Based: Pensacola, Fla.
Employees: 1
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Business for recreational-boat builder Caribiana Sea Skiffs plummeted during the Great Recession, says owner Curse Morse, with orders altogether drying up midway through 2009. Morse grew hopeful that an economic recovery was underway when he landed two orders in early April 2010, only to see them canceled after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on Apr. 20. "I couldn't give a boat away," says Morse, 48. "Nobody knew what the extent of the damage would be to the Gulf Coast." Morse says he's seen an uptick in customer interest recently, although it hasn't offset last year's $100,000 loss.