Custom boat taps into driver's passions

While NASCAR is his livelihood, family, fishing and boating are Jeff Burton's loves and passions.

Burton grew up in South Boston and fished often with his grandfather and father. He fished mostly freshwater ponds in the area, but often took trips to fish for striped bass in the lower Chesapeake Bay.

Throughout his life, Burton has had all sorts of boats - everything from an 80-foot motor yacht to a canoe.

It won't be long before he takes possession of his dream boat.

Burton is having a 46-foot Hatteras-style sport fishing boat built for him by Jarrett Bay Boatworks in Beaufort, N.C.

"I love to design and build," said Burton, who drives the No. 31 Chevy Cat car in the Sprint Cup Series. "I'm really excited about being able to build a custom boat."

Jarrett calls the boat The Jeff Burton Project. It will feature the company's 57th hull. Construction already has begun. Officials are hoping to have the vessel ready for delivery by the end of the year.

Burton has designed a boat that will be functional for the fishing needs of him and his 9-year-old son, but versatile enough to suit the cruising desires of his wife and 14-year-old daughter.

"We like to fish, they like to cruise," said Burton, who was fifth in the Sprint Cup standings entering the weekend. "So we've designed a few things that will meet both needs.

"When we're fishing, it's going to be 100 percent a fishing boat. But we can do a few things and turn it into a quality cruiser. I've seen a lot of these sport fishing boats in my time, and most of them, in my opinion, cruise more than they fish."

Burton has a home in Charleston, S.C., and plans to make that the boat's home port.

"And we love the Bahamas," he said. "So when there is time, we'll be spending a lot of it there."

Burton said he had been on the fence about buying a new boat for several years.

The fact that Caterpillar marine engines now feature the Zeus Pods outdrive system pushed him to the buying side.

The Pods system allows the boat to be navigated - even maneuvered sideways - with a video-game-like joystick. Hull 57 will be Jarrett's first pod-drive boat.

"They're a great sponsor, but more importantly, they have a great marine engine reputation," said Burton, 43. "I wasn't going to have a boat without Cats in it. And once you see how easy the Pods works, it was a no-brainer."

Jarrett has yet to see the hull, which is nearly complete, but plans to visit the construction site in the next few weeks.

"I can't wait to finally touch it," he said.

Fans of Burton's or of boat building can keep up with the vessel's progress by going to www.jarrettbay.com and clicking on the Jeff Burton Project.