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Marion Stewart and Sam Belling Celebrate a Pacific Coast Boating Lifestyle Aboard two Hinckleys BY ERIN LENTZ Just a few weeks after delivery of their Hinckley Sport Boat 40X, Sam Belling found himself in six-foot swells off the coast of Baja. As the owner of two Hinckleys (the other a Talaria 48 MKII) with his […]

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THE BROKERAGE

Since 1973, we have built well over 200 custom yachts – ranging in size from 28 to 70 feet–located virtually all over the world! We’ve built boats for Woods Hole Oceanographic and the Smithsonian… for the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest… for lobstermen and sport fishermen… for day trippers and for cruisers… Perhaps we can help you find a “new to you” vessel that will meet your boating needs. If you are ever up in beautiful Downeast Maine, please send an email or call and we can talk boats.

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About Sabre Yachts

The sabre yachts story, sabre yachts has been crafting luxury yachts since 1970 when the company’s founder set out to build the finest possible 28-foot sailing yacht using production line methods and fiberglass technology. over the next 40 years, sailboat models from 28 to 45 feet were introduced. in 1989 sabre debuted the sabreline 36 “fast trawler,” a tri-cabin motoryacht with the spaciousness and comfort of the trawler design but with substantially better performance than traditional trawler hulls. this launched sabre’s industry-leading motor yacht range., in march 1995, sabre acquired north end composites of rockland, maine, a major manufacturer of marine molds and production fiberglass parts. in 2002, north end composites began building the back cove yachts range of small to medium sized, single diesel engine motor yachts. today, more than 200 associates build the back cove range, which spans 34 to 41 feet in length., today sabre produces powerboat models from 38 to 58 feet in length with salon express and fly bridge variations. all current sabre models are constructed using our state-of-the-art, vip resin infusion technology. sabre’s boat building yards are located in both raymond, and rockland, maine.  in the raymond facility, 150 associates build motor yacht models from 38 to 48 feet in length. the sabre 58 is crafted out of sabre’s rockland location due to spatial requirements and its proximity to launch facilities. , through the years sabre has listened carefully to its owners and dealerships and has continuously refined each product with a model year improvement program. sabre motor yachts are sold worldwide, through a network of professional dealerships chosen for their reputation, location, and the quality of their sales and after sales service..

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Crafted in the Maine Tradition

Sabre yachts is renowned for our classic designs, industry-leading quality, and nautically sensible style. that reputation begins with our craftspeople and associates. their unceasing demonstration of artistry, dedication, and craftsmanship make sabre a criterion of the global boating industry and honors the centuries-old boatbuilding tradition of the state of maine – hence the company motto, “crafted in the maine tradition.”, sabre yachts, in conjunction with sister company back cove yachts, employs more than 350 maine craftspeople. our associates continuously demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of their role and its influence on the final product, and nearly a third of the sabre production team has been with the company for over a decade. low employment turnover, an emphasis on safe procedures and cross training, and a thorough awareness of each model’s competitive position in the marketplace have enabled sabre to exceed today’s high standards of excellence in manufacturing and design., through a series of quarterly meetings and regular team luncheons, associates are updated on changing business conditions, the company’s position in the marketplace,  and sales data & goals. they also receive information regarding best-practice changes, new safety regulations, and discuss quality and warranty claims. additionally, these meetings are used to acknowledge exemplary associates and celebrate notable tenure anniversaries., the production of every sabre yacht is monitored by an extensive quality assurance program. each yacht is assigned a “boat parent” who follows the boat through the manufacturing process, acting as the “eyes” of the consumer. all purchased parts and sub-assemblies are checked as they enter production, and each boat is given a 600-point inspection over six separate stages of the building process. all of our suppliers are chosen for their superior reputations and product excellence. as the yacht nears completion, a 12-page report is prepared by sabre’s lead inspector, along with a full technical inspection of all mechanical and electrical systems. finally, a gold inspection is performed by the boat parent, meant to judge the overall quality, feel, and appearance of the boat., when the yacht arrives at her dealership, a detailed commissioning checklist is completed, and a detailed report is sent back to sabre yachts. this process ensures that all systems are functioning to sabre’s satisfaction when the yacht is delivered into service. should clients or dealers report a problem, no matter how large or small, sabre’s after sales representatives work with the servicing yard to address them immediately. our after sales team also generates a customer quality report (cqr) which is circulated to all appropriate members of the management, engineering, and production teams., for more information about our company or our yachts, please feel welcome to contact us . , design philosophy, sabre’s design philosophy.

“The architectural concept of ‘informed simplicity’ is something that I carry around with me. It’s both a goal and an approach to design. At Sabre, each design must be a boat first, and that mandate informs the lines, shapes and spaces that eventually grow into a new model. I think that Sabre has challenged people’s notion of what ‘Downeast’ can be.  Not to say the designs don’t carry the timeless Downeast appeal – they do – but there’s almost a flirtation with irreverence that speaks to the fact that we’re not afraid to push boundaries if it results in a better boat.” – Kevin Burns, VP of Product Development and Design

The Sabre range is a development of the comfort and tradition of the Downeast style, blended with the performance of a contemporary motoryacht. The Sabre range today consists of two boat styles. The classically styled Fly Bridge with upper and lower helm stations, and Salon Express models with enclosed helm decks and spacious cockpits. This diversity of product styles makes the Sabre range one of the most flexible and versatile ranges in the boating industry today.

At low engine speeds, the sabre range is very fuel efficient and at speeds of 8-10 knots, where trawler yachts operate, low-speed gunkholing is a pleasure. but it is when conditions or time allow for higher speed that the performance of the sabre’s deep-vee hulls truly comes into its own.typical cruising speeds, with average weight and conditions, are in the 20-knot range and top speeds, with average load and conditions, are around 30 knots. higher speeds are available on some specific models. in rough sea conditions, the spray rails and chines of the sabre hull keep the deck and windshield dry.   , sabre’s management team, daniel zilkha – chairman, ed miller – vice-chairman, aaron crawford – president & chief executive officer (ceo), nancy basselet – chief financial officer (cfo), kevin burns – vice president of design & product development, lynn beaudoin – national sales manager, glenn campbell – engineering manager, daniel zilkha – co-chairman, daniel zilkha was founding partner in soditic s.a., a geneva-based investment bank. he moved to new york in 1973 and was the founder and publisher of art & auction magazine. daniel came to portland, maine, from new york in 1983 and has been involved with several maine companies. he is currently a partner in ram euro centers as well as being fully involved in the day-to-day operations of sabre yachts, back cove yachts, and north end composites. daniel holds a bachelor of science in engineering degree from princeton university and an mba from the harvard graduate school of business administration., ed miller was a vice president at rothschild inc. in new york, from 1972 to 1980. then founded island couriers and in less than eight years developed this express delivery service in 22 countries throughout latin america and the caribbean. he sold the company to federal express in 1987 and went on to serve as president of the newly created federal express (caribbean and south america) ltd. he is currently the chairman of westwind management. ed holds a bachelor of engineering degree from texas a&m university and an mba from the harvard graduate school of business administration., aaron crawford – president & chief executive officer (coo), aaron crawford is responsible for manufacturing operations as well as supervising engineering, customer service, and warranty. aaron is a 20 year veteran of the marine industry, holding positions with sparkman & stephens yacht design, carroll marine ltd., and outerlimits offshore powerboats before joining sabre yachts. aaron attended drake university in des moines, iowa and is a graduate of the landing school of yacht design based in kennebunkport, maine. in addition to his extensive industry experience, crawford has logged several thousand miles of offshore sailing, racing and motor yacht experience., nancy basselet has been with sabre yachts since 1977, making her the company’s longest tenured officer. nancy initially joined the sabre purchasing team and continued on to develop experience and expertise in all of the departments she now oversees. as sabre’s chief financial officer, nancy supervises the company’s financial, purchasing, and personnel operations. nancy holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the university of maine. , kevin burns – vice president design and product development, kevin burns is a former us merchant marine officer and was born and raised in ohio where he was educated at miami university before moving east to begin his career in yacht design. kevin studied engineering while serving in the united states coast guard, and went on to graduate from the design program at the landing school of yacht design. he served as a naval architect with setzer design group in north carolina before joining  sabre yachts & back cove yachts in 2006. , lynn beaudoin – national sales manager, lynn beaudoin is responsible for coordinating sabre’s dealership network throughout the united states, representing the company at shows and events around the country, and managing owner relations. lynn also organizes sabre’s production calendar, build specifications, and facilitates communications between the engineering and production teams. lynn has expertise in all levels of sabre production and sales, including seven years of experience on the after sales team. , glenn campbell – engineering manager, glenn has been an integral member of our engineering team since 1997 and has contributed to more than sixteen new models in that time. glenn received a bs in industrial technology from the university of southern maine and initially joined the sabre engineering team as an intern while he was completing his degree., design team, sabre’s design team, the sabre & back cove yachts design team translates the companies’ vision into reality., comprised of management, design, and engineering staff, the sabre yachts design team is responsible for the conceptual level of the design process. the department of design & product development then translates those parameters into functional designs, and the companies’ respective departments of engineering then facilitate the production process. sabre’s design team meets regularly to discuss present models and to propose, discuss, and plan future designs. the design team includes:.

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New Yacht Designs

Being a custom boatbuilder means that we are awarded the opportunity to work with a wide range of naval architects, from design firms such as Sparkman & Stephens, C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, and Stephens Waring Yacht Design. Here you’ll find a representation of concepts from some of the designers we’ve collaborated with over the years. These new designs are ready to be personalized and brought to life — Call us today to make one your own.

Blackwatch 45

The new Blackwatch 45 is a hybrid electric displacement motor yacht capable of long range, comfortable and safe passage making.

Ladd 110 Sloop

The Ladd 110′ Sloop is the latest 100+ footer from Rob Ladd Yacht Design. With an eye for aesthetically pleasing lines, Rob believes this boat fits the true definition of a “modern classic”.

The Hood 35 by Lyman-Morse combines C.W. Hood Yacht Design’s acumen with Lyman-Morse’s craftsmanship in a dayboat to remember.

LM46 Performance Cruiser

The LM46 is a high-performance, low-maintenance, bespoke yacht that will reconnect you to what matters.

Monhegan 42 Extended Cruiser

The Monhegan 42 is a 42- foot cruiser with a single 300hp engine driving a propeller partially housed in a tunnel.

JUTSON 80 POWERCAT

The larger of the two Jutson Cats, with the 80 PowerCat you can go farther and stay away longer with all the comforts of home.

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About Back Cove

The back cove story.

Utilizing production line method and vacuum infusion technology Back Cove Yachts leads the industry in 34′ to 41′ cruisers. Currently, more than 750 Back Coves can be found in harbors from Greece to Norway and from Japan to Australia and New Zealand. In the USA boats have found their way to almost every body of water from the coasts to inland lakes.

Back Cove Yachts are built by 200 of Maine’s finest boat builders in a modern 240,000 square foot facility in Rockland, Maine. Back Cove associates continuously demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of their role and its influence on the final product. Team dynamics, an emphasis on safe procedures and cross training, and a thorough awareness of each model’s competitive position in the marketplace have enabled are essential ingredients that allow Back Cove yachts to exceed today’s high standards of excellence in manufacturing and design.

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Back Cove’s Management Team

• DANIEL ZILKHA – Chairman
• ED MILLER – Vice-Chairman
• JASON CONSTANTINE – President & Chief Operating Officer (COO)

NANCY BASSELET – Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

• KEVIN BURNS – Vice President of Design & Product Development
• JAMIE BLOOMQUIST – National Sales Manager

Daniel Zilkha was founding partner in Soditic S.A., a Geneva-based investment bank. He moved to New York in 1973 and was the founder and publisher of Art & Auction Magazine. Daniel came to Portland, Maine, from New York in 1983 and since then has been involved with several Maine companies. He is currently a partner in Ram Euro Centers as well as being fully involved in the day-to-day operations of Sabre Yachts, Back Cove Yachts, and North End Composites. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

ED MILLER – Vice Chairman

Ed Miller was a Vice President at Rothschild Inc. in New York, from 1972 to 1980. Then founded Island Couriers and in less than eight years developed this express delivery service in 22 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. He sold the company to Federal Express in 1987 and went on to serve as President of the newly created Federal Express (Caribbean and South America) Ltd. He is currently the Chairman of Westwind Management. Ed holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

JASON CONSTANTINE – President & Chief Operating Officer (COO)

In his role as President and Chief Operating Officer with Back Cove Yachts, Jason is responsible for all manufacturing operations. Jason began his career in the industry in 2003 with Sabre Yachts as a member of the assembly team, building the Sabreline 47. In 2007, he made the move to Rockland to manage Back Cove production. Previously, Jason worked in pharmaceutical manufacturing in Virginia, charter sport fishing in North Carolina, and environmental education in South Carolina. Jason is a graduate of Stonehill College, holding an Honors B.S. in Biology. 

Nancy Basselet has been with Sabre Yachts since 1977, making her the company’s longest tenured officer. Nancy initially joined the Sabre purchasing team and continued on to develop experience and expertise in all of the departments she now oversees. As Sabre’s Chief Financial Officer, Nancy supervises the company’s financial, purchasing, and personnel operations. Nancy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Maine.

KEVIN BURNS – Vice President Design and Product Development

Kevin Burns is a former US Merchant Marine Officer and was born and raised in Ohio where he was educated at Miami University before moving east to begin his career in yacht design. Kevin studied engineering while serving in the United States Coast Guard, and went on to graduate from the Design Program at the Landing School of Yacht Design. He served as a Naval Architect with Setzer Design Group in North Carolina before joining  Sabre Yachts & Back Cove Yachts in 2006.

JAMIE BLOOMQUIST  – National Sales Manager

As the National Sales Manager, Jamie is responsible for organizing build specifications, coordinating production schedules, managing sales leads and owner relations, and representing the company at shows and events across the United States. Jamie has fifteen years of experience as a photographer, specializing in adventure sports, outdoor, and marine photography. He is the co-founder of US Harbors, a website delivering coastal data to over 4 million users, as well as Affinity Guides, which offers customer development software for event marketers in the outdoor industry.

Design Team

Back cove’s design team.

The Sabre & Back Cove Yachts design team translates the companies’ vision into reality.

Comprised of management, design, and engineering staff, the Back Cove Yachts Design Team is responsible for the conceptual level of the design process. The Department of Design & Product Development then translates those parameters into functional designs, and the respective companies Departments of Engineering then facilitate the production process. Back Cove’s design team meets regularly to discuss present models and to propose, discuss, and plan future designs. The design team includes:

• ED MILLER – Vice-Chairman
• ADAM CARLSON – Engineering Manager
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©2024 Back Cove Yachts 23 Merrill Drive - PO Box 548 - Rockland, ME - 04841 +1-207-594-8821 Contact Newsletter   Press   Careers

“I start from the premise that no object created by man is as satisfying to his body and soul as a proper sailing yacht.”

– arthur beiser 1978, the proper yacht, “a boat is like a magic world, like a little island.”, – renzo piano, “i cannot not sail.”, – e. b. white, “boats, like whiskey, are all good.”, – r. d. culler, “the perfection of a yacht’s beauty is that nothing, should be there for only beauty’s sake.”, – john macgregor, “ships are the nearest thing to dreams that hands have ever made.”, – robert n. rose, “at sea, i learned how little a person needs, not  how much.”, -robin lee graham, “it’s out there at sea that you are really yourself.”, -vito dumas, “now voyager sail thou forth to seek and find.”, -walt whitman, “being on a boat that’s moving through the water, it’s so clear. everything falls into place in terms of what’s important and what’s not.”, -james taylor, “there’s nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as messing about in boats.”, -kenneth grahame, “the goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help, the boat sail herself.”, – john rousmaniere, “the gods do not deduct from a man’s allotted span, those days spent sailing.”, -ancient proverb, “there is little man has made that approaches anything in nature, but a sailing ship does. there is not much man has made that calls to all the best in him, but a sailing ship does.”.

-Allan Villiers

…in the news:  SOUNDINGS Magazine

  “As a truly custom shop, there’s no limit to what we can do.” – Alec Brainerd read more

…news from the yard:  

Winter News 2024

It’s been a year since our last newsletter and, as always, there’s a lot going on! Our biggest news is the project currently underway – a 12-Meter luxury daysailer designed by Stephens Waring Yacht Design in Belfast, Maine.

…current projects: 39′ Luxury Daysailer

Our latest project is a new 39′ luxury daysailer designed by Stephens Waring Yacht Design of Belfast, Maine. see more

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Artisan Boatworks’ team of master wooden boat builders have partnered with visionary owners to build more licensed replicas of Herreshoff designs than any other builder since HMCo closed its doors in 1944.

Over the past two decades our craftsmen have earned a reputation for the world’s finest custom replicas of classic daysailers, runabouts, launches, Downeast picnic boats, and rowing craft. For the true connoisseur of natural materials we employ traditional plank-on-frame construction, and for cutting-edge performance we excel in the application of cold-molded epoxy, sheathed strip, and carbon-fiber composites – all while maintaining the timeless beauty that embodies the spirit and intention of yachting’s greatest designers.

RESTORATION

No wooden boat with significant history and pedigree is beyond repair. Our team of restoration specialists has developed a renowned understanding of the research, appraisal, and approach necessary to return important heirlooms to as new or better condition, which is why the most discerning owners throughout the world continue to bring their projects to Artisan Boatworks.

Our particularly holistic approach to restoration is built on several decades of experience lofting and re-establishing hull shape and sheer, identifying and correcting short-sighted fixes and engineering deficiencies; and preserving original design details, materials, and techniques.

STORAGE/SERVICE

Our clients are extremely proud of their wooden boats, and recognize that specialized off-season storage and expert finishing are critical to their health, appearance, and performance.  The service department at Artisan Boatworks cares for over sixty of these distinguished wooden boats, rivaling the capacity of any such yard in the Northeast. Our greatest source of pride, however, is our reputation for the extraordinary level of individualized customer service, world class standard of finish, and custom tailored maintenance services we bestow upon each and every boat and owner.

From New York to Northeast Harbor – experienced wooden boat owners choose Artisan Boatworks’ full service “mooring to mooring” storage and maintenance program for our proven efficiency, accountability, and because we love the boats in our care like family.

Custom boat builders creating commercial and pleasure boats in Downeast Maine

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The Working Waterfront

Maine boatbuilding: busy, but fraught, diversified industry faces labor, supply shortages.

Think of Maine and some classic images come to mind. The North Woods. Blueberry barrens. A rockbound coastline dotted with tiny communities where fishermen land their harvest of Maine’s iconic lobster. The image likely includes lobster boats moored in a placid harbor, often among handsome sailboats or sleek powerboats.

Most of those boats, both the rugged fishing boats that bring millions of dollars of lobsters and other sea creatures ashore each year and the elegant yachts, were likely built by Maine boatbuilders, continuing a tradition that dates back a century or more.

Historians name the 51-foot sailing vessel Virginia, launched by English settlers at the mouth of the Kennebec River in 1607, as the first ship built by Europeans in the New World, but even if one doesn’t look that far back Maine had a well-established boatbuilding industry by the early 19th century. Shipyards along the coast built square-riggers and schooners that engaged in worldwide commerce—Bath Iron Works was founded in 1884—and countless boatyards built small fishing vessels, some, like the Friendship sloop and the peapod, still synonymous with Maine though primarily used for recreation by 21st Century “rusticators.”

According to the industry trade association Maine Built Boats, boatbuilding in the state generates annual industrywide sales of more than $650 million and some 5,000 jobs. Many of those jobs are at the shipbuilder Bath Iron Works or larger yacht builders famous for their craftsmanship and technology, but there are also plenty of small boat shops where a few artisans—sometimes a single craftsman—hand build boats as elegant and technologically advanced as any.

Some builders craft boats that trace their lineage directly to the boats used a century or more ago for fishing in Casco Bay, around Vinalhaven, or Beals Island, with the modern lobster boat’s lines developed by designers such as Calvin Beal Jr., Ernest Libby, and the Lowell brothers—Royal and Carroll—among others. Some shops build sail or powerboats from the lines of such iconic yacht designers as Nathaniel Herreshoff or Maine’s own Joel White, or work with naval architects from around the world who draw boats at the leading edge of design.

Some boat shops are run by artisans who learned boatbuilding from their fathers or grandfathers. In Bass Harbor, Richard Stanley builds wooden lobster boats and sailboats using techniques he learned from his father, Ralph Stanley, famous for his Friendship sloops.

In Yarmouth, the Lowell brothers are sixth-generation boatbuilders, descended from the legendary Will Frost, the “father” of the modern Maine lobster boat, who began building Maine’s first engine-powered fishing boats on Beals Island more than a century ago. And there are a great many small boat shops along the coast without the historical connections but still building classic wooden boats—sailing and power, working or recreational.

Some of Maine’s best-known yacht builders also have deep connections to Maine’s boatbuilding history.

Hodgdon Yachts, founded in 1816, is still family run and builds elegant custom sailing and power yachts, and high-speed tenders for megayachts, in East Boothbay. A few years ago, Hodgdon built an enormous oven at its boat yard to bake the carbon-fiber hull and components for a record setting 100-foot sailing yacht.

Hinckley, synonymous with fine American yachts, builds its picnic boats, powerboats, and sailboats a few miles up the road from the Southwest Harbor boatyard where Henry R. Hinckley started the company in 1928 and built his first boat in 1933. Lyman-Morse, a relative “newcomer” founded in 1978, builds custom yachts in Thomaston, continuing a tradition of boatbuilding in the former Morse family boatyard dating back more than a century.

Sabre Yachts, founded in 1970, and the younger, related Back Cove Yachts, may lack history but not pedigree. Virtually unique in Maine, Sabre and Back Cove sell their motor yachts through dealers, not directly to individual customers. The boats themselves allow relatively limited customization, but all feature a Downeast look and modern production techniques coupled with traditional Maine craftsmanship.

Large or small, Maine’s boatbuilders are a happy bunch, Phil Bennett, Hinckley’s longtime vice-president for sales and marketing and now a senior business advisor to the company, said recently.

“Stop in and ask for a cup of coffee in pretty much any boat shop and you’ll see smiling faces,” he said.

Because companies best known for their custom yachts—Hinkley, Lyman-Morse, Brooklin Boat Yard, Hodgdon, and a few others—“are not high-volume builders,” Bennett said, none of them has “a huge orderbook they have to build” to stay profitable. The companies he mentioned, and most smaller Maine boatbuilders too, build their boats, whether fiberglass lobster boats or custom wooden sailing yachts, to order rather than on spec. “Their order books are full,” Bennett said.

Wesmac Custom Boats builds large and expensive, fiberglass lobster boats, research and patrol boats for state environmental and enforcement agencies, and “battlewagon” sportfishermen that venture far offshore hunting trophy-winning gamefish. President Steve Wessel echoed Bennett’s take.

“Business is extremely strong, and it’s been strong for quite a while,” Wessel said recently. “We could build as many boats as we want.”

But Wesmac can’t really do that. Citing the wait time for a new boat of up to five years for potential customers, Wessel said “We’re turning a lot of work away.” The principal reason for the lengthy delay? “We can’t get enough help.”

Wesmac is hardly the only Maine boatbuilder coping with a labor shortage. Hinckley, advertising jobs on Facebook recently, was offering a $2,000 sign-on bonus for experienced marine carpenters and was trying to fill several other production jobs. Even Bath Iron Works is in a constant hunt for workers, currently advertising jobs ranging “from accounting to engineering to pipefitting to design and everything in between.”

“There’s not one boatbuilder that wouldn’t hire X number of people, if they could get them,” Bennett said.

Bennett attributed at least some of the labor shortage to the recent construction boom that sucked workers away from boatbuilding. And while he noted a recent shift by some young Mainers away from four-year colleges into technical education and traditional trades, he and Wessel both said there was some apparent reluctance among new workers to put in the long hours busy boatbuilders demand. Assuming boatbuilders can find the help they need as construction slows, they still face plenty of issues. Wessel cited rapid and unpredictable increases in the cost of essential materials like fiberglass and resin. Bennett and other boatbuilders talked about supply chain problems that have rendered some parts and basic materials virtually unobtainable by manufacturers and suppliers Maine boatbuilders depend on.

Also on the horizon, particularly for boat shops building lobster boats, is the uncertain impact of coming federal whale protection regulations on the lobster industry. That uncertainty is compounded by the extremely low boat price for lobster this summer coupled with the high costs—primarily for diesel fuel and bait—of fishing.

While the labor market always fluctuates and supply chain problem will abate eventually, Bennett said, boatbuilders, like fishermen, face diminishing access to the waterfront. As more people, many of them with substantial assets, move to Maine, boatyards and other shorefront owners are facing increased pressure to sell their property. Another concern: the cost of compliance with stricter environmental and workplace safety regulations, most acute for smaller boat shops.

Still, the outlook for Maine boatbuilders is hardly bleak. The industry has survived wars, depressions, a punitive luxury tax and is still going strong. The best evidence: several boatyards launched substantial new projects—commercial and recreational—in recent months and have more big projects under construction or on order.

“I’m very optimistic,” Bennett said, “because we are different and people are starting to recognize that.”

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• Commercial Cruiser

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General marine is a maine based boat builder specializing in four model sizes ranging from 20' skiffs to 36' commercial downeast cruisers..

Located on the coast of Maine, General Marine has focused on meeting the needs of experienced boaters. Seasoned pleasure boaters and commercial fisherman alike have come to appreciate the proven design, quality materials, and workmanship that goes into every General Marine boat. We have been accused of overbuilding our boats at General Marine, but our goal has never been to build the lowest cost vessel. Instead our mission is to provide lasting value that endures long after the initial commissioning.

Quality & Satisfaction

A history of satisfying knowledgeable boaters.

Some other builders have come and gone, but General Marine has steadily grown over the years based on the word of mouth recommendations of satisfied owners.

What can we help you find?

Custom wooden boatbuilding yacht restoration yacht design.

Rockport Marine’s team of craftsmen design, build, and restore some of the world’s most renowned wooden yachts.

A shallow ballast keel slotted for a centerboard not only means that the Little Wolf-38 floats in only three and a half feet of water but also that you can bring her into a beach and, in waist-deep water, walk all around . . .

The R37 is an ideal dayboat and yet is remarkably well-equipped for simple cruising. With roots in the lobster yachts from the 1950s by Newbert and Wallace, the type and scale were selected to balance sea kindliness, moderate speed . . .

Restoration

At the beginning of the global pandemic LATIFA paused a long-range cruise and returned to Rockport Marine for a systems refit, interior joinery, cosmetics upgrade, and a rig inspection.

Project Ouzel

Hull of 95-foot sailing yacht goes right-side-up for the first time.

Currently in construction is a milestone project for Rockport Marine, Project Ouzel, a 95′ (29m) cold-molded classic performance sloop.

Rockport, Maine

Service & storage.

Custom Wooden Boatbuilding Yacht Restoration Yacht Design Rockport Marine’s team of craftsmen design, build, and restore some of the world’s most renowned wooden yachts.

Directory of Builders and Service Yards

Annually Maine Built Boats publishes a directory of its members: the best boat builders and service yards in the state. It’s available free at boat shows, members’ yards, and retail outlets throughout New England.  Download this year’s directory.

C ottrell Boatbuilding is Maine’s largest builder of small wooden boats. We build all manner of small boats for rowing and sailing. Wherries, Dinghies, Yacht Tenders, Dories and Daysailers. We also build custom boats.

As a family business, we do what some have said cannot be done, we make a living building small wooden boats. With more than forty five years experience, Maine boatbuilder Dale Cottrell works along side his sons Ben and Seth, each of whom have over twenty years of boat building experience (they started in the shop while still in their teens). Each boat is handcrafted with the utmost attention to detail– from choosing the cedar for planks at the local mill, selecting trees from the local woods for oak frames, to installing the finest bronze hardware available. At every step, we strive for the very best, not only from ourselves, but also from our suppliers. You can see and feel the quality of our workmanship.

Right here on the coast of Maine where legions of famous and not so famous boatbuilders have plied their trade, we are honored and humbled to be able to do this work. Most of all, it is a gift to be able to build these boats.

The Maine Boatbuilder & Modern Wooden Boats

As much as we love building traditional plank on frame boats, we realize it is not for everyone. These days a lot of our boats are a more modern composite construction, mainly glued lap wood epoxy. The new modern wooden boat. Due to this modern construction method, our boats result in a very rugged, lightweight, strong hull that is also less expensive and very easy to maintain.

Regardless of which building method you choose, if your intention is to get on the water in a beautiful small wooden boat for rowing, sailing, exploring, or using as a yacht tender, come talk to us.

You will find that your boat will be built with the care and expertise that you expect from true genuine craftsmen. You can trust boatbuilders Dale, Ben and Seth to build the boat of your dreams. Many have.

First, it all starts with a call to Lynn, Wife, Mom and Chief bottle washer. She can answer your questions, help you decide what boat will fit your needs the best and help you get the process started. Please call today 207-548-0094. We would love to hear from you!

We possess the talent to build your boat to your uncompromising standards. Dale and sons, Ben and Seth, have a natural affinity that is evident in their work.

We stand behind our words. period. We will build your dream boat and we will always stand behind our work.

Dale has built hundreds of boats over the last forty years. He has passed the skills and knowledge gleaned from those years to his sons who are carrying on the family tradition of boat builders.

Carry It Through , a film by Sara Quinn

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2024 Show Poster Unveiled

Monday, april 22nd 2024.

The producers of the 2024 Maine Boat & Home Show have unveiled the new poster design for the annual celebration of boats and life on the coast. The poster features a painting by downeast Maine artist Philip Frey, who is known for his colorful and light-filled images of the coast.

Produced by  Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors  magazine, the Maine Boat & Home Show will take place this year from Aug. 9-11 on the waterfront in Rockland, Maine. The painting featured in this year’s poster depicts the red-trimmed dockhouse at Rockport Marine, sail and power boats on the dock, and the misty harbor beyond.

©Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors

“It’s a quintessential Maine waterfront scene,” said Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Publisher Ted Ruegg, “which is the life we promote at our annual show.”

The annual boat and home show shines a spotlight on boats, marine products, art, furniture, and other fine hand-made crafts, and celebrates makers and artists like Frey, Ruegg said.

Frey said he painted this image while wandering along the coast a few years ago. “I had seen some other images of the area and never done this view before,” he said. “I was drawn by the depth and the sense of light.”

Frey studied at Columbus College of Art and Design and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Painting from Syracuse University in 1990. He lives in Sullivan, Maine, where he maintains a full-time studio nestled in the woods.

“I make paintings that are inspired by the landscape, architecture, interior spaces, and the figure. In my daily experience, I pay close attention to the ephemeral qualities of light, color, and pattern that often go unnoticed,” he said. “I like to look for areas that have a sense of depth where there are multiple things happening, in the foreground, middle, and background, and a way to create interest and depth with objects.”

His painting process involves the use of brushes, palette knives, and squeegees to develop a rich paint surface and abstractions that evoke a sense of momentariness.

Frey’s work has been highlighted in several books, including Philip Frey: Here and Now , by Carl Little and Daniel Kany, and in numerous publications, and is held in private and corporate collections both nationally and internationally.

He is represented in Maine by Courthouse Gallery Fine Art in Ellsworth, which will feature his work in a solo show this summer June 7-July 5; Greenhut Galleries in Portland; and Carver Hill Gallery in Camden, as well as in Vermont by the Edgewater Gallery in Middlebury.

The show will feature boats in the water and boats on land, plus music, art, food, furniture, and fun. The show was founded in 2003 by Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine. or more information about the show and to purchase tickets, head to the Boat Show Section of the maineboats.com website.

Photo Credits: Philip Frey standing in front of some of his paintings courtesy Philip Frey;  Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine booth at the 2023 Maine Boat & Home Show, photo by Peach Frederick.

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2023 Maine Boat & Home Show ×

Join Us for the Maine Boat & Home Show !

Art, Artisans, Food, Fun & Boats, Boats, Boats

August 11 - 13, 2023 | On the waterfront, Rockland, Maine

Click here to pre-order your tickets.

Show is produced by Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine.

Bangor Daily News

Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries

Woman who crashed into building, killing boy and his sister, arraigned on murder charges

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A Michigan woman was arraigned Tuesday on second-degree murder and other charges after prosecutors say she drunkenly crashed her SUV into a boat club that was hosting a child’s birthday party, killing a young brother and sister and injuring several other people.

Marshella Chidester, 66, did not enter a plea to the eight counts she faces in Saturday’s tragic crash at the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Detroit.

During a court hearing that was livestreamed, Chidester’s right arm was in a cast from just above the elbow to her fingers.

She has been jailed since the crash and the judge set her bond at the $1.5 million prosecutors requested after relatives of some of the victims asked him to set it at that level.

In arguing for the $1.5 million bond, prosecutor Jeff Yorkey told the court that Chidester has had substance abuse issues that were corroborated by her friends and family.

Defense attorney Bill Colovos asked the judge to set Chidester’s bond at $100,000. He said she only had a glass of wine and a bowl of chili four hours before the crash, and that she has suffered since November with “epileptic-type seizures in her legs.”

“This is not a monster, ” Colovos said. “It’s horrible what happened, but there are some things we don’t have control over.”

Colovos added that prior to Saturday’s crash, Chidester had no traffic tickets or police record.

Yorkey responded that there was no indication that Chidester suffered a seizure before the crash and that testing showed her blood alcohol level was “significantly over the legal limit.”

If Chidester posts bond, she will be required to forfeit her passport, have no alcohol, wear a tether and not drive. A probable cause conference has been scheduled for April 30 followed by a May 6 preliminary examination.

Chidester is a former commodore at the boat club, The Detroit News reported.

The crash killed 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and her 4-year-old brother, Zayn Phillips, the sheriff’s office said. Their mother and another sibling were among the injured.

It’s unclear whose birthday was being celebrated.

Raquel Smouthers told the court that she was at the party and witnessed the deaths of her nephew and niece.

“They were sitting at that table eating, and this woman crashed her car through this building destroying all of our lives,” a nearly inconsolable Smouthers said. “Nobody should ever have to go to a birthday party thinking that they’re gonna die.”

The dead children’s mother, Mariah Dodds, is suing Chidester and the tavern where she reportedly was before the crash, according to a Detroit law firm representing Dodds.

Dodds suffered broken ribs, a collapsed lung, cuts and bruises, the law firm said. Her surviving son suffered broken legs, broken ribs and a fractured skull.

The boat club located off Swan Creek near Lake Erie is a membership-based organization that hosts holiday parties and other events, and provides docking space for members who own boats, according to its website. The club also advertises on social media that members can rent the clubhouse or pavilion for personal events including birthday parties.

This story was updated to correct the spelling of Raquel Smouthers’ last name, which had been misspelled “Smothers.”

Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed.

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