This is the Webber’s Cove 22, which underwent a total refurbish at Kittery Point Yacht Yard in Eliot this fall. She was to be delivered to her owner after sea trials.
This is a Wilbur 38 at Wilbur Yachts in Manset getting re-powered and other repair work done. She will be completed late winter and go over early in the spring.
Belmont Boat, Belmont
Hauling season is ending, and the yards are starting to begin their winter projects. The major project this winter at Belmont Boat is making repairs to the portside of the racing sailboat ZINGARA, which was designed by Stephens & Warings of Belfast and built at Brooklin Boatyard in Brooklin about 20 years ago. When the boat came up for sale last year Stephens & Warings purchased her. When she was originally designed, they wanted to do certain things, but her owner had his own ideas. They are now going to make those changes, most of which involves the interior accommodations. The major changes include enlarging the head and make some storage alterations. The damage on the portside occurred in the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta this past summer and includes damage to the toe rail, bulwarks, hull, and deck.
For the last couple of years, they have been working with a Florida company on building a 24-foot fully solar powered boat with no back up systems. They were expecting the first delivery of parts the end of November and would start construction just after they arrive. They hope to have three finished by this coming summer, but the real push will be getting one done for the parent company so they can promote it at boat shows.
With the growth of their storage customers each one of them needs something done before this coming season arrives. There is especially a lot of cosmetic work to do and that means the paint bay will be busy all this winter.
There was a lot of demand for storage this year and they decided to lease another 5,000 square feet of space. This was not full, but they expected it would be by the end of the year. If you do not have inside storage space for your boat yet you might be in luck. Give them a call.
Gamage Shipyard, South Bristol
When they needed a Mitchell Cove 32 to finish for a customer, they made a deal with Feeney’s Boat Shop in Cutler and brought the moulds to South Bristol where they infused two hulls, one for them and one for Feeney’s. This boat will be finished out as a sportfishing boat of a customer from Southport Island. She will have a full interior, which will include a berth, head, and galley. For power she has a Yanmar 8LV370, which should push her along at a top speed of 24 knots with an 18-knot cruising speed.
Rangeley 17 is a model they are producing for a customer on Rangeley Lake. Mike Tatro, one of the owners of the yard said, “We took an old wooden Rangeley from this client, who had a number of old wooden ones that were dying, and we took the lines off it and re-lofted, because there was a rack in the boat and some other shape issues. Once we got a fair shape, we built a mould and now we have been infusing hulls off of that. This is a good steady project as we have 30 of them to.”
Outside they are repowering a sailboat. They have removed the old Westerbeke engine and giving her a new diesel engine, which was supplied by the owner.
The Holland 32 is sitting waiting for a customer. Last year they finished one out as a day boat with a double berth, head, small galley with a teak cockpit sole. This one has an Yanmar 8LV370, which should push her a long at over 30 knots and only burn about 10 gallons an hour doing it. Mike added, “Those LVs are an incredible engine, very fuel efficient. There is almost no noise out of them and no vibration, very smooth. That 370 represents pretty much the top horsepower of that particular configuration. They have a 320, 350 and a 370. The 350 went well in the Holland 32 and we got 27.5 knots out of it and it cruises very comfortably at 22 to 23.”
The Duffy 48 has had four-foot extension added and she is being moved out so they can work on other projects. One of these projects is on a Wayne Beal 40, which will be getting a major refit this winter, she was finished out as a cruiser and is well appointed. Most of the work will be on interior modifications, but they will also add a fully powered crane on the aft top deck with inflatable cradles and a new inflatable. This will take quite a bit of time to complete.
This year they are storing approximately 120 boats and could handle about 15 or 20 more. This is up over last year and will certainly keep them busy making sure they are ready for the on-coming season.
Holland Boat Shop, Belfast
In the back corner of the main shop is a Holland 38, which is almost ready to go out the door. Her owner from York will be doing the rest of the finish work. She is powered with a 650-hp Caterpillar. As for accommodations they are simple with a V-berth, utility room for hydraulics and a work bench, which could be used as another berth. There is no head and no galley, strictly a dayboat.
Also in the shop is a Holland 32, which is being finished out for a Long Island, New York customer. She will be finished off with a basic interior with just a V-berth and head. She will be powered with a 550-hp Cummins.
In the layup shop is another 38, which is being finished off as a pleasure cruiser for a customer from San Diego, CA.
Another 32 is on order and will be finished out as a simple day boat, probably with just a V-berth and port-a-potty. This owner had a cruising boat before and just wants something very simple, strictly for day use. She will be powered with a 350-hp Cummins.
Over the last couple of years there has been a big run on the Holland 14s. Over the summer they sent out eight and still have eight more to build. There are also four completed 14s sitting out in the yard waiting for outboard engines. Glenn added, “The funny thing is one owner has got a 32 over there and he wants a 14 to go with it. I said maybe we better order it what do you want for a motor. He did not really know and I said I can get you a Suzuki and he said, okay. I said how big a motor do you want and he said how big can you put on it? Well, I said she is rated for 40 and he said Well, get one of those. So, I ordered it and the boat is not anywhere near ready to be built, and that is the first outboard and that came in.”
The only boat that went out this summer, besides the 14s, was a 30, which was laid up by Front Street Shipyard in Bucksport and finished by Front Street Shipyard in Belfast. Glenn said, “I went over and looked at it when it was outside and they did a good job on it. I think the only thing that I would have done different would have been to put a bracket on it instead of cutting the transom down. Aside from that it was fine.”
So, by the looks of it they will have a couple of boats going over late this spring.
Kittery Point Yacht Yard, Eliot/Kittery
One would think the Eliot yard has become Holland South. In the shop they have a Holland 32 sportfish, which was recently sold and her new owner wants to do an upgrade. They have raised the platform and scuppers making it better for fighting fish. The framing was all good and they put down composite panels. They are now going to add a live well, a tuna door, beef up the cabin top for a large radar tower, upgrade the inverter/charger, and then she will be Awlgripped from top to bottom. The bottom will also receive a barrier coat. The windows in the house are out for paint, but just will be re-sealed and reinstalled when the cosmetic work is completed. Next year they owner is thinking on upgrading the interior.
Outside there is another Holland 32 sportfish, which is getting repowered. They are removing the 1988 B-Series Cummins and replacing it with another. They also might have some electrical work to do as well.
A Webber’s Cove 22 is out in the heated storage area getting finishing touches. Her owner came to the Maine Boatbuilder’s Show and asked Maine Built Boats for a list of yards that could do a major upgrade for him. After getting the list he settled on Kittery Point to do the work. This was his father’s boat and was a dire condition and needed some serious work. She has been Awlgripped top to bottom, the interior has been re-gel-coated and the brightwork has been redone. They changed the louvered companionway doors to solid ones and added new hatches in the platform. They also removed the engine, a 150-hp Yanmar, and did an external rebuild. Navtronics of York came in and upgraded the electronics and a new Bimini has been put on. She is now undergoing sea trials.
The paint bay has been busy and it will be for the foreseeable future. This fall they have painted a Mako, the Webber’s Cove 22 and a 32-foot sailboat. They also did a Correctcraft 20, which is an interesting runabout. They were built before World War II and was re-introduced in the 1970s and developed a cult following. Marshall Farnham said, “This customer just wanted it to be repainted, buffed up. We did a custom orange, bright orange, which is actually beautiful.” Then they have two Holland 32 and a Procat to do next.
The Doug Hylan designed 32 powerboat with a torpedo stern has just had a new engine, an 4LV Yanmar with an Aqua drive and running gear, installed. Once done the owner, who has taken 9 years building this boat, will put on the pilothouse and finish up faring and painting the hull. It is hoped she will be ready for the water this season.
As for storage it has been a record-breaking year, especially with outboard boats on trailers. All these boats need their annual maintenance and this will keep them busy right into the summer.
Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, Thomaston
Just as electric vehicles are having a moment, so are eco-friendly, electric boats. Enter the Navier 27, an all-electric, hydrofoil, performance craft outfitted with a highly advanced autopilot. Navier co-founders Sampriti Bhattacharyya and Reo Baird signed with Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding to build the pre-production vessels and first year limited production vessels for the 2023 slots for the Navier 27. The Lyman-Morse built Navier 27 will be revealed at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October 2022; first-year customer delivery will be in Q2 2023.
Navier is a Silicon Valley startup that’s building technology to increase the efficiency of small powerboats by 90% while ensuring zero emissions and superior ride performance. Navier is producing a limited number of boats in its first year under its Pioneer Program.
Navier 27 is a 27-foot foiling performance vessel that’s capable of a range exceeding 75 nautical miles under electric propulsion and includes advanced autonomy features. When it launches during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in 2022, it will be the longest-range electric boat in the world. If anyone can make this vision come to life, it’s Drew Lyman and his team.
Spearheaded by two MIT engineers, Navier is teaming up with the most talented minds to build the boat of the future. In July 2021, the startup announced that America’s Cup engineer and foiling expert, Paul Bieker is leading Navier’s naval architecture and mechanical design by contributing his knowledge in hydrofoil configuration and foil optimization.
Lyman-Morse will tie the technology, mechanics, construction, and manufacturing of the boat together.
Customers can register interest at www.navierboat.com or learn more about boatbuilding at www.lymanmorse.com
Rockport Marine, Rockport
The schooner KOOKLA, which used to be in Rockland but was sold a few years ago, has a new owner. She is in for extensive work. They are putting a whole new interior in and new decks on.
In mid-fall they launched a Bill Tripp designed 45-foot sloop. She had a composite hull with a lifting keel and other modern systems.
The former Hurricane Island Outward Bound vessel HURRICANE, built in 1967, which was running between Portsmouth, NH and Isle of Shoals was sold and will be converted into a pleasure cruiser. They have re-framed her, replaced a few planks and are now putting in an interior, replacing the transom and doing some engine work.
The Gum-drop yawl WINDSOME, designed by Aage Neilsen, is in to be rebuilt. This project was started at Cutts & Case in Maryland, but that shop has been closed. She was shipped to Rockport Marine where they will finish the rebuild. It is going to get a new cabin house, a lot of deck work, and interior replacement.
A big sloop has undergone some major work. They have replaced all the standing rigging, repainted the mast, rebuilt the drive train and she is now ready for the water. Once launched she will head south for the winter.
Boatbuilders are well-known for their talent so it is never surprising to see them called on to do a special project not related to the water. In October they delivered a reception deck to the University of Pennsylvania’s new teaching hospital. She is shaped similar to a nautilus shell and was built like a cold moulded hull, however in sections due to the extreme curves and ease of moving.
Wilbur Yachts, Manset
In the main shop are three Wilbur boats. PAPAGAYO is a Wilbur 38, which has had an extensive refit over the last few years. This year they are adding new power, new fuel tanks and new genset. With the engine out they also replaced the water heater. They then changed the electrical system for 24 volt start while keeping the 12-volt house system. They are hoping to launch her the middle of March, do sea trials and make sure she is ready for the owned the middle of May.
SEA DRAGON, a Wilbur 34, which is in for annual maintenance, but they also need to find a small water leak.
Another Wilbur 34 is next to her and she is just getting annual maintenance.
A Coastal 27 is also in the man shop. She is having her engine pulled so they can clean the engine room and replace two thru-hull fittings. They will also do some brightwork, add a new Bimini, and electronics.
Up back they have the Seal Harbor launch, a 21-foot Crosby, and that is just basic maintenance.
A couple of years ago they installed an electric drive in an old whaleboat and she is in for storage. They are also storing an Ellis 28, and a Wilbur 38 flybridge cruiser. This is some of the storage customers, which will need to be ready this spring
The big project up back, but soon to move to the main shop, is the Penobscot Pilot boat. She is a Liberty 48, built down in Florida. The motors are out being rebuilt, the mast is off, has been sandblasted, and re-coated, new rub rails will be added, and when the engines are back in, they will re-glass the platform. Right now, they are waiting on the trim tabs and are hoping they arrive by mid-winter when she needs to be ready to go.
There is talk on the new 37 that is on the drawing board and one seems pretty interested. They also have people talking on a new 46 and a couple of people are interested in new Wilbur 34s.
