November 2013 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 5. Portland Yacht Services Purchases Gowen Marine
Portland Yacht Services has completed the purchase of Gowen Marine as part of PYS’s long-term vision.
The plan is described as an important measure that will allow for the repair and service of larger marine vessels in Portland. The second Portland Yacht Services location with a 150 ton travel lift, formerly known as Gowen Marine, compliments the new boat yard being built on the Western end of the Portland waterfront.
PORTLAND --- A well-known fi xture on the city’s waterfront has been acquired by New Yard LLC and Portland Yacht Ser- vices, Inc. Phineas Sprague Jr., President of Portland Yacht Services is in the process of developing a state-of-the-art boat yard facility on Commercial Street near the Casco Bay Bridge.
Sprague said customers of both Port-
land Yacht Services and the former Gowen Marine should experience a significant increase in effi ciencies and capacity, Port- land Yacht Services has been anticipating the acquisition and is fortunate to be able to retain the experienced crew from Gowen and our goal is to be a major asset for the boating community in Southern Maine. “This is something we have been con- sidering for a very long time,” Sprague said. “The facility will give us the fl exibility to move forward with our long-term plan and allow us to immediately begin servicing larger vessels that could not be serviced at our former location.
Gowen Marine has been an important part of Portland’s working waterfront for more than 50 years. The company was founded in 1955 by Harold Gowen and was purchased in 1968 by Joseph Schmader, who grew the business into a two-acre complex at 400 Commercial Street that supports both commercial and recreational marine vessels. Schmader will continue to own and op- erate Gowen Power Systems, Inc., a separate company also located at 400 Commercial Street.
Schmader, 67, is a long-time supporter
of the city’s waterfront and has witnessed many changes over the last 45 years. He said he is excited about the vision that has been outlined by Sprague, the city and the state of Maine to grow and revitalize the city’s port. “I’ve been at this a long time,” Schmad- er said. “I feel very connected to this city, but I’m also ready to move on and enjoy retirement. I have a few items to cross off my bucket list.”
Sprague and Schmader met in 1972, when Sprague refi tted his schooner for a circumnavigation at Schmader’s wharf and became fast friends. The two men say they are excited about the city’s future and share the same vision for reinvigorating a port that was once bustling but was later hit hard by challenges connected to the commercial fi shing industry.
“I know what Phin and his team want to do, and I know they are capable of getting it done,” Schmader said. “I am pleased to be a part of this process.” In August, after receiving his last per- mit for the new boatyard facility at 40 W.
BlueJacket Shipcrafters Sale Continues Long Tradition
SEARSPORT: Life-long modeler, Nic Damuck, has purchased BlueJacket Ship- crafters of Searsport. The sale was effective October 4, 2013.
Blue Jacket has been a leader in high-quality ship models since 1905. Nic brings to BlueJacket not only a passion for modeling, but also extensive experience in business management and development. He holds a BS in Engineering and an MBA in Marketing, and has spent a large part of his career successfully manag- ing and growing small- and medium-sized companies.
He has been an avid modeler for the last 60 years, including the areas BlueJack- et serves — Radio Control, ship building, repairs, and scratch building.
Nic has belonged to R/C airplane clubs since the late 1960s. In the late 1980s, he
This has
given him an excellent knowledge of the customers, products, and environment of the modeling community.
joined the CT Marine Model Society, and was their treasurer for 18 years and then President for several years. He also is a member of the Nautical Research Guild, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and the International Plastic Model Society. He has attended numerous modeling shows, competitions, ship model conferences and seminars, and has put on demonstrations for museums, youth groups, libraries, and other modeling events. Nic’s immediate goals will be to reach out to existing and potential customers, con- sider new product offerings, and increase the profi le of BlueJacket in the modeling community.
Previous owners, Jeff and Suzie Marg-
er, are looking forward to a long and happy retirement with much time spent enjoying children, grandchildren, and travel. For additional information, please feel free to contact Nic at (207) 548-9970.
The 150-ton travelift hauling out a commercial vessel at Gowen Marine.
Commercial St., Sprague fi nalized the sale of the Portland Marine Company Complex at 58 Fore Street.
Sprague said the space limitations of his former location on Fore Street, combined with the complexities of opening the New Yard facility required an interim opportunity to keep moving forward with a long-term plan. Maintenance, storage building and launching ramp will be completed in the New Yard in Mid-November. Docks and other facilities will follow shortly. Portland Yacht Services will be operating out of three properties in Portland and expects to grow
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signifi cantly in the future. “We are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us,” he said. “PYS is fortunate to have a great team and our effort has benefi ted from a dedicated group of stakeholders who work so hard and share the same vision for the revitalization of the city’s working waterfront. We would not be expanding if it were not for the encour- agement of our friends and customers. It is appropriate to thank them. I am so grateful to be able to make a contribution to Portland’s future.”
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