MidCoast Maine, The Birthplace of American Ship Building

Over four centuries ago, a Maine sailing vessel launched America’s love affair with shipbuilding. In the spring of 1608, colonists at the small Popham Colony on the Kennebec River began building the 50-ft long ship, Virginia. The small ‘pinnacle’ ship sailed to England the following year, making it the first English ship built in the Americas.

Long before the Virginia sailed across the Atlantic, indigenous peoples in New England were building sturdy and graceful watercraft including the ‘mishoonash’ or dugout canoe. Made of pine, oak or chestnut, some dugout canoes could carry up to 40 people and had sails set on small poles. When Europeans began to arrive, they recognized the versatility of the canoe and soon adapted the canoe for their own use.

Today, Maine is known worldwide for boatbuilding. From canoes to superyachts and lobster boats to advanced Naval ships, nearly every form of watercraft can be found. You can experience Maine’s seafaring history at the Maine Maritime Museum, located not far from the site of the original Popham Colony. The Museum sits on a beautiful 200-acre campus on the banks of the Kennebec River, where its working Boat Shop keeps wooden boatbuilding traditions alive.

 

 

The Virginia is Launched Again – Bath

Photo by Samantha Adams

On June 4, 2022, several thousand people celebrated as a replica of the 1607 Virginia, was launched just 10 miles north of the original Popham Colony. Built mostly by volunteers, the 51-foot reconstruction will serve as a floating classroom and museum to celebrate the four-centuries old craftsmanship of the early colonists. Visitors can see the ongoing final work being done on the Virginia at the Jane Stevens Visitor Center located in the historic Bath Freight Shed.

 

 

Learn to Build and Sail at The Apprenticeshop – Rockland

This July, boatbuilders, sailors and people who simply love boats will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of The Apprenticeshop in Rockland. As a non-profit, educational organization, The Apprenticeshop has introduced thousands of people, young and old, to traditional boat craftsmanship and sailing with the goal to inspire personal growth. From 2-year apprenticeships to weekend workshops, Apprenticeshop programs allow you to explore the boat building process.

 

 

The Carpenters’ Boat Shop – Pemaquid

For adults of any age who are interested in skill-building and enriching lives, the non-profit Carpenter’s Boat Shop offers a four-month apprenticeship and shorter-term programs to learn the practice of building wooden boats. Yes, they sell boats like the beautiful 11-ft. Monhegan Skiff—but they also help support the Boat Shop with sales of their unique Adirondack Chair and wooden Shaker Oval Boxes and Trays made in the traditional Shaker manner.

 

 

Some of Maine’s Best Known Shipbuilders

More than 450 companies in Maine help build boats ranging from classic wooden sailboats to luxury yachts designed with innovative composite materials. Here are just a few MidCoast shipbuilders that are known for their exceptional craftsmanship.

 

 

Bath Iron Works – Bath

In 1890, the famed shipbuilding company, Bath Iron Works, delivered a steam-powered coastal passenger ship named, Cottage City. Since the completion of that first ship, BIW has designed and built over 245 military ships and over 160 private yachts and commercial vessels. Some of the most storied ships included President Harry Truman’s ‘seagoing White House’, the Williamsburg, and the USS Noa that recovered John Glenn and his spacecraft after he became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the earth. Today, BIW builds the USS Zumwalt-class destroyer, the most technology-advanced combat ship in the world.

 

 

The World’s First 100% Solar-Powered Boat – Belmont Boatworks

Not far from Belfast Harbor, the craftsmen at Belmont Boatworks recently launched the world’s first 100% solar-only electric boat. With advanced solar panels and batteries, the new Solar Sal 24 can cruise indefinitely day and night. The small, open day boat cruises at about seven knots which is slow for a powerboat, but fast compared to sailboat. While the Solar Sal was launched on Earth Day, April 22, the boat is more than an environmental statement. It is designed to be an efficient, stable boat for use by recreational and commercial boaters.

 

 

Front Street Shipyard – Belfast

Photo by Terry Boivin

You can tour Front Street Shipyard to watch firsthand, different craftspeople and technicians working on boats of very kind and size. Yachts from around the world regularly for upgrades and refitting. The real attention getters of the shipyard are custom vessels under construction. The company’s mastery of carbon fiber and cold-molding wood construction is used to comfortable trawlers and high-performance racing yachts.

 

 

Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding – Thomaston and Camden

Photo by Billy Black/Lyman-Morse

Over the past 40 years, more than 110 unique yachts have been built by the craftsmen at Lyman-Morse. These are the kind of boats that standout when they enter a harbor – luxury motor yachts and carbon-fiber ocean racers – such as the Hood 57 LM, shown above. A current project called The Speed-Dream is working to build the fastest monohull boat in the world. The goal is to build a racer that will exceed the speed of today’s fastest comparably sized multihull racers.

 

 

John’s Bay Boat Company – South Bristol

Photo by Walt Barrows

This small, traditional boat shop specializes in custom ‘plank-on-frame’ boats up to 50-ft. in length. The talented boat builders at John’s Bay Boat Company create pleasure boats and commercial working boats that are ‘iconic Maine’ in their line and finish details. The hull on a typical boat may have Maine cedar planking over white oak framing and keel. Bronze fittings and exterior teak trim can be found on most boats.

 

 

Rockport Marine – Rockport

Photo by Alison Langley

Few sailboats draw attention as quickly as the 45-ft. yacht MIST. Recently launched, MIST conveys speed with classic, sleek lines. Despite its size, the yacht can be sailed single-handed thanks to its ergonomics and rigging. With a focus on custom, wooden boat building and restoration, the team of craftsmen at Rockport Marine have worked on some of the world’s most renowned yachts.

 

 

Artisan Boatworks – Rockport Harbor

On Main Street in the historic village of Rockport, you’ll find a crew of master boat builders who are passionate about wooden boats. They are known worldwide for designing new boats and for building superb custom replicas of classic daysailers, runabouts, picnic boats, and rowing craft. Today, Artisan Boatworks continues to build licensed replicas of famed naval architect Herreshoff design boats. Herreshoff was the designer and helmsman who defended the America’s Cup six times between 1893 and 1920. Shown in the photo above, taken by Alison Langley, is the Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 18 built by Artisan Boatworks.

 

 

Back Cove Yachts – Rockland

The classic lines of a Maine lobster boat are easily seen in the lines of every Back Cove Yacht on the water today. Designed for comfortable and highly reliable cruising, Back Cove Yachts ranging from 31 to 41 feet can be found in harbors from Greece to Norway and from Japan to New Zealand. The company’s modern shipyard in Rockland is home to over 200 experienced boatbuilders ranging in skills from nautical engineering to custom wood cabinetry. The photo above shows the interior of the Back Cove 41, the flagship of the Back Cove Fleet.