Jersey Cape 36: Carolina Flair, Garden State Attitude
By Scott Shane
The first Devil 36 manufactured by Jersey Cape Yachts rolled off the assembly line in 1998. Anyone who viewed the fluid lines, low profile and exaggerated bow flare of this mid-size express would easily have lost a bet if asked where the bones of this boat were laid. No one would have suggested Lower Bank, New Jersey.
“We displayed at the Annapolis Boat Show the following season and spent the entire time explaining who we were, how we came to be and then thanking people for their praise of our clean helm deck, open cockpit and of course the bow flare,” said Genine Puglise of Jersey Cape Yachts.
Wayne Puglise is the owner of Jersey Cape Yachts and originally met Genine at the Bertram Yard in Florida decades ago. Wayne convinced Genine to head to New Jersey and the husband-and-wife team have been making their mark on the boatbuilding industry, and expanded service yard, ever since.
In a business where conglomerates, long-standing builders and so-called experts have run companies into the ground, Jersey Cape Yachts and its team build quality custom boats, like the 36 Devil, and continue to thrive. The company has now delivered almost 40 of the 36 Devils with no let-up in demand.
“We packed up, headed to New Jersey and Wayne went on to find his next boat project. Randy Ramsey, (the legendary North Carolina boatbuilder) drew us a map of who we should go see and talk to. Wayne knew exactly what he wanted and wouldn’t compromise anywhere,” Genine Puglise said.
“He found the old Jersey Devil Project floundering here in South Jersey and before you know it, he bought a piece of property and the Devil molds,” she said.
The exact origins of the original hull from which the molds where made are known, but kept close to the vest. Suffice it to say North Carolina obviously had a major hand in the original concept.
Capt. Steve Leinbach runs a 2012 36 Jersey Cape for an owner in Nantucket. The original Forelle was a 1995 vintage that proved to be one heck of a fish-raiser. Their experience and confidence with the design was strong enough for them to go to Puglise and have his company replace the ol’ girl with a brand new one, one with all the new technology and excellent craftmanship Jersey Cape had at its fingertips.
“The first thing we knew was that we needed enough power to push us to our desired cruise speed. We load our boat with options others won’t necessarily carry on a hull this size. We’ve added a ton of weight to the boat with an Eskimo icemaker, plenty of additional fuel, a complete set of offshore survival gear, life raft and lots of tackle,” he said.
“Our first Devil had a pair of 370-hp diesels, which for the day were what fit. This boat has a pair of 600-hp Cummins that gives us a 27-knot cruise when we are fully loaded as we set out for a three-day, canyon trip,” Leinbach said.
Jersey Cape is a custom yard and the owner of the Nantucket boat wanted a fixed windshield. Not a problem for the builder. Due to extreme fog conditions and transiting the shipping lanes in the dark, the traditional hardtop and Eisenglass enclosure wasn’t an option. They blended the fixed barrier to the hull like it had seamlessly been part of the original design.
Her hull shape, both above and below the water line, certainly makes it not only a stunner but a true performer both inshore, offshore and around the marina. Her entry forward is a razor sharp 60 degrees and then flattens out gradually to a modest deadrise at the transom. These characteristics provide a soft landing off a beam sea and affords stability on the drift or when running in the trough. The near 15-foot beam keeps the 36-footer firmly planted.
The cockpit is just shy of 100 square feet thanks to that generous beam and uncluttered design of the hand-laid, fiberglass hull. The Devil can be outfitted to any owner’s needs on top of the standard array of rod holders, in-deck fish boxes, bait-prep area and sink and tackle storage locker. Options to make the Devil distinctively yours include an array of teak accents, trolling valves and custom hull colors.
Jersey Cape Yachts got on the map by using quality components and utilizing construction methods others might consider over-built. The mechanical spaces have many proprietary parts including custom engineered motor mounts.
The cabin confines follow the theme of big boat features in a compact platform. Berths are available to accommodate up to six in various bunk and dinette layouts. Standard items include galley with microwave and rod storage.
Truly, the most oft talked about appeal of the 36 Devil, by both the builders and owners is the fact this 36-foot boat can run with the big boys on practically any given day.
Sean O’Donnell runs his 2006 Devil out of Cape May, New Jersey. His is powered by a pair of 540-hp Cummins diesels that deliver a 30-knot cruise.
“The boat has great speed and the best part is the small-boat maneuverability and nimbleness. Kind of like a sports car for sportfishing. I moved up from a center console and now have way more comfort with relatively no increase in daily fishing expenses. It’s the perfect fit,” O’Donnell said.
Wayne Puglise and the folks at Jersey Cape Yachts gave this wonderfully designed hull a new lease on life as the original molds languished toward an unnecessary demise.
“Everyone we spoke with said the Devil ‘could be’ a great little boat, it just needed someone to really take the bull by the horns. The large cockpit and stable platform are always the first thing customers compliment and the fact they can still go anywhere the bigger boats go, just more efficiently,” Genine Puglise said, reiterating the opinions of her build’s loyal following.
The company isn’t sitting on its laurels. They have expanded the lineup to include custom fishing yachts to 48 feet, as well as the company’s 31-foot Little Devil. They’ve grown the service and customization side of Jersey Cape and have completed projects from repowers and mechanical updates to total renovation. It’s one-stop shopping to keep your classic timeless.
Its fluid lines and exaggerated bow flare showed Carolina influences.
