Boat Builders of the Region

Boothbay Harbor has a rich history of boatbuilding that dates back to the early 1900s. The town's skilled craftsmen have been constructing boats for generations, creating a thriving industry that has shaped the local economy. Boothbay Harbor is home to numerous boatyards and marinas, where traditional wooden boats and modern fiberglass vessels are built and maintained. The town's boatbuilding heritage is celebrated annually during the Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days. This year we celebrate our Boatbuilders and Shipwrights who have made a significant contribution to our legacy.

If you would like to meet some of the boat builders, make this date on your calendar, for an informal Meet & Greet at Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort on Monday, June 24th, 3:30-5:00.

Each of our schooner sponsors have chosen an inspirational boat builder to celebrate during our Windjammer Days Festival. These explorers will be invited to a dinner to be held in their honor.

Skip Orne started boatbuilding when he was young, around 12 or 13 years old. He recalls helping his father, Kenneth Orne, with the rebuild of a smaller lobster boat on the weekends. He was able to learn a lot about boats, fairness of hulls and a lot of sanding! They used the boat to go lobstering in Linekin Bay that summer, which gave Skip an appreciation of what all the hard work had been for. Growing up in the area, with having family history/heritage in boatbuilding, Skip always had an interest in boats and crafting things. The feeling of accomplishment with seeing things many years down the road that he had been a part of creating. These are some experiences that led him to his now 30-year career in boatbuilding.

After college, Skip wanted to learn how to build his own house. He worked with various contractors, Skip also worked alongside his father more on small boat repairs and commercial fiberglass projects. He then worked at Goudy and Stevens when they were building the ferry boats for Bermuda. It was back in 1985 or 1986 where he met and learned from quite a few local boatbuilders, steel, wood and fiberglass. He joined up with John Abbe to help remodel the Opera House where his interest in boatbuilding was sparked further working alongside John.

Skip has worked with such great people/craftsmen over the years who have helped in getting him to where he is at today. Tim Hodgdon was his biggest influence. Tim’s desire to stay at the forefront of the boatbuilding process' allowed Skip to further his knowledge and skills, which springboarded him into instructing and mentoring others. Tim was always a reminder that doing the proper prep brings the best to the final project, saying that "If you're not 5 minutes early, you're 5 minutes late." Skip is very proud to be a part of the high school mentoring program they set up together. Andre Cocquyt, Master Composite Boatbuilder, was also kind enough to take Skip under his wing and furthered his knowledge of advanced composite boat building immensely. Skip helped him set up the MATC (Maine Advanced Technologies Center) at the old Times Record building in Brunswick, which was then folded into SMCC and relocated to the Air Base. Skip has worked for/as an adjunct instructor for SMCC/USM ever since along with certifying people in the Vacuum Infusion Process. There are many others like, John Abbe and John Ramsey who showed Skip an incredible amount of building and crafting skills. Skip has learned to listen as there are many ways to get to the end result, just try to keep the path steady and focused. When working as a team on large projects, everyone's job is critical to its success.

Some notable projects include, "Mako" a Navy Seal Technology Demonstrator built at Hodgdon Yachts with advanced composite materials and processes. Skip was able to help from the beginning, building many test panels and using very interesting material to prove the process chosen for this project, the Vacuum Infusion Process. They then tailored the process for future builds at Hodgdon, which they used on some special projects that won the Governor's Innovation Award. Skip was at Lyman Morse when they built (Navier) the advanced composite carbon fiber hull, deck and parts for a light weight build to allow for the foiling fins and electric motors. One if Skip’s favorite projects was being a part of the Comanche build, the last large boat built at Hodgdon, which has gone on to capture world records for a monohull sailboat. They were challenged to bring the A game and the team from Hodgdon did an outstanding job working together with world class boatbuilders. Setting up to build the hull tool was a huge task and went very smoothly. At the time it was the single largest carbon fiber oneshot vacuum infused part in the US to date. Recently he has been building a unique hybrid stringer/longitudinal grid system for a large cold molded boat being built by Rockport Marine. They subcontracted out the structural composite work to Steve Hassett at Custom Composites in Bath, where Skip is a sub/consultant. This grid system will also be integral fuel, water, gray water and black water tankage

Skip plans to continue building boats and to pass along the skills and knowledge he has through continued mentoring and instructing. The newer trends tend to be geared towards electric vessels, continuing to press the abilities of the materials and build specs. He would like to keep at the forefront of building processes and materials, but also stay close to his roots and work within the Boothbay community.

Bill Haggett, Former President of Bath Iron Works

Growing up in Bath in the 1940’s and early 1950’s with a father, uncles and grandfathers working in various capacities at BIW, I was generally aware of what was happening ithe shipyard and had great respect for the importance of their work…especially during the war years when BIW built 82 destroyer type combatants for our navy. I can recall being very proud of my father who was a Leading Man in the “tin shop” for 42 years. Dad actually overlapped my early years with the company in the 1960’s. But, I never really considered working in Bath or shipbuilding in my early years. Football, basketball and baseball at Morse…followed by a History, Government and Economics major at Colby really did not provide much of a technological or manufacturing background for me.

However, Dad proudly told me he was only late for work once and never absent for a day in all those years. I knew he loved the shipyard! And growing up in Bath I hero worshiped Pete Newell and Omar King. I learned at a very young age that Mr. Newell had restored shipbuilding in Bath (and saved the city) in the 1920’s and Omar King came out of college as WW2 was starting and was soon the major force in Bath and South Portland, creating shipbuilding operations that employed about 32,000 (mostly inexperienced) people building ships of high quality, efficiently and at incredible rates.

Although I could not build a rowboat, I joined BIW as a Buyer 2nd class in 1963 and for the next 28 years progressed through purchasing, contracts, public relations, marketing, operations, the Presidency and left as Chairman of the Board. I was blessed with some of the best managers and hands on shipbuilders in the world during that period. The shipyard grew rapidly and became much more diversified in the 70’s and 80’s . Building and repairing state of the art navy ships formed the backbone of BIW’s work as employment increased to 12,000 in the late 80’s…but we also built 20 large merchant ships during that period. It was an exciting time during which the shipyard was delivering many ships ahead of schedule and under budget.

During these very busy years I gained a tremendous amount of respect for Maine Maritime Academy and its graduates. They numbered over 100 (primarily Mainers) and filled very important positions within our workforce.

Although I spent as much time as possible out in the shipyard with our very skilled and hard-working employees (many from Boothbay, and lots of Morse pals) as a senior BIW manager for years, I felt fortunate and humbled to interface regularly with leaders of our country, the US Navy, Ship Captains and Crews. These included many American heroes such as Arleigh Burke and John McCain.

In the 1990’s I spent 5 terrific years in New Brunswick as President of Saint John Shipbuilding LTD while they were building nine patrol frigates for the Canadian Navy. Working for Jim Irving with a Canadian workforce was a very interesting and rewarding way to top off my shipbuilding career.

I loved shipbuilding and have always enjoyed working. Today Sally, my wonderful wife of 68 years, and I are volunteers involved in many local causes. My current focus is helping to expand childcare at the Bath YMCA.

Shipbuilders or boat builders, we are all blessed to live in Bath and Boothbay with salt water lapping at our shores!

My early life was spent around boats in Rhode Island where my father ran a boatyard and later two marine deck machinery manufacturers. I was always assisting him maintaining and repairing boats. In high school I worked summers in the machine shop doing whatever dirty jobs needed doing. As I went off to college I knew I wanted a career working with commercial workboats.

After 4 years, earning a degree in naval architecture, I took a position as an associate engineer at Bath Iron Works. At BIW I met Bruce Doughty who had a similar desire to build workboats. With the introduction of the 200 mile fishing limits we saw an opportunity to build fishing boats and worked out a plan to build a dragger on speculation. In 1977, with the assistance of several guys who knew what they were doing we built a 70 ft dragger. We had what they now call a mission statement a commitment to build to the highest quality at a fair price.

In the process of finding a buyer for the boat, we met Dick Goodwin of Rhode Island who liked the workmanship, but had a design for an 86 ft dragger that he wanted. We built 2 of the John Gilbert designed draggers for Dick and we were off and running. We later built two120 ft plus freezer trawlers for Dick.

We built 20 boats in Woolwich before relocating the yard to East Boothbay in 1985. They included draggers, scallopers, offshore lobster boats, schooners, and barges in the open on the banks of the Kennebec River. Several of those were John Gilbert designs. Most of the others were our own designs.

In 1985 we moved everything including the last 2 vessels (hull 20 -a 109 ft scalloper and hull 21-an 82 ft lobster boat) to East Boothbay. Over the years we built over 130 boats ranging from oil recovery barges to 180 ft plus passenger vessels. About 75% of the vessels were our own designs. In 1999 we won a contract to build six 92 ft tugboats which turned out to set us on a new course.

Over the years some of my highlights include a series of seven 82 ft lobster boats, a series of eighteen 92 ft tugs, and another series of twenty two (and counting) 93 ft escort tugs.

Over the years I saw the design phase of the business go from paper and pencil design and hand lofting to fully computerized design and lofting. Regulations have developed from independent surveyors and our interpretation of some rules to having to meet the full American Bureau of Shipping rules for large ships. The original ABS rules were a ½” thick book to a series of books about 6” thick.

In 2019 I retired from the business and aside from occasionally assisting the yard, my boat building has turned to working on a wooden rowboat in my workshop that is turning to a whole new learning experience.

I was born and raised in Marblehead, Massachusetts where I grew up on the water boating. I learned to sail at an early age as well as working on a commercial lobster boat. Growing up in and around boats left an indelible mark on me that initially led me to want to become a Naval Architect. I attended Tabor Academy due to the fact that they offered a course in boat design. While I was attending Wentworth Institute of Technology, my roommate discovered the Landing School of Design and Boat Building. I attended the Landing School for a degree in yacht design. Towards the end of my design year, the school director came around to see who would like to attend the boat building side of the school. Growing up, I

was always building things with my dad in the basement. I have the scars on my hands to prove that. It was a natural fit for me. A designer tries to create a 3D version of a boat in 2D. I really enjoyed taking that 2D drawing and creating a 3D part. I was hooked on building boats from that day forward.

I have been building boats for the last 36 years. It has been a very interesting ride so far. I have worked for several different companies over my career; ranging from traditional (plank on frame), cold-molded, pre-preg, and production boats. My longest tenure was working for Eric Goetz Custom Sailboats for 14 years. While I was there, I built some 92 different custom boats and 35 tank test models. They ranged from class specific racing sailboats (IOR, IMS, ILC, TP52, etc.), to cruising sail and power, to rowing shells, and to just building hulls to be finished by other companies. Some of the more interesting projects were a 26’ prototype river patrol interdiction boat for the Navy SEAL’s and a 160’ Ark to hang in the foyer of an office building in Detroit as a technical library.

Eighteen years ago, I started my own company and haven’t looked back since. I now finish off hull kits as commercial lobster boats, tuna boats, and cruising boats. I use what I have learned building high tech racing sailboats for the commercial boat world, light and strong. The first big commercial boat I finished off was a 48’ lobster boat. As never having built one before, the learning curve was quite steep and fun. That project put my company on the map. Right now, I am finishing off two 42’ hull kits as tuna boats. The first one is headed to Falmouth, MA and the second is going to Narragansett Bay, RI.

I have built many memorable boats. The first one was called Matador II, she was the largest racing sailboat to be built in the US since the J-boat era. I have also built 11 America’s Cup boats starting with Stars and Stripes ’92 through PACT 2000. The list includes all of the US syndicates; Stars and Stripes, all of the America Cubed boats, PACT 95 and 2000. The challenge to building these boats is that we had to build them to tight tolerances to make sure that they fit the rule. To verify that, they were all measured, ours were within 1.5mm of the design. I have also built several Whitbread and Volvo Ocean racing sailboats that were built to tight tolerances as well.

As I build each different boat, they all have their own challenges. They are all custom, no two are alike. Each build has a different learning curve because each one is built specific to each owner’s specifications. I really enjoy bringing the owner’s dream to reality. I still look forward to going to work every day.

My “journey “ has had high and low points, but mostly high and at times quite humbling, and most times it has provided a chance for a positive learning experience. My father J. Ervin Jones was a wooden boat builder and worked alone so when I was old enough to be of some help I would be in his shop helping. He always would have me stay home from school on the day he would be steam bending frames and as he bent the frames out to the ribbands and I would clamp them off. After two years at CMVTI, in 1974 I went to work for P. E. Luke Boatbuilders, working in the machine shop for two years. After that I started working for my father full time so I guess that’s fifty years.

My father of course had the most significant impact on me and I’ve always felt cheated that he died before I could fully appreciate what he was teaching me, but I’ve been lucky to have worked with many talented people like Tony Finocchiaro, David Stimson and the many shipwrights I worked with at The Boothbay Harbor Shipyard (Sample’s Shipyard). Also for working the last ten years with Tim Hodgdon and the super talented woodworkers he’s employed over the years. Building the sixty foot cold moulded ‘Moonrise’ was a highlight and totally new experience for me.

There are other people I didn’t work with but wish I had. My uncle Neil Jones and George ‘Sonny’ Hodgdon, both gone now. As well as Royal Dodge (retired) and Chip Haggett, who I worked with a little bit but wish I could of spent more time with him before he retired. These people were so talented and could have provided me with many learning opportunities. Just knowing the quality of work they demanded has given me the incentive to always try and do my best. Of course working for Tim Hodgdon you know he wants things done to these same very high standards. My advice when working with people you consider mentors is to keep your eyes open and watch carefully because there is always something to learn.

Although I don’t really think of any one most significant project, I would say just the overall building of a wooden boat, from the lofting on the shop floor to the building of the hull and all the steps of taking a pile of lumber and fitting each piece into the final outcome of a beautiful wooden boat. Currently I’m doing some of the woodworking projects that come up on storage boats at Hodgdon Yacht Services and some interior joinery being subcontracted to us by Hinckley Boats.

My plans for the future call for at least semi retirement. I do have an old Everett Barlow designed 30 foot lobster boat that I’m going to rebuild in order to keep my hand in wooden boats and hopefully to take my grandchildren out for boat rides.

I would like to thank all of those who have employed me and have allowed me to work on your boat and also to have put up with working with me. If I have enlightened anyone then I have come full circle.

Growing up in the Boothbay Region meant there was no escaping the water. From sailing lessons at the local yacht clubs, exploring all the coves of Linekin Bay and Ocean Point, snooping around in the local shipyards, Luke’s, Goudy and Stevens, as well as some afternoons in the scrap pile of Sony Hodgdon’s second floor shop. Building scale model boats in grammar school was my first boat building experience. Overall, just a love for water and building things has kept me at it. This led me into high school and trade school for building construction, working as a sub-contractor in our family construction business. Residential and commercial construction gave me some invaluable experience in the business world as well as work ethic.

My wife Margaret of 32 years and my two daughters, Robyn and Elizabeth, have been huge supporters throughout all of this.

Working with Tim and the crew at Hodgdon Yachts on a couple residential projects pulled me back closer to the marine world again. Along with working with my father doing construction, there have been a long line of people that have taught me and provided me with the experience and possibly just a swift kick when needed to get where I am. I have been surrounded by many great people over my career, Tim Hodgdon, Bruce Kinsey, Tom Brownell is just a small group.

I have worked for Tim at Hodgdon Yachts for 29 years; through this time, I have been completely humbled by the work we all at Hodgdon’s have completed. The talented people I have worked with over the years have been just incredible. Working closely with naval architects, designers, engineers, and owners who have entrusted all of us to create incredible works of art.

The responsibility I have had throughout some of the Hodgdon projects has been terrifying as well as exhilarating. The trust and opportunities presented to me are well beyond humbling. From the opportunity to build the tank test model for the 154’ Bruce King sailing yacht Scheherazade, to leading the production floor with Jon Keyes to build the 98’ Ted Fontain sailing yacht Windcrest. I think the Windcrest build has been my single most gratifying project, from working with the owners and naval architects from start to finish.

Managing the production of the Hodgdon tenders facility is my most recent assignment. We are building tenders from 6.5m to 12m to the highest of superyacht standards for some of the largest yachts. Hodgdon just recently launched its first fully electric boat, this is a 10.5m day boat. I look forward to building on my knowledge as new materials and techniques emerge into the industry.

I’ve had an appreciation for boats and the sea from a young age. I grew up lobstering on Southport.

In high school, I was an Ocean Classroom semester student on the schooner Harvey Gamage. I knew I wanted to continue working on the water. Afterwards, Nat Wilson took me on as a work study student at his sail loft in East Boothbay. Nat taught me everything I know. He also pushed me to continue sailing on vessels around the globe.

This is my 10th year at the sail loft. Although it doesn’t feel like it. I have made sails for everything from racing yachts to 17th century replica ships. I enjoy the challenge of building different kinds of sails by hand. The skills I’ve learned at the sail loft have made me a better sailor. This has really helped on the ships I have worked on.

Nat, of course, has had the biggest influence on my career. I’ve also learned a lot from all the captains I sailed under over the years. Captain Sam Sikkema has been a great mentor and friend to me. We’ve built a number of sails together in the last few years.

My favorite projects are for historical vessels. It allows me to preserve the high standards of traditional sailmaking. Those standards have almost been lost. This year’s projects include jibs for the Corwith Cramer, sloop Clearwater, and the schooner Adventure. Currently, I’m making a new topgallant sail for the brigantine Fritha.

My most notable project was building an entire suit of sails for the schooner Ernestina-Morrissey which was recently restored at Bristol Marine. This was my first restoration project. I was building the sails as the schooner was still being rebuilt. It was challenging because it was so big. The mainsail fills the YMCA gym! In total, I made 10 sails for her - all by hand. Working with the late shipwright David Short on the project was an honor. He helped make sure all the sails fit the ship perfectly. We both had high standards. I really enjoyed the work.

Last summer, Nat retired and I started my own sailmaking business out of his sail loft. I really enjoy seeing my sails being used. I always notice things in a sail that I like or might do differently. You are never done learning. I look forward to making sails for new and familiar boats. I'm proud to help preserve Maine’s maritime heritage.

Hodgdon Shipbuilding began in 1816. As I like to say, that is 4 years before Maine became a state. My career started in 1971 when I was still in high school, working summers and school vacations in my father’s (Sonny Hodgdon) small yard of half a dozen or so employees. He was a traditional “plank on frame” wooden boatbuilder. The first new boat I worked on was Sea Fever, that we built for Bobby Brown who was portrayed in the book/movie “The Perfect Storm”. I learned a lot working with those traditional boatbuilders including my father, Neil Jones, our bookkeeper Alice Thompson (who was the daughter of Boothbay Harbor boatbuilder Norman Hodgdon), and many others. Going back to 1816, I believe the company has built something north of 460 boats of all types. Most were built well before me by skilled wooden boatbuilders, building “state of the art” vessels of the day. How they built the boats that they did, I will never know. It is hard to imagine what they would think about boatbuilding today.

After graduating from Wentworth Institute in 1975, I spent 2 years offshore lobstering on the edge of the continental shelf on a 50’ boat that we built for “Marbleheader” Hugh Bishop. I later spent a season sword fishing on Sea Fever and following that, fishing with my good friend Charlie Begin. I learned a lot about working hard on the water with these guys and have tremendous respect for all the hardworking fishermen and mariners.

Always knowing that I would eventually rejoin the yard full time, in 1984 I became president of the company, and we began to “reinvent” the business by establishing a relationship with world class Californian yacht designer Bruce King who now lives in East Boothbay. Bruce has a keen eye, and we built a number of yachts to his designs including the 80’ M/Y Liberty, 124’ sloop Antonisa, and 155’ ketch Scheherazade. Subsequently, we grew the company to 5 divisions, building vessels from large sailing yachts with extraordinary interiors to an advanced composite “technology demonstrator” for the US Navy Special Forces/Office of Naval Research in partnership with UMAINE, as well as other contracts. Between 2010 and 2014 we built two very complex, 83’ carbon/Kevlar 5,400 HP, triple waterjet vessels and we delivered Comanche, a 100’ advanced composite super-maxi. Comanche smashed the transatlantic crossing record by a monohull shaving approximately 27 hours off the previous 6-day record as well as setting various other performance sailing records. At peak, the company grew to 150 talented and highly skilled people from managers, joiners, wood carvers, painters, systems people, advanced composite technicians, etc. including a team of in-house designers and engineers to support our yard’s construction. I was fortunate to be involved with this group of boatbuilders. It was a challenging but exciting time in large part due to the talents and innovation of our people from the Boothbay Region, the State of Maine, and elsewhere.

We founded the Shipyard Cup in 2002 to bring superyacht sailing to Boothbay Harbor for boats over 70’ which ran for 11 years. SYC Classics Challenge continues today as a somewhat revised event that still includes impressive sailing that is great for the Boothbay Region. It is part of the BHYC annual regatta.

Today we have downsized the company to 65-70 employees and are focused on the more predictable service side of our business and the still challenging but less risky superyacht tender business. We still have a very talented group across the company. This year, among other contracts in progress, we delivered an all-electric, carbon fiber 35’ recreational boat and we remain a diverse company, being the only yard in the US building infused superyacht limousines and tenders, under the Production leadership of Robbie Ham and team. Our service yard (which includes the marinas in Boothbay Harbor and Southport) is busy and known for quality/customer service thanks to GM/CFO Don O’Grady and our talented, dedicated staff. My daughter Audrey is Managing Director of boatbuilding and Sales/Marketing Director of the consolidated company. Her husband Caleb is in the engineering department and manages customer service and support.

Andy Tyska's career in the marine industry began in Fox Lake, Illinois, where he worked on small boats. His passion for boats and boatbuilding was evident, leading him to pursue skills in design and engineering. Andy graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, co-founding the engineering and design firm Bristol Harbor Group. These experiences laid the groundwork for an impactful journey in marine industry.

Andy’s career has been shaped by working with industry legends in the Bristol, Rhode Island, boatbuilding community. During his time working for Halsey Herreshoff, he learned from the grandson of the famous Nathanael Herreshoff much about the boatbuilding and manufacturing process. This early mentorship shaped Andy's approach to boatbuilding, as he connected and learned from other prominent figures like Barrett Holby, Eric Goetz, Kim Roberts, and John Merrifield.

One of the most significant influences on Andy's career was Ted Hood, with whom he worked alongside with Ted Fontaine and Matthew Smith on the design of custom sailing and power yachts and the development of the Whisperjet Powerboat Series. The insights and expertise gained from these experiences helped Andy refine his boatbuilding philosophy, blending tradition with modern techniques.

In 1998, Andy founded Bristol Marine, allowing him to further connect with the boatbuilding and restoration traditions in Rhode Island. Upon expanding Bristol Marine operations to Somerset, Massachusetts and Boothbay Harbor, Maine a network of skilled craftsmen was created to take on any project, from tallships to tenders. At Bristol Marine, he collaborated with some of the most skilled boatbuilders, working on a variety of projects that Andy Tyska, Founder/CEO Bristol Marine spanned both fiberglass and wood construction. His experience in various aspects of boatbuilding includes the completion of a 34-foot fiberglass sailboat and the design and production of the Bristol Harbor 21, leading to dozens of completed boats on the water. Other notable projects are the restoration and conversion of a 1911 40-foot wooden launch, and the new construction of a classic Peapod using modern techniques. It was a career defining event to play a part in the the restoration of the Ernestina Morrissey that was reborn at Bristol Marine’s Shipyard in Boothbay Harbor of several years.

Andy is currently involved in the completion of the second Bristol 30 in a three boat series. This project is significant as it carries on the vision and efforts of other local boatbuilders and connects the skills and expertise of craftsmen from each Bristol Marine facilities. Andy Tyska is proud to be part of a team of incredible, passionate, and committed individuals that each play a part in the collaborative effort necessary to build and restore boats. His commitment to bringing unique boatbuilding projects to life is a testament to his passion for the craft and dedication to the boatbuilding community.

Over one hundred vessels have slid down the ways into Linekin Bay out of Paul E. Luke, Inc. boat yard: lobster boats, power cruisers, sailboats (race and cruising) both wood and aluminum.

There is only one boatbuilder in this boatyard. Make no mistake whose yard it was, and who was boss. He was Paul Luke. Others worked here and moved on to become boat builders in their own yard: John Luke, Jim Jones, Matt Sledge, and others moved on and became successful builders in their own yard, but they passed through here.

In the early days, I was happy to come down to the yard, as it was full of friends and had a lot of energy in the air. There was always a lot going on… Never long after I arrived, either a broom or a shovel was pushed in my direction. I always knew where I wanted to work, the question was, “Where will I fit in?” As I grew a little taller, I could hold the butt end of plank while Earle Dodge sawed the bevels on the bandsaw and Wayne Moore adjusted the tilt on the table. Tince and Leon Tibbitts were the port side plankers (fitters and fasteners). Stanley Mitchell and my brother, John were on the starboard side. Billy Latter was in charge of getting and fitting oak butt blocks on the inside.

Securing enough of the right materials along with supervision for this gang, in addition to getting the next job and finishing this job to a standard was more than a full-time job for Paul.

We built boats for all the major yacht designers at the time: Auge Neilsen, Sparkman and Stephens, John Alden, McCurdy and Rhodes, M. Rosenblatt and Son, and others.

As time and fads moved on, the boats changed and so did the yard. Sails changed and more pressure was put on the hulls, so metal was added to the mix and thus the need for a machine shop. My brother John headed that up along with able help from Skip Rideout, Jim Jones, Steve Alley, and others. Earle Leavitt and even Sean Rowley – yes, THAT Sean Rowley, fabricated aluminum masts and booms. Lin Smith was a constant around the aluminum boats, bending frames and hull plating, making tanks or plumbing. Jack Hartford was in charge of electrical. With aluminum boats, the electrical systems were always a challenge. The hull was never a part of the circuitry, two wire floating and no ground – nice.

I am not a boatbuilder, I am a boatyard worker. This yard does storge and repairs. Keith Royall is chief motivator with very able help from Audley Smith. You can find my son Andrew running the office with wife Nora handling the books and keeping an eye on everything. I am happy to run to Grover’s as frequently as necessary.

Come see us. We have very well equipped, smart, able, and good-looking crew.