PORTLAND YACHT SERVICE'S
THE MAINE
BOATBUILDERS SHOW
58 FORE STREET, PORTLAND, MAINE - 20, 21 and 22 March 2009
MAINE BUILT BOATS - 2008 YEAR IN REVIEW
A Newport 29, designed by the Herreshoffs of Bristol, Rhode Island, and built by Brion Rieff Boatbuilder of Brooklin.
By Jane Wellehan, beautiful series of ads for us that we ran in a naco in September, and the Fort Lauderdale builders, explained Jobson. “ Everyone is
President, Maine Built Boats variety of marine and consumer magazines, International Boat Show in Florida in Octo- very passionate about their work and in the
2008 was a great year for Maine Built including Coastal Living, Men’s Journal, ber. end Maine boat builders build an extremely
Boats (MBB). MBB is charged with reaching New York Times Magazine, Fortune, Forbes We sought press from magazines, high quality product. It is the skill and the
out nationally and internationally to promote Life, Cruising World, WoodenBoat, Yacht- emagazines, and newspapers, and worked pride that goes into each boat that makes a
Maine’s boatbuilding industry, the excep- ing, Maine Boats Homes & Harbors, Yacht- over the year to develop relationships with Maine built boat so special.”
tional quality and craftsmanship available, ing World (UK), Motorboating, Showboats, editors. Many marine/boating magazines Weaving together interviews with
the range of construction capabilities, and and Power Cruising. The advertising in- featured articles about Maine Boats and boatbuilders, designers, journalists, boat
varieties of boats we build in Maine. creased awareness of MBB, and drove tre- Boatbuilders this year, including Bangor owners and historians with footage of boats
MBB took a page out of the boat build- mendous traffic to our website. Metro, Yachting World (UK), Boat US maga- and of Maine’s Coast, Maine Built Boats: Art
ers’ book and coupled traditional and “mod- We updated our website both visually zine, Soundings, NPR (National Public Ra- & Soul showcases the unique and world-
ern” technology to spread the word about and functionally. We added a Gallery, Video, dio), Portland Monthly, Maine Home & De- renowned qualities that make up Maine’s
our 400 year young industry. Using film, the and an Events & Launch section. The sign, Yachting, Fortune, Cruising World and boatbuilding industry today. Gary Jobson,
internet, boat shows, traditional PR & adver- website enjoyed over 140,000 visitors be- Boats International. the producer of the film, is an ESPN commen-
tising, we emphasized the pride Maine build- tween March and December, averaging over Membership grew substantially during tator and sailing analyst, former America’s
ers take in their work, the “Art & Soul” that 450 visitors a day. The average visitor stayed 2008; we now have over 60 members, and look Cup Tactician, lecturer and writer. Gary will
every builder puts into his/her work, and the on the site for over 3 minutes, and looked at to grow this more in 2009. MBB will build on introduce the documentary. Tickets are $10,
tradition and history that has melded with 4 pages. This marks a 250% increase in site the tools and connections we developed which includes a reception with Gary Jobson
modern technology to create world’s best traffic. The Gallery is the most popular page over the past year with funding from NSAI, at The Maine Grind directly following the film.
boats. on the site, with viewers from all over the members and sponsors to continue to spread “We wanted to tell the story of Maine’s
The most exciting project this year was world accessing photos of Maine Boats. the word about Maine’s boatbuilding indus- boat building heritage, and to celebrate the
working with Gary Jobson, ESPN commenta- To compliment the website, MBB try. boat builders pride, expertise and skill. Gary
tor, author, and lecturer to create a documen- started a monthly eNewsletter that features is a fantastic ambassador around the world
tary about Maine Boatbuilding. We traveled news of our members and is sent to Special Screening of “Maine Built Boats: for sailing and boating, and we are honored
a great deal of the state and interviewed over boatbuilders, people in the marine press and Art & Soul” in Ellsworth that he chose to work with us in making this
40 people – boatbuilders, editors, owners – trade all over the world, and interested con- The Grand, 165 Main St, Ellsworth 7pm documentary,” said Jane Wellehan, Presi
about what makes Maine’s Boatbuilding sumers. The news in this comes from mem- MBB presents the documentary, Maine
Continued on Page 26.
unique. We filmed as many boats on the bers, and serves to remind people regularly Built Boats: Art and Soul, at The Grand in
water as we could, making sure we had a good about Maine Boatbuilding. Ellsworth on April 8th at 7 pm. The event is
cross section of power and sail, pleasure and Boat Shows presented a great opportu- open to the public.
commercial, large and small boats. We pre- nity to expand the audience for our boats, as For almost a year, Maine Built Boats has CONTENTS
miered the movie in November at the Strand MBB exhibited at the Maine Boatbuilders been working with world class sailor, Gary
in Rockland to a sell-out crowd November 22. Show in March in Portland, the WoodenBoat Jobson to produce a documentary about
We have started to show it at yacht clubs and Show in June in Mystic, Connecticut, the Maine’s boatbuilding tradition, its 400 year
Exhibitor Location 4
similar venues. Our next big showing will be Maine Boats Homes & Harbors Show in old history, its expert workforce and the state-
Seminars 4
April 8
th
at the Grand Theater in Ellsworth at Rockland in August, the Newport Interna- of-the art innovations at work in Maine to- Floor Plan 6-7
7 pm. tional Boat Show in Newport, Rhode Island in day. “The best part about this project was the
Exhibitor List 8-15
LEDA (Leslie Evans Design) created a September, the Monaco Yacht Show in Mo- opportunity to interview 32 different boat
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