@waldmanmedia: What would you do?🤔 Eddie Smith Jr. could have sold Grady-White Boats for more than $400 million. Instead, he gave the company away. Smith bought Grady-White in 1968 at just 26 years old, when the Greenville, North Carolina boatbuilder was struggling. Nearly 60 years later, he has turned it into one of America’s most respected marine brands. Now, at 83, Smith has transferred control of Grady-White to a perpetual purpose trust, making sure the company can remain independent and cannot simply be sold to the highest bidder. But here’s the wild part: the profits aren’t going to Smith or his family. The company’s future profits will be directed through a nonprofit toward education, healthcare, conservation and community causes. Grady-White’s 350+ employees will also remain at the center of the company’s mission. Smith was inspired by Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, who made a similar move in 2022. After spending a lifetime building Grady-White, Smith chose not to cash out. He chose to protect the company, its people and its purpose. Would you make the same decision? #gradywhite #gradywhiteboats #boattrader

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Thursday 13 August 2026 21:45:52 GMT