Sudbury boat manufacturer expands: Legend Boats primed to open 48,000-square-foot manufacturing, showroom space.

• Author: Migneault, Jonathan
• Position: Sudbury

By next spring, Sudbury's Legend Boats will conclude a three-year project to build a new state-of-the-art facility where it can design, produce, and sell its fleet of family fishing and leisure boats.

"Our employees have been very patient throughout this process," said Legend Boats co-manager Marc Duhamel. "We're working out of a facility that's really too small for what we're doing now."

The company's current facilities--a mishmash of several buildings along the Vermillion River, on the western outskirts of Sudbury--were only built to comfortably accommodate around 25 employees, but around 90 people now work for the manufacturer.

The new building consolidates everything under one roof, with manufacturing space, a display area and an orientation shop for customers.

"We're trying to create a really amazing experience for the consumer," said Jamie Dewar, Legend Boats' second co-manager.

When customers enter the 48,000-square-foot structure they'll be welcomed by a company representative who will guide them through their fleet of boats so they can find the right fit.

Once they choose their boat, they'll learn exactly how to operate it before they even get on the water.

Dewar said the 48,000-square-foot facility will also greatly improve employees' experiences.

Because of the facility's location on the outskirts of Sudbury, they've decided to build an in-house fitness centre for their workers.

Dewar said the fitness centre will make it easier for employees to work out before or after work, and will help encourage healthy lifestyles. The idea was also to make coming to work a more fun and enjoyable experience.

Most workstations will be set...