or 425 hp V10, or a 500R. One boat built with the 500R and a jack plate reached 60 mph. Depending on options, a Defender 22 runs from about $250,000 to $400,000.

With a 15-person crew welding every hull in-house, Jasper Marine now has boats in Seattle, California, Florida, Connecticut, Maine, the Great Lakes, eastern Canada and Europe.

Life is better on a boat, and particularly one like this. — Jeff Hammond, Co-Founder, BoatTEST