Page 14. MAINE COASTAL NEWS April 2017 Boat And Ship Yard News


At Finestkind Boat Yard in Harpswell this Cavanaugh cruiser is in for a fl ybridge. Continued from Page 1.


off by the builder and talk to their owners. I also always tell people have a surveyor go over your hull before it is fi nished out and when it is done. In the long run it can save you a lot of aggravation and money. Another interesting discussion I was


in recently, was about building with just composites, no wood. A lot of builders have opted to go the total composite route because there is no chance for it rotting out later like a wooden structure. One sees this happen


John’s Bay Boat Co. in South Bristol is just putting the fi nal details on this 42-foot cruiser.


to platforms, washboards and houses when they are not taken care of properly. One boat I was on recently decided on a wooden frame work under the composite platform and I asked the builder why and he said the wood cuts down on the vibration. That makes sense. A wooden platform covered with fi berglass, even on a commercial boat, works fi ne so long as you make sure the fi berglass does not wear through and allow water into the wooden structure below. Builders have always tried to fi nd a way for fi berglass hull to act like a wooden one.


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Wooden hulls are not so quick snapping from one side to the other in certain sea conditions and they do not tend to pound so easily in a head sea. They say a wooden boat will add years to a fi sherman’s life because they are much more comfortable to fi sh out of. Maybe that is why there are more wooden boats being built today. Back to the health of the boatbuilding


industry, it can end any time and the builders know that. All we need is a huge hiccup in the economy or if the lobster catch drops. Most of the builders learned back in the early 90s when the industry fell on hard times to stay small and not get bigger and try to fi ll all the orders being placed. Staying small also keeps the overhead low and allows them to slide through a downturn. The biggest problem for most boat


builders or repairers, is workers, especially ones that are trained. The educational system failed the people of this country saying that everyone should go to college and if you did not you would not make a good living. As we have discovered the hard way, college can be good for some, depending on the courses one chooses, but for others it is a huge waste of time and money. Most young people do not have any idea what is available to them in the industrial sector. Many that have discovered and became part of the boating industry have made a good living and it is always much more satisfying. As a society, we need to make sure a student understands what is out there and steer them towards what they would enjoy doing. The marine business can be very chal- lenging, especially if one is trying to make


a profi t. There is a saying, “If you want to make a million dollars in the boat business, start with ten million dollars and get out quick.” Boatbuilders have to be very care- ful, as some customers are trying to keep the cost down and before a builder knows it they could be working for little or nothing. What is extremely satisfying is building a new boat, repairing an old one and seeing the pleasure in the owner’s eyes. There is no question boats are special and working on them is equally special!


Kittery Point Yacht Yard in Kittery/


Elliot is one of the top yards on the coast of Maine. They have dedicated themselves to customer satisfaction and this keeps them busy all year around. The big project currently underway at


the yard is fi nishing out a 32 foot Holland hull as a lobster yacht for a local customer. All the systems under the deck, which in- cludes exhaust, fuel, hydraulic and electrical runs are in. The hatches are framed out and the fi berglass deck has been installed on top of an epoxy coated fi r framework. They also have about 90 percent of the forward cabin complete and the shelter windows have been cut out. This boat will be powered with an 8LV Yanmar diesel engine and everyone is waiting to see what this engine will do be- cause it is a high rpm diesel with the same footprint and weight as a typical big block gas engine, which is what Glenn Holland designed these boats to run with. Another big project this winter has been


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on the 46 foot Wesmac KODIAK. They have replaced the 7.6 KW genset with a Wester- beke 11 KW to meet the power demands. They have also installed a third remote control station at the stern; installed metal chafe protection; did a multitude of minor repairs and upgrades, did maintenance on the Caterpillar diesel, and are now doing her cosmetic maintenance. Kittery Point Yacht Yard has several


maintenance contracts for various govern- ment and state agencies, which includes the DOD, the U. S. Navy and the DES. This keeps them very busy keeping these boats constantly running all year around. A 54 foot passenger vessel has received


DIRA funds to repower. She currently has twin Detroits and these will be replaced with John Deere 6068 engines. They will also replace her decks and add new keel coolers. A 31-foot Rybo-runner is in and has


had twin 300 hp Suzuki outboards installed which included a complete electronic con- trol and gauge package. They have also done some structural, electrical repairs and cosmetic upgrades. A 1975 35 foot John Alden designed Fiji


ketch is in to have a new bowsprit fabricated, her exterior brightwork stripped and built up; reseamed and repaired the entire cockpit and stripped her bottom and put on a barrier coat.


Photo Ann-e Blanchard


Photo Ann-e Blanchard


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