It’s a good time to be a boater in Sarasota—and not just because of our area’s sunny skies and blue waters. Sarasota is also home to Calcutta Marine International, a builder of bespoke Catamarans. Calcutta was founded in 1996 by Steve Ellis, who ran the company until 2022, when he sold it to business partners and friends Trent Zenkewicz and Keith Beach. This April, Calcutta acquired Andros Boatworks Inc., another longtime local boatmaker that’s known for its offshore fishing boats. For Zenkewicz, a former steel-industry executive who owned a Calcutta Catamaran before acquiring the company, it’s not all about business—it’s personal, too. “One of the happiest moments of my life is when we bought our Calcutta boat, and the memories that I was able to make with my family,” he says.

4

Number of models Calcutta produces, including its newly acquired Andros models. They are the Calcutta 263, a 26-foot Catamaran with dual engines; the Calcutta 323, a 32-foot Catamaran; the Andros Tarpon 26, a 26-foot fishing boat; and the Andros Offshore 32, a 32-foot center-console fishing boat.

Speed and Power

Twin-hulled Catamarans—which forgo heavy keels—are known for their stability, speed, ride and interior space. Andros’ line of boats, meanwhile, is designed for serious fishers and offshore excursions. 

Built From Scratch

Calcutta builds all its boats in its warehouse on Northgate Boulevard in Sarasota, a hub for local manufacturing. The company was previously located in Palmetto, but moving was “a strategic decision that put us closer to the water so we could run sea trials,” Zenkewicz says.

$200,000-$525,000

“The median price for our Calcutta 263 is about $235,000,” Zenkewicz says, “and for the 32-foot Catamaran, the median price is about $525,000.”

7-8 Weeks 

The average time it takes to build a Calcutta Catamaran

Bespoke Boats

Calcutta is a factory-direct business, so boats aren’t built until a customer orders one. That means the team has close relationships with its buyers, 33 percent of whom are repeat customers. “By the time someone takes ownership of their boat, they’ve become friends with at least one, if not several of us,” Zenkewicz says. “We go to their kids’ baseball games, their families’ weddings and so forth. It’s an extremely tight relationship.”

Making a Splash

“Every one of our boats hits the water a minimum of two times,” before being handed over to customers, Zenkewicz says.

18

Number of countries where you’ll find a Calcutta boat, from Senegal to Australia.