Front Street Shipyard In Belfast… You Can’t Miss It
You literally cannot miss the Front Street Shipyard when you travel to Belfast, and it’s worth a special trip to see how this world-renowned yard has partnered with a MidCoast Maine city to make something truly greater than the sum of its parts.
Spanning the majority of Belfast’s downtown waterfront on Penobscot Bay, the Front Street Shipyard – boat builder, service yard, and marina – is the most capable boatyard in the Northeast. Spanning the globe is a reputation that brings boat owners and their boats, from 20’ to 200’, here for a level of service, repair and refit excellence found nowhere else.
Tours
There aren’t many yards of this size that give the public a chance to see behind the curtain, but here you can join a free, guided tour any Monday or Thursday at 2:30pm from late June until early fall. Arrive about 15 minutes early at the corner of Building 5 to join the tour.
The day we arrived, our tour guide was none other than President and General Manager J.B. Turner, who graciously led us around and described the work, projects, and history, all while generously crediting the city of Belfast for their support.
Positioned as it is, right in the center of the city’s harbor and at the bottom of the downtown’s main drag, there’s a symbiotic relationship at work that helps the shipyard attract the best talent and the most discerning boat owners; and it helps the city attract visitors to enjoy amenities not equaled by other towns.
Capabilities
The website homepage opens with “The Sky Is No Limit,” and this is no idle boast. With a 485-ton Travel Hoist, 165-ton Travelift, 30-ton crane, seemingly endless indoor storage and work spaces spread over six acres (with an additional seven acres off-site), this yard can handle just about anything. Of course, equipment and buildings are only tools to aid the world-class craftsmen who work here, and we attract the cream of the boat building talent. From metal work to fine cabinet joinery, everything they do is, well, breathtaking.
Projects
On our tour, we walked past, around, and even over boats from Maine to Chile… wooden boats, fiberglass, carbon fiber composites, steel, aluminum, all getting what looked like white glove treatment. Really, there’s something to tickle every boat lover’s fancy here, and plenty to interest even those of you who don’t find boats all that fascinating.
Harbor Walk
One of Belfast’s prime attractions is its Harbor Walk. It’s a gentle, paved, seaside trail that wends its way through the park, downtown area, and notably, right through the heart of Front Street Shipyard. So, even if you don’t make it to the official tour, you can still see the yard at work and, almost always, some spectacular yachts from around the world.
Belfast
At the northern edge of the Maine’s MidCoast & Islands region, Belfast is a must-see stop on your next visit to Maine. Named one of the “coolest small towns in America,” the downtown sits on a hill overlooking the Front Street Shipyard and the harbor beyond.
Positioned as it is at the top of Penobscot Bay, this city offers access to the one of the world’s most beautiful and fun cruising grounds for those who travel by water. We’ve also seen a recent surge in the creative and arts communities to complement our working class, industrial roots. An early haven for back-to-the-landers, we have a spectacular food coop and one of Maine’s largest farmers markets.
A vibrant downtown, nearby hiking and paddling, food (for foodies and everyone), drink, rail trail, sea captains’ mansions, maritime history… Belfast is beautiful and quirky, gritty and artsy… there’s really something for everyone! Stop by the Belfast Chamber, located at 14 Main Street, or visit belfastmaine.org for more information on your visit.
