January 2012 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 5. BOAT SCHOOL NOW RUN BY FRIENDS OF BOAT SCHOOL
EASTPORT – Over the last year there has been a lot of news circulating about The Boat School in Eastport. We had Husson Univer- sity say that it would not continue to run the school; you had David Marlow of Marlow Yachts claim that he was going to buy the property, create a new site for his company and run the School; the City of Eastport going to Augusta to get ownership of the property; and finally rumours about the School’s sale. Some of the news articles were premature and often littered with mis-information. Well, the property that the The School has been sold, a portion of that property, along with the buildings used by the School, have been signed over the Friends of the Boat School and they are now preparing for next year. Dean Pike, a Friends of the Boat School board member, explained, “PMC (Perry Ma- rine Corp.) owned by Jerry Morrison of Perry and CPM Constructors of Freeport, owned by Eldon Morrison, combined to form First Perry Realty, who purchased the property known as Marne’s Marine Technology Cen- ter. This is the home of the Boat School and included the land, buildings, pier and floats. This sale occurred on December 1 after months of negotiations between the City, the Friends of the Boat School (Friends), Moose Island Marine (MIM) and First Perry Realty (FPR).
“Negotiations began after the Friends had gone to the City Council in July following the release of a letter in early July from David Marlow of Marlow Yachts in Florida that he was not going to purchase the property. The City Council wanted the Friends and FPR and MIM, Inc to see if they could find some common ground in a real estate transfer, which they did just days before the closing.” With the closing on 1 December FPR immediately arranged for the transfer of all the buildings and nine acres of land, which make up the home of the Boat School to the Friends. The Friends, as well as Moose Island Marine, have deeded access to the water, ramp and pier.
Pike continued, “Husson announced last spring that it would not be entering a freshman class in the fall of 2011 as well as not accepting any marine mechanics. The only students at the Boat School now are the dozen seniors that will graduate in May 2012. At the beginning 2010 there were 37 students in boatbuilding and mechanics. If all pro- grams had remained in place, it was expected that there would have easily been over 40 students for 2011-2012. Husson is cooperat- ing with the transfer and will be turning over tools and equipment to the Friends so the programs can continue uninterrupted and as seamlessly as possible.
“The Boat School intends to offer certi- fications in composite, wooden boat and
marine mechanics,” added Pike “This will allow them to offer boatbuilding in a two year model as they always have since 1970. As well Travelift certificate courses; American Composite Manufacturers Association (ACMA) certification and various courses in marine systems, corrosion, marine electrical in three to four day seminars. This can lead to testing by ABYC. During the summer, the Boat School will be offering courses on sub- jects such as bronze casting, marine biology , lofting, half modeling and of course boatbuilding and repair.
The Friends of the Boat School have tenants that include Husson, ORPC, Maine Sea Grant and Westlawn this year. Westlawn uses the Boat School as its homeport and its director, David Gerr, has been an avid sup- porter of the program and will offered several one day courses at the School.” The friends are looking to share its wa- terfront location and partner with other Maine educational institutions looking to expand their access to waterfront learning. The Boat School has two modern labs for marine biology and ecology courses. One problem for students is always find- ing financial assistance. Pike said that private source funding will be available nationwide for those looking for assistance. Those inter- ested should contact Bret Blanchard, a vet- eran instructor at he School, and who is now the Director of the Maine’s Marine Technol- ogy Center. He can be reached at (207) 853- 2518 or (207) 853-0990 or email at
bret@wwsisp.com. Dean Pike will continue to act as an adjunct as well as educational liason of the Friends. He can be reached at the same number or at
dean@theboatschool.net.
Boat School Editorial
Marlow Declines Purchase of The Boat School Property
David Marlow buys the Merrill and Stevens’ yard in Miami Florida came as a great shock to the Eastport city manager and the city council. After months of the Boat School fate hanging in the wind there is now some closer to that chapter.
This did not come as a shock to anyone who reads this paper. As was stated in an earlier issue Jon made the point that this deal did not make business sense yet the powers that be in Eastport welcomed this deal with open arms and got quick legislation approval to sell the property thus putting in motion a series of events that gave Husson University the back drop to get out of technical educa- tion that the Boat School supplies to the marine industry. Thus they are doing a one year teach-out and did not take on a freshman class for the upcoming fall semester. This was disheartening to all in the industry to say the least.
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This decision by Husson was not re- ceived well by a lot of us at the School at the time. It put into motion by a handful of alumni and a local businessmen in Eastport and Portland, a plan to keep the Boat School going. “Come hell or high water, there will be a Boat School,” was the battle cry. A plan was worked on feverishly and put in motion. After all, this is not a new situation for the School to be in. It was just a few years ago that the Community College finally got out marine education business and the school was in shambles. At this time the ball is moving forward and gaining momentum we have cleared a lot of the major hurdles but a lot of race is still ahead of us. It is felt that the School should be its own entity and serve industry not academia. The history of the School is that it produces technicians for the marine industry here in Maine and elsewhere, so it only makes sense to have designed to serve the industry.
The reception from the City Council for the purchase of the property did not meet with favorable results initially. This whole situation was one that was perpetuated by them and them alone. This affects a lot of good people in Eastport. There are students living in town paying rent, buying groceries, gas, and going to restaurants. This puts a nice sum of money into the local economy in the off-season when there are no summer complaints to pump money into the economy. This is not recognized by the City heads as taking place so one has to wonder if there are any real business men that run the City, because since 1978 the Boat School has done just that, put good money into the local economy that is in desperate of these funds.
Maybe it is time these people woke up and realize what they might loose. Some realize that the School creates jobs in Eastport, which the City council seems to not recognize as a viable commodity.
As of 12-1-11 The Friends of The Boat School were given ownership of the property and have permission from the State to start classes in September. Now we are looking to the future to have this School serve the industry.
All involved with the School know what a wonderful asset The Friends of The Boat School are and it is through them that the new School will operate. They will need every ones support in this endeavor, especially financial support. By joining the Friends of The Boat School this will keep the School going, but more importantly turning out good students for Maine’s boatbuilding industry. Please contact Tom and Jean Ries at (207) 853-4709 or email them at
tries10658@aol.com to join this effort. There are other boat schools in the state and at the age bracket that the average boat builder is here in the State of Maine myself included we know the need for new blood to carry on the tradition of building the best boats in the world. I have talked with some of directors of the other school and we all agree that if one of these schools closes it will have a devastating effect on the marine industry here in Maine. Those of us in the above age bracket have seen most of the industries that we grew up around go and boat building is one I do not want to see this happen to! Robert Turcotte
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