Colbalt Boats announces $7M expansion plans in Neodesha

A southeast Kansas boat manufacturer will begin a multi-year expansion in Neodesha.

Cobalt Boats will expand in a nearly $7 million project to improve operational efficiency and quality.

“That kind of growth will be good for Chanute,” Chanute Regional Development Authority Matt Godinez said.

Cobalt Vice President of Operations Shane Stanfill said he could not release specific numbers, but the three-phase expansion will add jobs and increase the size of operations significantly.

He said the project will touch all areas and improve flow and equipment. Cobalt currently has 700 employees in 500,000 square feet of space. Stanfill said as the company has added efficiency, and that boats have become larger in size and more complex.

Cobalt expects to build 2,200 to 2,300 boats this year.