classic yacht builders

SPIRIT YACHTS

MODERN CLASSIC YACHT DESIGN & BUILD

Based in Suffolk on the east coast of the UK, Spirit Yachts has a portfolio of custom, wooden sail and power yachts ranging from day sailers to superyachts.

From humble beginnings in the Suffolk countryside, Spirit Yachts now operates from a large waterside facility with a team of highly skilled designers, naval architects, boat builders, cabinet makers, electricians and engineers.

Our portfolio of luxury sailing yachts and elegant power boats win awards, as well as regattas.

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Spirit Yachts’ contemporary, elegant design style is world-renowned. Subtle variations on 1930s classic yacht design with long overhangs, low profiles and smooth lines, married to contemporary underwater profiles and the latest technology, are synonymous with Spirit’s modern classic cruising, racing , and power yachts .

Spirit yachts are designed to be as beautiful in 100 years as they are today.

“THE SPIRIT TEAM IS WITHOUT DOUBT THE BEST IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO A UNIQUE BUILD EXPERIENCE AND A TIMELESSLY BEAUTIFUL YACHT.”

WORLD-CLASS WOODWORK

Spirit Yachts comprises a talented team of craftsmen and women who are passionate about and dedicated to the highest standards of boat building.

Using hand-selected timber sustainably sourced from responsibly managed forests, Spirit Yachts incorporate the beauty of wood with the latest modern technology for sailing performance and a luxury guest experience.

SUSTAINABILITY

WOOD IS AT THE HEART OF EVERY SPIRIT YACHT.

Wood is a natural, sustainably-sourced boat building material offering beauty, a favourable strength-to-weight ratio, and durability. Spirit Yachts is committed to the environmental sustainability of its wood and is meticulous in sourcing the highest quality timber from responsibly managed forests and regulated suppliers.

SPIRIT NEWS

LATEST STORIES

Champagne sailing at spirit yachts’ owners regatta, spirit yachts announces q class commission, spirit founder honoured with lifetime achievement award, spirit c72 wins prestigious classic boat award, spirit yachts appoints australasia dealer, spirit c72 on display palma boat show, spirit yachts set to showcase new designs at boot düsseldorf, owner interview: my first season on a new spirit 72.

STAY IN THE LOOP

" * " indicates required fields

• Inquire Now
• YACHT SEARCH
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• $1 – $25,000 Yachts
• $26,000 – $50,000 Yachts
• $50,000 – $100,000 Yachts
• $101,000 – $200,000 Yachts
• $200,000 – ∞ Yachts
• Virgin Islands
• Leeward Islands
• Turks and Caicos
• Spain & Balearic Islands
• New England
• Tahiti & South Pacific
• More destinations
• Charter Advice

America’s 10 Best Yacht Builders

In America, the yachting industry might not be as established. Yet, today, America’s best luxury yacht builders continue to put out award-winning and state-of-the-art designs. Who are America’s best yacht builders?

From Christensen to Trinity, we countdown the best yacht builders in America and highlight what makes each shipyard unique. Here are our favorites:

1. Christensen

Christensen is one of the most established yacht builders in the U.S., and the company is known for its completely custom yachts. Each yacht the company produces is designed according to owner specifications.

Known for its classic hull design, and upscale finishes, Christensen produces some of the most luxurious superyachts in the U.S. That’s thanks in part to the builder’s in-house design team. Many other builders outsource design. Plus, the builder is known for its exquisite interiors, featuring spacious layouts and the finest finishes. Christensen also regularly wins innovation awards for their efficient and powerful displacement systems and state-of-the-art stabilization.

2. Westport

Since 1964, Westport has been a leader in yacht design and manufacturing in the U.S. And its earned a reputation for developing sporty, classically-styled superyachts.

That wasn’t always the case. Originally, Westport designed and built commercial fishing vessels, but today, Westport focuses exclusively on luxury motor yachts, including 34-, 38-, 40- and 50-meter yachts. Westport’s raised pilothouse and tri-deck yachts feature classic nautical hulls with modern touches. The interiors are sleek and comfortable and known for their spacious outdoor deck areas.

3. Derecktor

Derecktor is one of the country’s oldest yacht builders. It was founded on Long Island, NY in 1947, and during its early years, the company produced commercial fishing and passenger vessels. (Even today, Derecktor manufacturers high-speed ferries for cities around the world.)

Derecktor’s output has changed quite a bit in its 70-year history. Today, the company continues to build commercial vessels, but it’s also a top builder of custom motor yachts. Derecktor produces both explorer yachts and motor yachts, and many of its luxury motor yachts feature explorer-inspired designs. Many Derecktor yachts, for example, feature towering superstructures positioned forward. This opens up an abundance of aft-deck space for outdoor dining areas, beach clubs, and even helipads.

In addition to style, Derecktor yachts are renowned for their performance. They might be sizable. But they’re fast, and the ride is stable.

4. Hatteras

Hatteras is a legendary name in American shipbuilding, known for its high-speed and beautiful motor yachts. Initially, the shipyard focused entirely on sportfish yachts – something they’re still known for today. Yet, the company’s line-up of motor yachts offers the best of the best in luxury yachting.

Hatteras offers a full range of superyachts, including the 100 RPH, a stunning 102-foot raised pilothouse motoryacht, and the M90. Hatteras certainly shows its sporty roots in all of its designs; Hatteras exteriors are sleek and streamlined, sharing design details with its sportfish line.

At Trinity , size is the name of the game. The Gulfport-based shipyard produces yachts up to 123 meters (400 feet), including some of the largest luxury yachts ever built in the U.S.

The yachtbuilder has many signatures. For example, classic nautical architecture is one. Trinity produces some of the most inspiring superstructure designs that feature sleek lines and an abundance of glass. When you charter a Trinity yacht, you’ll have plenty of places to relax, as most of their designs incorporate an abundance of deck space. In the past, that’s include beautiful sky lounges and sprawling aft-deck dining/bar areas.

Below deck, Trinity yachts delivers spacious layouts. The yachtbuilder is know for their opulent owner’s suites and staterooms, as well as stunning salons.

6. Broward Marine

Founded by legendary boatbuilder Frank Denison in the 1950s, Broward Marine has been a leader in superyacht design throughout its history. For example, in 1954, Broward launched its first luxury superyacht, ALISA V. At the time, the 96-footer was a behemoth – similar in grandness to today’s megayachts of 150+ feet.

The Alisa paved a path for the company, which shifted its focus exclusively to luxury motoryachts. In the 1980s, for example, Broward was quick to respond to the trend of the superyachts; Broward sold some 80 yachts in the 1980s, an impressive sales feat.

Under new management in the early 2000s, the company continued its focus on stunning megayachts in the 100- to 160-foot range. Broward yachts are grand in scale, with stunning tri-deck and raised pilothouse designs, and they’re also some of the first to feature farmhouse kitchens. Today, the company focuses primarily on refits, but many of their majestic yachts are still available for charter.

7. Hargrave

Hargrave has been producing yachts since the 1950s, and throughout its history, the shipyard has built a reputation for inspiring yacht designs. In fact, the company initially only focused on design. Founder Jack Hargrave, the famed nautical designer, worked closely with other top U.S. yacht builders including Burger and Hatteras, helping to launch numerous brands.

In 1997, the company transitioned from design to designing and building its own luxury yachts. The company quickly made a name for itself. Hargrave has won numerous awards for its sporty tri-decks and sportfish-inspired motoryachts. Hargrave yachts feature contemporary interiors, matched with sleek profiles.

A Horizon yacht has a distinctive look. The company’s yachts have stately exteriors with tons of classic nautical architectural details. Inside, too, Horizon yachts have a lot of character. Most Horizon yachts feature sprawling windows, creating light and airy interior spaces.

Today, the company produces yachts in the 56- to 150-foot range, and their offerings include power catamarans, tri-decks and raised pilothouse motor yachts.

If you’re looking for a power cat, that’s a Horizon specialty. The company’s PC Series features a range of mid-sized power cats up to about 80 feet, with numerous concept yachts in the works. Yet, Horizon does it all. You’ll find Horizon yachts in just about any style, from Fast Displacement yachts (FD Series), to customized tri-decks (CC Series).

The Burger Boat Company is one of the most historic shipbuilders in the U.S. Originally launched in 1863, the company has built more than 500 yachts in its history (more than 250 of which are still in operation). The company was a pioneer in steel yacht building, but today, Burger primary builds aluminum yachts.

Burger produces a range of custom tri-deck motor yachts, ranging from 112- to 214-foot motor yachts. Burger boats have a distinctive look and feel. They have spacious deck areas, like the wrap-around deck on its current 214-foot tri-deck concept, as well as innovative exterior lounge areas.

10. Delta Marine

For more than 50 years, Delta Marine has been producing world-class motor yachts from its headquarters in Seattle. The boatbuilder is known for its sleek exterior designs. Delta Marine yachts feature clean, flowing lines throughout, and the company produces a range of raised pilothouse and tri-deck motor yachts.

Plus, the interiors are completely custom. As such, no two Delta Marine yachts look the same, and the interiors are as unique as their owners. Delta yachts are also well-known for their performance. Many feature performance-minded hulls, and feature state-of-the-art displacement systems.

Plan Your Next Luxury Yacht Charter with Worldwide Boat

Worldwide Boat offers exclusive access to vessels from America’s best luxury yacht builders. Want to hire a Trinity Yacht for your next vacation? We can help.

Plus, our charter brokers are experts on each builder’s specialties. Contact your broker today to learn more about any of our exclusive charter yachts .

Destinations

• Yacht Charter Corsica
• Amalfi Yacht
• Yacht Charter Key West Florida
• Best Yacht Charters Miami
• Luxury Yacht Charter Mediterranean
• Boat Trip to Bimini from Miami
• Crewed Sailing Charter Greece
• Yacht Charter France
• Yacht Charter Turkey

Yachts & Yacht Builders

• Lagoon Yachts
• Broward Yachts
• Relentless Yacht
• Groupe Beneteau Boats
• Sunreef Yachts Charter
• Hatteras Fishing Yachts
• Delta Marine
• Ferretti Yachts
• Elysian Yacht
• Benetti Yachts

Luxury Charters

• Power Cat Rental BVI
• Luxury Yacht Vacation
• Exuma Charters
• BVI Sailboat Charter with Captain
• Yacht Trips Bahamas
• Nassau Charter
• BVI Crewed Yacht Charters
• Yacht Charter Cape Cod
• Boat from Dubrovnik to Split
• French Polynesia Yacht Charter
• Catamaran Rental Caribbean

Set your search criteria to find the perfect yacht

• Alaska Australia Bahamas BVI Caribbean Croatia Florida France Galapagos Greece Indonesia Italy Malaysia Maldives Mexico Mediterranean New England Norway Spain Thailand Tahiti Turkey
• Motor Yacht Catamaran Sailing Boats
• 2 4 6 8 10 12 12+

Search by yacht name

LOOKING FOR A PEDESTRIAN YACHT? KEEP ON WALKING.

Since Huckins was first launched in 1928, our yachts have been and continue to be as unique as the people for whom they are created. By designing and building yachts with our customers — not just for them — we champion individuality in a world that sees fewer examples every day.

But don't let Huckins' classic elegance give you the wrong impression. This is not your grandfather's yacht, and our high-performance hulls certainly aren't hewn from wood. Huckins has been utilizing fiberglass composite core construction for 40 years (initially AIREX ® and today Corecell ™ ), and we were one of the first powerboat builders to do so. All of our yachts are built from the most modern materials available to reduce weight, increase strength and maximize fuel efficiency.

A Huckins isn't for everyone, but we make no apologies. For those who appreciate uniqueness and custom craftsmanship, our yachts represent timeless elegance. Visions come to life. And dreams come true. Not to mention the lightest, sweetest-handling and fuel-stingiest yachts ever to put miles between you and the fuel dock.

Huckins' Heritage and Brand: Learn about the legendary Quadraconic ® hull and the Sportsman 36.

The only reason to service a boat elsewhere is if you have a screw loose.

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Introduce yourself to the product of more than 96 years of perfectionism.

MERCHANDISE

We invite owners, friends & admirers to display your Huckins individuality.

58' Huckins Offshore "Kemosabe"

This 3 stateroom/3 head layout radiates elegance and distinction. Late model classic Huckins repowered in 2010 with QSM11 Cummins 670 HP. Epoxy glassed exterior and epoxy bilges when built. Traditional mahogany paneling in salon and owners stateroom. The fly-bridge and large cockpit make her a practical fishing boat as well as a fast, seaworthy, blue water family cruiser.

The Latest News About Huckins Yachts

Spot a Huckins PT boat in the Movies!

• They Were Expendable with John Wayne (1945)...

Sept. 6-8, 2024 Rendezvous in Newport, RI

Greetings fellow Huckins Owners,We hope that thisfinds...

Vintage Weekend Journey & Recap

If you haven’t experienced Ocean Reef Club's...

Bringing a 1990 Rybovich 44’ back to life

When I was 12 years old, my father bought a 53’...

We are hiring!

Huckins Yacht Corp. offers employees competitive wages...

Miramar wins Best Restoration at Vintage Weekend 2022

Keith and Kerry Johnson bought their 53-foot Huckins...

CLASSIC > 100'

Dating back to 1987, the Hoek range of classic yachts consists of custom-designed and custom-built projects developed in close partnership with owners. Ranging in size from 33 to 262 feet, these sloops, schooners and ketches all have their own distinctive interiors, sail plans and layouts. What all Hoek classics have in common is the way they combine a classic hull shape and above-water styling with a modern underwater configuration. The first designs with a wing keel and spade rudder were the 70-foot sloop Joss and the 70-foot ketch Kim; their unprecedented performance and manoeuvrability were seen as a true breakthrough in yachting. Hoek Design became the frontrunner in the ‘classic above/modern below’ approach to yachting.  And, as shown by designs such as the 37 feet Wallynano and Athos (203 feet), a broad range and an ongoing commitment to perfection enable us to maintain a leading position to this day.

Messing about in boats since 1975.  Online Since 1997.

Home   |  Intro   |  Our Design Process   |  Stock Design Info   |  Motor Yacht Designs   |  Sailing Yacht Designs   |  Prototype Designs Plans List   |  Articles   |  Our CAD Design Stream   |  Maxsurf   |  News..!   |  SITE MAP..!   |  Site Search   | Design Team   |  Contact Us Please see the  AVAILABLE BOAT PLANS web page

Please see the  AVAILABLE BOAT PLANS web page. Home   |  Intro   |  Our Design Process   |  Stock Design Info   |  Motor Yacht Designs   |  Sailing Yacht Designs   |  Prototype Designs Plans List   |  Articles   |  Our CAD Design Stream   |  Maxsurf   |  News..!   |  SITE MAP..!   |  Site Search   | Design Team   |  Contact Us

• All Web Site Graphics, Layout, and Written Content at this Domain Created by Michael Kasten.
• All Graphic and Written Materials at this Domain Copyright © 1989 - 2023 Michael Kasten.
• All Content Registered with US Library of Congress and US Copyright Office.
• Copyright Violations will be Prosecuted. All Rights Reserved.

Creating bespoke superyacht tenders and motor yachts for the modern world.

We are proud to design and custom-build superyacht tenders and motor yachts of the highest quality for 21st century leisure and commerce.

A quarter of a century’s boatbuilding experience underpins a bright new era in which technological innovation, ingenious design and modern materials combine with exquisite craftsmanship to push the boundaries of the possible, and guarantee outstanding performance, luxury and longevity.

Superyacht Tenders

Our global reputation for creating high-performance superyacht tenders for busy owners and their crews – from luxury limousines and sports boats to semi-custom crew ribs and utility craft – is second to none.

Duchy Motor Launches

Our award-winning semi-production motor yachts are the ultimate lifestyle boat and can be customised to create an on-the-water environment that is uniquely yours.

Hardy Motor Yachts

The epitome of all-weather, all-location vessels, our all-new range of Hardys deliver an exceptional modern cruising experience for multi-generational maritime adventures.

Commercial & Defence

Experts in creating effective and efficient craft for a range of deployments.

Custom Boat Building

We fully appreciate that commissioning a superyacht tender, sailing or motor yacht is a momentous decision. Our designers and naval architects work with you every step of the way to provide you with a memorable experience as your custom-build takes shape – from the design of the hull and the powering of the boat to the layout of the interior, the selection of upholstery fabric and the brand of coffee machine for the galley.

Career Opportunities

From marine electricians to boatbuilders, GRP technicians to laminators, a Finance Manager to a Refit Manager, as well as multiple engineering roles, we are not only seeking to hire experienced tradespeople, skilled craftsmen and women, and professional office staff, but are also looking to hire those who are keen to develop new skills and retrain.

New Yacht Design

Restoration and refit, associated services.

• Get in Touch

Your browser does not support the HTML5 video tag.

Time honoured Design

Decades at the forefront of Classic Yacht design, Construction and Restoration. Incorporating the designs of Fairlie Yachts

Paul Spooner Design combines traditional design and craftsmanship principles with the latest innovations in technology and engineering.

Based a few miles from the Solent in Hampshire, we have a global reputation for striking new designs, expert restoration and sensitive refit consultation. We work with owners, yards and brokers to handle every stage of the process from concept drawings to full manufacturing plans and final build.

Led by Paul Spooner CEng MRINA, a naval architect with 30 years' experience in the industry, including Fairlie Yachts & Restorations and other yards around Europe. PSD brings to bear decades of collective experience working on some of the world’s finest vessels, both classic and new.

Paul and his team dispay a wealth of experience and dedication to every project. Their creative ideas and elegant designs truly deliver.

Want to discuss a project?

Home Modern classic

Welcome to Leonardo Yachts. In close collaboration with the leading designers in the yachting world such as Hoek Design and Dykstra Naval Architects, we build daysailers that embody the true essence of a modern classic yacht. Our modern classic sailing yachts combine the timeless appeal of a classic yacht with the cutting edge technology of a modern cruiser. Enjoy the exceptional comfort and unrivaled performance or our Spirit of Tradition yachts, without making compromises on beauty and elegance. Our modern classic sailing yachts truly are the ideal combination of old and new…

Like a true modern classic yacht, our Eagles all have a classic look with the characteristic long overhangs, classic yacht lines and high gloss mahogany varnished exterior woodwork. The looks are completed by the Edson classic steering pedestal with Ritchie stainless steel compass and the stainless steel 7 spoke steering wheel with high gloss varnished mahogany rim. The interior of our modern classic sailboats can be made in different styles from matt varnished mahogany for a truly classic look or a classic styled white interior with mahogany or teak finish. But also light oak is possible or full teak wood, whatever your preference would be.

The classic lines and looks are integrated in a modern sailing yacht. The designs are made with the latest technology giving the yachts very good and easy to handle sailing characteristics. The modern keels in fin shape can be even upgraded for more performance to a bulb shaped deep draft keel making them fast and easily manouvrable. The modern technology can also be found in the electric package for the winches by which adjusting the sails becomes as easy as pushing a button. The sails from North Sails also hold the latest technology with the 3Di design, making the sails very shape stable to increase the sailing performance. To complete a race set-up, a carbon mast and boom can be added to get the most out of the speed. Standard, our modern classic yachts are delivered with Volvo Penta engines, but off course electric propulsion is available for all models.If you share our passion for modern classic sailing, we would be honoured to help fulfil your aspirations. Together we build the most beautiful Spirit of Tradition boats ever seen.

Get in touch and explore all our options.

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Conservation and Philanthropy
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• BOATPro Home
• Superyacht Insight
• Global Order Book
• Premium Content
• Product Features
• Testimonials
• Pricing Plan
• Tenders & Equipment

Classic Yachts For Sale

While new, radically designed superyachts are always guaranteed to catch the public's attention, there are many owners dedicated to the preservation, restoration and maintenance of fine old pleasure crafts. Although the term classic yacht is a relatively elastic one, here are a selection of timeless classic yachts for sale currently with BOAT International. 

Yacht Features

Propulsion System

672 Wine Club

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Benchmark Wines
• Brian Fox Art
• Chase United
• Disneyland Resort
• Gateway Bronco
• Royal Salute
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

9 Stunning Wooden Boats That Blend Classic Design With Modern Tech

These 9 yards are still turning out mahogany boats using hand-crafted methods that started centuries ago. the difference they're using the latest engines and hull designs. call it good wood., kevin koenig, kevin koenig's most recent stories.

• This 121-Foot Superyacht Is Faster Than Most Boats Half Its Size
• Maserati’s First Electric Boat Delivers Style and Fun on the Water—We Took It for a Spin
• This New 101-Foot Superyacht Has an Unusually Large Social Enclave on Its Main Deck
• Share This Article

There are few more classic sights in boating than a small mahogany runabout splitting the serene waters of a lake in some picturesque locale—be it northern Italy, Lake Tahoe, or a pristine stretch of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. There is something almost primal about being on board a boat built from the first material humans fashioned roughshod canoes with.

Fortunately, there are multiple yards around the world that are still building wooden boats—but with modern hulls and systems that eliminate the hassles of owning a vintage yacht. Some build classic-inspired designs from the 1920s through the 1960s, while others focus on contemporary hulls, but with wood instead of fiberglass.

These builders will tell you that their material of choice offers the softest ride available, thanks to its natural properties. They will also say that the prestige of owning one of these boats is all but unmatched in the world of boating—wooden boats have long been a favorite of kings and movie stars. When you catch a glimpse of the beautiful brightwork and gleaming mahogany from the dock, you’ll find they clearly have a point.

Here are 9 of our favorite wooden boatbuilders.

Grand Craft, Genoa City, Wisconsin

“Our boats are few and far between, so the people who look at our boats often say they resemble a piece of art,” says Patrick Gallagher, president and CEO of Grand Craft Boats. The Wisconsin builder is currently focusing on two different models, the Burnham 26 runabout (opening image) and Winchester 36 commuter (pictured above). “The common denominator among our customers is that they want something that sets them apart from their neighbors without being gaudy or ostentatious,” says Gallagher. “A wooden boat is a way to demonstrate that.”

Boesch, Kilchberg, Switzerland

Jakob Boesch built his first boat in the 1890s, and more than a century later, his family continues to merge new technologies with old-world Swiss craftsmanship. Boesch ’s 28-foot 860 has a classically styled mahogany hull with up to 11 layers of wood laid at right angles, sealed with six layers of epoxy and finished with six layers of varnish. Propulsion choices include modern options such as twin 150 kw electric engines for quiet, emissions-free operation or more conventional gas or diesel engines. The runabout’s meticulous craftsmanship disguises a beast of a machine designed for precise handling, tow sports and speed. Equipped with twin 380 hp Ilmor gas engines, the 860 can hit 48 mph.

Spirit, Ipswich, England

The 111-foot Geist , launched in 2021 by Spirit, is the largest single-masted wooden sailing yacht built in the UK since the 1930s, when the America’s Cup yacht Shamrock V ruled the seas. But Geist is much more than a giant sloop. Her eco-conscious owner mandated systems like the first-of-its-kind electric propulsion by Torqeedo—a 100 kw motor fed by BMW lithium-ion battery banks, which recharge while Geist is sailing—while her Rhoades Young interior elevates wood to its maximum potential, showing off sustainably sourced sipo mahogany, teak and walnut in a series of continuously flowing curves. Even her sails are made of recyclable materials.

HackerCraft, Queensbury, NY

Founded in 1908, HackerCraft is one of the most prominent names in the wooden-boat world. The builder does series of boats such as its Sport, Sterling, and Racer models and also takes on full-custom jobs. “The build method lends itself to customization,” says Erin Badcock, Hacker Craft’s COO. “We build on a jig so anything is possible. Our main focus is to maintain the timelessness of the boat, but at the same time we have the ability to do custom designs.” For a builder with timelessness in mind, Hacker also has an eye on the future with its fully electric 27 Sport , which has a run time of up to three hours and a 30-knot top end.

Shearline, Morehead City, NC

Shearline is one of the cluster of custom sportfish builders centered around North Carolina’s famously rough Oregon Inlet. The builder is not uncommon amongst its peers in that it only turns out one or two boats a year. But the firm stands out among sportfish builders in that it’s still building in wood. Using wood instead of fiberglass is a no brainer. “The strength of a tree is in its ability to bend with the wind,” says Chip King, Shearline’s president. “You come off a wave and wood absorbs the shock, whereas fiberglass transfers it. There’s no comparison between the two materials when you want the softest ride possible.”

StanCraft, Hayden, Idaho

From out west comes Idaho’s StanCraft . This 90-year-old brand was founded in 1933 by W. H. “Billy” Young and his son Stanley C. Young. The company has remained within the family, with new boats now built by the third generation. A fourth generation is coming up in the business as well. The builder offers a line of five models, plus full-custom jobs. The boats are notable for the variations seen in its shearlines, which can be straight, broken, or cambered. The company also prides itself on its fit and finish. Each boat, for example, receives 16 coats of varnish, buffed to a mirror shine before delivery.

GarWood Custom Boats, Brant Lake, NY

GarWood Custom Boats is headquartered in New York State’s pastoral Adirondack region, where the multitude of freshwater lakes make an ideal playground for a wooden runabout. The builder constructs its boats using richly grained mahogany, with low-profile, retro lines. The first version of the brand, launched by Garfield Arthur Wood in 1922, was famous for its 33-foot Baby Gar runabouts. The most recent ownership of the brand continued with its racing pedigree, turning out boats like the 22- and 27-foot Speedsters, which can pass the 60-mph mark, a redline that holds real weight for lovers of go-fast boats. Combine that with beautiful wood and you have a one-of-a-kind runabout.

Vandam Custom Yachts, Boyne City, Michigan

Vandam is a fully custom builder that only creates its wooden boats on commission. “We only build one of each boat,” says Jeremy Pearson, Vandam’s worldwide sales manager. “The people that come to us are usually seasoned and know what they liked in previous boats they owned—the lines, the seats, that kind of stuff. We do a lot of listening to the clients. The concept phase is a lot of fun here.” The Michigan yard has turned out a long list of very different yachts, from the Geromino commuter yacht to the pictured downeast-style vessel, with dozens of other styles in between.

Streblow, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Streblow has been building handmade wooden boats for 73 years. Each boat is framed using white oak, with a marine plywood bottom and Philippine mahogany for the outer planking. The attention to detail seen aboard these boats has gained an almost cult-like following, with customers often purchasing consecutive Streblows. Part of this loyalty stems from Streblow’s storage facility, a 17,000-square-foot structure that the builder says can extend the lifetime of a wooden boat indefinitely.

Read More On:

• Wooden boats

More Marine

This Revamped 161-Foot Trinity Superyacht Could Be Yours for $16 Million

Rescuers Find Remaining Missing Aboard the Sunken ‘Bayesian’ Superyacht 

Tech Mogul Mike Lynch and 5 Others Are Missing After a Yacht Sinks in Italy

A Fleet of Candela’s Electric Foiling Yachts Is Rolling Out to the Red Sea in 2025

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

6 Electric Surfboards That’ll Help You Catch Your Next Wave

‘La Dea II’ Superyacht in Photos

More from our brands, the most expensive celebrity engagement rings: jackie o’s 40-carat harry winston sparkler, grace kelly’s emerald-cut cartier bauble and more, commanders commit to a new, improved sean taylor statue, how ‘bad actor’ documentary unpacked a notorious hollywood ponzi scheme while pulling off its own deception, christie’s first sale at new asia headquarters led by $35 m. monet, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

Ocean-Going

Luxury yachts.

Stunning woodwork and craftsmanship

customizable luxury

Efficient Long Range

Ocean-Tested Strength

faster delivery

Ocean Explorer

Ocean Explorer 60

Ocean Explorer 72

Ocean Explorer 78

Classic explorer.

Classic Explorer 45

Classic Explorer 49

Classic Explorer 54

Classic Explorer 60

Classic Explorer 72

Ready to customize, ultimate yacht.

News - Find out about the latest news

Go Big or Stay Home

Story of a new Selene 60 Classic Explorer Buyer and his plans to circumnavigate

Expanding our Factory - Building out an Additional 400,000+ Sq Feet of Modern Facilities

Events - find out about the latest events.

2024 Selene Boat Show & Rendezvous Schedule, Get your Discount Code & Come See Us!

See what our happy customers are saying.

“My Selene 80 Ocean Explorer ticks all the boxes! We like fishing offshore and Howard Chen has beautifully extended the cockpit, adding working space, waterline and speed to this powerful fishing machine. I am also delighted with the very professional layout of the engine room with its twin Cummins and two generators. Hydraulic windlass, stabilizers and thrusters were also a must in my view. The bespoke interior general arrangements is also perfectly adjusted to our family lifestyle… South-East Asia, the Celebes sea, Torres straight, Australia and the Pacific Ocean are definitely on my bucket list!”

“Ever since I stepped aboard my first Selene, I knew there was something special about these yachts. You can see and feel the passion in the craftsmanship, and the woodwork is just breathtaking. What truly impressed me was the strength and stability of the yacht out in open water. And the fact that I could tailor some of the interiors to my liking? That was the cherry on top. Every voyage just feels like a dream.”

“We've had our fair share of experiences with different yachts, but Selene stands out. The Caribbean trip we took last summer was nothing short of luxurious. The decks, the interiors, the entire build screams quality. And I must say, getting our yacht delivered faster than expected was a delightful surprise. If you're looking for the perfect blend of comfort and adventure, Selene is where you find it.”

“We've had our fair share of experiences with different yachts, but Selene stands out"

Selene has a 25 year tradition of building elegant long range cruising trawlers for active adventures. Selene Yachts Americas is dedicated to connecting you with a Selene customized to meet your requirements and getting you on the water for experiences of a lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are the Selene Distributor for North America covering the US, Canada and Mexico.

We welcome the opportunity to have you involved and updated with each step of building your yacht including seeing your Selene while under construction at the factory.

A Trawler combines a more comfortable ride due to it's heavy full displacement hull and fuel efficiency that enables long-range cruising capability.

High quality woodwork, luxurious interiors, rugged build and a low profile design and that provides increased stability in a seaway.

Yes, there are many customizations available beyond what we display here including additional size boats and configuration options. Please contact us to learn more.

Stay Afloat with Selene Updates

Welcome aboard.

Boatyards and Boat Builders

Whether you need someone in a hurry or are looking for a master boat builder for a restoration, this is your list of traditional, GRP, small and large boat building outfits that specialise in classic boats.

WoodStock Boatbuilders (Antigua). Traditional boatyard providing a service to working boats, yachts, superyachts.

Atkins & Co. (Australia) – Modern and traditional construction techniques

Jari Vanhatalo (Finland)

Chantier des Ileaux (Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, South Brittany, France) - traditional, well respected yard.

Chantier Naval Pasqui (Villefranche sur Mer, South of France) - Restored Tuiga and maintains key yachts on the Med circuit

Chantier Naval de l'Estérel (Cannes, South of France) - Founded in 1936 and situated in île Sainte Marguerite. Restoration, maintenance and repair work afloat or ashore on any kind of yachts up to 45m.

Chantier naval Sainte-Marie ( Marseille, France) - Slipway on rails, 30m capacity for dry dock facilities. Builds and restores boats, mostly high-end constructions.

Colin Sarl Les faiseurs de bateaux (Saint-Omer, Near Calais, France) - building traditional bacôves (small inland boats) that have long crossed the Audomarois marshes.

Chantier Naval Dubourdieu (Gujan-Mestras, Near Bordeaux, France) - Motor yacht restoration.

CNSB - Chantier Naval de Sanary les Baux (Near Marseille, France) - builds boats and repairs old boats using traditional techniques.

Chantier naval Pasqui Sarl (Near Nice, France) - Specialising in the restoration of old ships and building wooden boats.

Chantier naval Borg (Marseille, France) - Traditional boat building

Chantier Marin de la Plaisance (France) - General boatyard services

Chantier Naval A. Jezequel (France) - Traditional boat building

Gilles Voisin (France)

Constructions Nautiques Francois Roussineau (France)

Chantier Lobrichon

Chantier Naval Jean Claude Paraveau (France)

Chantier Naval Herve Fernand (France)

Conrather Gilles (France) - Traditional yard

Chantier Naval Carenes - (France) - Traditional yard

Les Ateliers du Marais (France) - Specialises in interior cabinetwork for yachts, liners, shops, villas, hotels and aircraft.

Agencement Paul Champs (France) -  Yacht interior fitters

Charpentiers Réunis de Méditerranée (France) -

Claasen Shipyard (Netherlands) - Spirit of tradition new builds. J's and F class.

Classic Works (La Ciotat, France) - Classic Restorations

Chantier du Guip (France). Based in Brest, builders and restorers of fine working boats and yachts.

Netherlands

Holland Jachtbouw (Netherlands) - New builds, mostly superyachts; J class yachts etc.

JachtbouwBart Jan Bats (Netherlands) - Restorations and GRP builds.

Jachtwerf Brandsma (Netherlands) - Restorations and buids. Traditional shipwrights.

Jachtwerf Prins (Netherlands) - Restoration of Dutch Barges.

Royal Huisman (Netherlands) - Spirit of tradition builds.

Vitters (Netherlands) - Modern new builds, spirit of tradition, mostly superyachts; J class yachts etc.

New Zealand

Classic Boats New Zealand (NZ) - Restorations. Kerikeri, Bay of Islands.

New Zealand Traditional Boat Building School (NZ) - Auckland.

Richard Le Bloas (Co Down). Clinker builds and repair. 07711 232 525

James. P. Hogan (Co. Galway). Semi retired boat builder, lecturing and instruction at Galway School of Boatbuilding. 091 592 521

Richard le Bloas – (N Ireland). Maintenance and repairs carried out on yachts and motor launches to 45ft. 07711 232525

United Kingdom

David Moss Boatbuilders (Lancs). Builders Otter range of canoe yawls. 01253 893 830

Whisper Boats (Cambridge). Traditional kit boat supplier and builder. 01223 832 928.

North East (UK)

Character Boats (Lancs). Traditional designs GRP. 01253 727 004

Farrow and Chambers Yacht Builders (Lincolnshire). Wood epoxy one-offs 01472 362 424

Mills Dockyard (Northamptonshire). Restoration of Edwardian motor boats, hydroplanes, racers 0115 973 2595

Peter Nicholls Steel Boats (Northamptonshire). Houseboats, specialist steel construction. 01788 891 823.

Staniland of Thorne Marina Ltd (Doncaster). Repairs and fitting out of inland craft. 01405 813 150

North West (UK)

Fyne Boat Kits (Cumbria) Kayaks, canoes and kit boats. 01539 444 300

Kittiwake Boats (Cheshire). Builder of 14ft/4.5mtrs to 16ft/5.3mtrs are performance centreboard sailboats. 01260 252 157

Lakeland Wooden Boats (Cumbria). Kevin Halcrow. Suffolk beach punt. Lymington scow. Northumbrian cobble. 01539 727 118

Patterson Boatworks (Cumbria). Restorations of river craft, yachts, steam launches. +44 (0)15394 36660

Willow Bay Boats (Lake District). 12, 14 & 17ft day-boats and camping cruisers. 015394 442741 www.willowbayboats.co.uk

South East Coast (UK)

A. Riva & Son Shipwrights Ltd (Essex) - Classic restorations. 01621 851081

Abingdon & Skabardis Marine (Kent) - Restorations 07737 868 421

Alan S.R Staley   – (Kent) Shipwright, Boatbuilder, Restorations. 01795 530 668

Aldeburgh Boatyard Co – (Suffolk) 8 Metres and Yacht restorations, general boatyard. 01728 452 019

Barrow Boat Company – (Norfolk). Wooden tenders and sailing dinghies, kits and builder. 01705 597 469

Beacon Boatyard – (Kent). Restoration and spars, wooden boat restorations Rochester. 01634 841 320

Brian Kennell Boat builder – (Essex). Shipwright and small boat builder. 07745 173 908 / 01206 331 212

Burnham Yacht Harbour Marina (Essex). Restorations under a very large shed. 01621 782 150

Charlie Ward Traditional Boats (Norfolk). Repairs and builders. 01263 74037

Colin Buttifant Yachtbuilders / Swallowtail Boatyard (Norfolk). Classic broads yachts. 01692 678 067

Conrad Natzio (Norfolk). Lightweight craft. 01508 548 675

Creative Marine (Norfolk). Electric river launches and steam yachts. 01692 407 843

David Patient Shipwright (Essex). Barges, Smacks, Dinghies. V. experienced. 07801 130530

Fabian Bush, Boatbuilder (Essex). Clinker boats, restoration, plans 01206 728 577

Felixtowe Ferry Boatyard (Suffolk). Boatyard services. 01394 282 173

Frank Schofield Boatbuilder (Norfolk). 01328 878 216

GMS Ltd (Kent). Based at Chatham historic dockyard. 01634 844 114

Harker's Yard (Essex). Wooden boat restoration, experience with Lottery Funding. Working Boats etc.

H E Hipperson Ltd (Suffolk). Wooden and grp repairs. 01628 528 830

Harbour Marine Services (Suffolk). John Buckley restores 1930s motor yachts. 01502 724721

Harry King & Sons (Suffolk). Very traditional, Smacks, bawleys, barges and boatyard services. 01473 780 258

Heritage Marine, Downs Road Boatyard . (Essex). V. traditional boatyard with boat builders, traditional rigging.

Hollowshore Boatyard (Kent) Dan Tester restores Smacks, metre boats and traditional craft.  01795 532 317

Hunters Yard (Norfolk). Traditional day boat restoration and builds. 01702 338 989

Jamie Clay Boatbuilding (Essex). Albert Strange restoration specialist. 01621 853 804

JEP Marine (Kent). John Pollitt. GRP clinker builder. 01227 710 102

Jim Spencer Sailing Services (Essex). GRP hulls, kits and finished. 01206 302 911

John Williams Boats (Norfolk). 01692 580 953

Kingsley Farrington (Norfolk). Yare and Bure One Design 01603 666545

North Quay Marine (Kent). North Quay day-boats in cedar epoxy. 01795 521 384

Neil Thompson Boats (Norfolk). Builder of the Norfolk Urchin, Explorer, Gypsy, Smuggler, Oyster. (0) 1263 741172

Petticrows Ltd – (Essex). Dragons builders, based in Burnham-On-Crouch. 01621 782 115

Priors Boatyard (Essex). Yacht builders since 1892 Repairs up to 60ft. 01621 782 160

Rob Maloney Boatbuilder (Essex). Traditional, restoring one designs. 07901624341

Robertsons Boatyard (Suffolk). Construction, restoration and repair. 01394 382 305.

Roving Commissions (Suffolk). Restoration etc. 01502 575 679

Sea King Boatbuilders (Essex). Clinker boats to 30ft. 01702 473 612

South River Marine (Norfolk). Traditional builder, Steve Evans. 01493 488 469

Suffolk Yacht Harbour (Suffolk). Traditional, classic restorations under a brand new shed (up to 70ft LOA).

Tideway Dinghies Ltd (Essex). Builders of Tideway Dinghies. Mari Riva 01621 851081

The Norfolk Boatyard (Norfolk). Traditional craft restoration and boatyard services. 01263 731 500

Tony Gaze Boatbuilder (Suffolk). Traditional boat builder. 01379 586 241

South Coast and Middle England (UK)

Albatross Marine – (Hampshire). Restorations of Albatross motor boats circa. 1950's

Andrews Boat House – (Bucks). Neil Garside restores Thames launches, steamers and trad craft. 01628 810 402

Bossoms Boatyard (Oxford). Andre Jones building punts for the Oxford colleges. 01865 247 780

Bucklers Hard Boat Builders (Hampshire). 01590 616 214

Camper & Nicholson (Gosport). Boatbuilders. 023 9258 0221

Chippendale Craft / Fine Wood Craft (Sussex). Day-boats and skiffs. 01797 227 707

Churchouse Boats (Hampshire). Drascombe lugger builders. 01256 896 292.

Constables Boatyard (Surrey). Build, restore, hire Thames craft. 0208 948 8270

Coventry Boatbuilders and Chandlery (West Midlands). Classic restoration and chandlery

David Hillyard (Sussex). Simon Cullingford. Hillyard restoration. 01903 713 327

Elephant Boatyard (Southampton). Repairs 01703 403 268

Fairlie Restorations Ltd – (Hants). Paul Spooner & Duncan Walker undertake wood restorations. 01703 456 336

Henwood and Dean (Henley), Lucy Henwood. Colin Dean. Riverboat restoration and new build 01491 571 692.

Heyland Marine (Bucks). Traditional dinghies in GRP. 01628 528 830

Hoad Sailboats – (W. Sussex). Built in wood, Ian Oughtred designs. 01798 344 997

Jeremy Rogers Yachts – (Hants). Contesssa 32 builds to order. 01590 645 454

John Claridge Composites Ltd (Hants). Undertakes work on X class one designs, prams etc. 01590 674 821

JWS Marine Services – (Portsmouth). John Shaw. Teak decks, varnish etc. 02392 755 155

Ken Wilkinson (Portsmouth) Restorations of yachts and boats across the world.

Michael Dennett - (Surrey). River craft restorations. +44 (0)1932 563448

Neville Moore – (Berkshire) Boat Restorations. 0118 959 0346

Peter Freebody & Co – (Thames). Slipper launches and Riva restorations. 01628 824 382

PJS Boats – (Hampshire). Joinery and Carpentry. 01420 489 595

Salterns Boats – (Oxon). Restoration and refit of traditional river and sailing boats.

Shalfleet Quay Boatyard – (I.O.W). Repairs and maintenance small yard. 01983 752 430

Southampton Yacht Services Ltd – (Southampton). Refits and new builds, recent refit was Cambria. 01703 335266

Stanley & Thomas Boatbuilders – (Thames). River launch restorations. 01753 833 166. Mob 0831 862 729.

T Green and Co – (Henley). Builders and repairs for the upper Thames. 01628 829 371

The Maritime Workshop – (Gosport). Restoration and maintenance of historic ships/yachts. 01705 527 805

Wraysbury Boat House – (Berkshire). Tim O’Keefe. River launch restorations. 01784 482 569

West Solent Boatbuilders – (Hampshire). Keyhaven Scows etc. 01590 642 080

Wicormarine Ltd – (Hampshire). Repairs. 01329 237 112

Woottens Boatyard – (London). River craft restorers, builders. 01628 484 244

South West (UK)

Baltic Wharf Boatyard – ( Devon). Various individuals working in the Totnes yard. 01803 867 922.

Ben Harris Boatbuilder (Cornwall) - Building dinghies, yachts inspired by traditional lines. +44 (0)7570 780864

Butler & Co – Ashley Butler designs, builds and restores unique, beautiful wooden boats.

C H Lavis and Son (Devon). Boatbuilders SW. 01395 263 095

Cockwells (Cornwall). Modern and classic, designers and builders of superyacht tenders. 01326 377 366

Cornish Crabbers (Cornwall). Builders of the famous Cornish Crabbers. 01208 862 375

Devon Wooden Boats (Devon). Builders and restorers. 01803 722 537

Gaffers and Luggers / Waterings Boatyard (Cornwall). Traditional boat building est. 1965. 01326 374 441

Giles Hodge Gilbert Boatbuilder (Cornwall). Traditional boatbuilder, working boat, yacht and tender restorer works across the world. +44(0) 7749382628.

Gweek Quay Boatyard (Cornwall). 01326 221 657

Honnor Marine   (Devon) Builders and restorers. 01706 369 084

Hunkins Boatbuilders (Cornwall). Maurice Hunkin est. 1912 in Fowey. 01726 832 874

Lathams Boatyard (Dorest), Chris Somner. General classic restorations. 01202 784 029

Luke Powell – Builder of working boat replicas and working boats.

McNulty Boats Ltd (Devon) Luggers and wood-builds. 01404 41555

Merryman Boats (Dorset). Kits dinghies. 01285 820 164

Michael Atfield (Devon). Salcombe Yawl, dinghies, launches. 01548 843 120

Mylor Yacht Harbour – (Cornwall) Restorations, large boatyard in a great position near Falmouth. +44 (0)1326 372 121

Nash & Holden Traditional Boatbuilders (Devon). Everything up to 70ft. 01803 835 165

Pendennis Shipyard (Cornwall). Build and refit of superyachts. 01326 319 253

Stirling & Son – (Plymouth) New builds of cutters, clinker dinghies, large restorations. 01822 854137

Richard Crane Yacht and Boatbuilder (Cornwall). 01752 822 845

Rossiter Yachts (Dorset). Has undertaken restorations on traditional craft. 01202 483 250

Sail & Oar (Devon). Restoration and any clinker-build to 22ft. 01803 866 680

Seahopper Folders (Somerset). Folding dinghy kits. 01823 663 666

Square Sail Shipyard Ltd (Cornwall). Tall ships and film industry support services. 01726 70241

Star Yachts Ltd (Bristol). Tender builders to around 32ft. +44(0)117 907 9938

T. Neilsen & Co. (Bristol). Traditional shipwright and rigger. +44 (0)1452 301117

Traditional Sail (Devon). Restorations to 50ft. 01548 844 284.

David Walkey Boatbuilder (Cornwall). 07968 562 783

Working Sail (Cornwall) . Working boat builders and restorations. +44 (0) 1326 376316  

Underfall Boatyard (Bristol). Historical yard in Bristol docks. General boatyard services on the slip.

Evans Boatworks (Pembrokeshire). Colin Evans wooden builds restorations. 07815 075 585

International Marine Designs (Gwynedd, North Wales) 01654 767 572

John Kerr Boatbuilder (Dyfed). Custom-built wooden boats. 01559 363 201

Swallow Boats (Wales). Builders of the Bayraider range GRP. 01239 615 140

United States of America

Tom McIllwraith (US)

Kent Tyson (US)

Van Dam (US)

Artisan Boatworks (US)

Rockport Marine (US)

Pease Boatworks (US)

Wooden Boatworks (US)

Crockers Boatyard Inc. (US)

Beetle Cat Boat Shop (US)

The Apprenticeshop (US)

Six River Marine (US)

Stuart Knockabout (US)

Richard Stanley Custom Boats (US)

Robin Hood Marine Centre (US)

Ballentine's Doughdish (US)

Classic Boat Shop (US)

Covey Island Boatworks (CA)

“I start from the premise that no object created by man is as satisfying to his body and soul as a proper sailing yacht.”

– arthur beiser 1978, the proper yacht, “a boat is like a magic world, like a little island.”, – renzo piano, “i cannot not sail.”, – e. b. white, “boats, like whiskey, are all good.”, – r. d. culler, “the perfection of a yacht’s beauty is that nothing, should be there for only beauty’s sake.”, – john macgregor, “ships are the nearest thing to dreams that hands have ever made.”, – robert n. rose, “at sea, i learned how little a person needs, not  how much.”, -robin lee graham, “it’s out there at sea that you are really yourself.”, -vito dumas, “now voyager sail thou forth to seek and find.”, -walt whitman, “being on a boat that’s moving through the water, it’s so clear. everything falls into place in terms of what’s important and what’s not.”, -james taylor, “there’s nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as messing about in boats.”, -kenneth grahame, “the goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help, the boat sail herself.”, – john rousmaniere, “the gods do not deduct from a man’s allotted span, those days spent sailing.”, -ancient proverb, “there is little man has made that approaches anything in nature, but a sailing ship does. there is not much man has made that calls to all the best in him, but a sailing ship does.”.

-Allan Villiers

…in the news:  SOUNDINGS Magazine

  “As a truly custom shop, there’s no limit to what we can do.” – Alec Brainerd read more

…news from the yard:  

Our Latest Projects and Summer Invites

WoodenBoat Show, Camden Classics Cup, Boats for Sale and More!

…current projects: 39′ Luxury Daysailer

Our latest project is a new 39′ luxury daysailer designed by Stephens Waring Yacht Design of Belfast, Maine. see more

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Artisan Boatworks’ team of master wooden boat builders have partnered with visionary owners to build more licensed replicas of Herreshoff designs than any other builder since HMCo closed its doors in 1944.

Over the past two decades our craftsmen have earned a reputation for the world’s finest custom replicas of classic daysailers, runabouts, launches, Downeast picnic boats, and rowing craft. For the true connoisseur of natural materials we employ traditional plank-on-frame construction, and for cutting-edge performance we excel in the application of cold-molded epoxy, sheathed strip, and carbon-fiber composites – all while maintaining the timeless beauty that embodies the spirit and intention of yachting’s greatest designers.

RESTORATION

No wooden boat with significant history and pedigree is beyond repair. Our team of restoration specialists has developed a renowned understanding of the research, appraisal, and approach necessary to return important heirlooms to as new or better condition, which is why the most discerning owners throughout the world continue to bring their projects to Artisan Boatworks.

Our particularly holistic approach to restoration is built on several decades of experience lofting and re-establishing hull shape and sheer, identifying and correcting short-sighted fixes and engineering deficiencies; and preserving original design details, materials, and techniques.

STORAGE/SERVICE

Our clients are extremely proud of their wooden boats, and recognize that specialized off-season storage and expert finishing are critical to their health, appearance, and performance.  The service department at Artisan Boatworks cares for over sixty of these distinguished wooden boats, rivaling the capacity of any such yard in the Northeast. Our greatest source of pride, however, is our reputation for the extraordinary level of individualized customer service, world class standard of finish, and custom tailored maintenance services we bestow upon each and every boat and owner.

From New York to Northeast Harbor – experienced wooden boat owners choose Artisan Boatworks’ full service “mooring to mooring” storage and maintenance program for our proven efficiency, accountability, and because we love the boats in our care like family.

Grand Craft Boats: The Standard in luxury on water

If you seek out unique possessions and experiences that let you escape from the everyday—then let your imagination run wild and create your own masterpiece. Our classic luxury handcrafted mahogany boats embody the timeless design and enduring spirit of the 20s and 30s. Grand Crafts turn heads while every modern convenience assures comfort and delivers superior performance.

Craft Your Masterpiece

Each customized Grand Craft mahogany boat embodies the tastes, style, and sensibilities of its owner, both in the inherent uniqueness of a luxury wooden boat and in the customized touches chosen. Explore our handcrafted boat models as a starting point and then let our craftsmen build your masterpiece.

The Burnham

Classic Lines and Modern Performance

The Clybourn

The Best of Both Worlds

The Winchester

First-class Travel

Custom Boats

Your Dream Brought to Life

Let us craft a masterpiece that reflects your desire for the unique

Begin your Grand Craft journey by requesting a digital brochure. Commissioning your work of art will be an unforgettable journey. Our expert craftsmen will help guide you from your initial vision to the day you launch.

• Buy a Classic Boat
• Southampton Boat Show
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Single Issues

Your special offer

Classic Boat Road Trip: Tour of Boatbuilding in New England

Our Classic Boat Team went on a whistlestop tour of boatbuilding in New England, Editor Steffan Meyric Hughes reports.

Classic boat new england road trip.

A V8 pick-up, Tom Petty on the stereo, cowgirls in denim shorts, roadside diners and motels with flickering neon lights… This was the dream for CB’s ad manager Hugo and I as we set out on our way in the new world. Or New England at least. We should’ve known better, having visited this part of the world in 2018. The reality was less colourful: a reliable Japanese hire car, Cape Cod Rock on the radio, boatbuilders in denim (not shorts), a historic hotel with creaky stairs in Rhode Island and… well, Wendy’s burgers.

First stop on the New England tour: JM Reineck and Son

This is Bob and son Jared. They love the house – spent seven years waiting for a suitable house with ground/basement you can drive into. They also have lovely lake (pond) views and plenty of land (albeit not any of it flat!!).

We looked at bronze blocks. Apparently these are Herr in origin and last for ages. The boat is an original Buzzards Bay 15, Flickamaroo, built in 1916. It was the start of everything: “I took it out of the water in 1981 to tighten a few bits. She didn’t go back in until 2011!” Bought it 50 years ago, aged 79. Now the son has joined the enterprise, which is run from their cavernous converted basement. He’s building bronze Herreshoff blocks at the moment. They last seemingly forever. He’s into a 22-year long-term test with a guy who runs fishing charters on a skipjack schooner. Sails go up and down at least four times a day, every day. They’re still fine. Recent job was L Francis boat Catriona. Current job is 7/8in blocks for Cherise, 57ft Alden yacht. Doing hollow cleats for that too – Reliance style.

Arey’s Pond

Arey’s Pond , America’s builder of new catboats in GRP (and, occasionally, wood) was our next stop about an hour away, so we hit the road and wound through endless lakes (there are 3,000 in the state of Massachusetts), rivers, forests, and towns with names like Chatham, Sandwich and Rochester. The yard is in a lovely setting by a small lake (‘pond’) reached by a dirt road, and a river leads into Mount Pleasant Bay, protected from the Atlantic by a long spit of land.

I count more than 50 catboats on the lake, all blowing this way and that to their anchors as a strong breeze blew through, but the sun is out and cats are being readied on land to spend the summer afloat. Up some stairs in the canvas shop, we meet Geoffrey Cabral, who once got off a speeding ticket in England on the strength of spelling his first name properly. He has also been Arey’s ‘canvas guy’ on and off for 25 years, and loves the job.

In his time, he’s made sails, welded custom swim ladders, done all the canvas work on the 186ft schooner Adix, and even made a body bag for a burial at sea. He’s originally from Bermuda, and for a while lived on a Venus ketch he’d restored himself, and lost in a freak hurricane. “I really never thought I could live in New England” he says with a smile, but the job, the setting, and the nearby surf beaches mean that he now calls the place home. The only mystery to Geoff is that more young people don’t want to go into his line of work, and marine in general. And if you’re wondering about the long hair, and thinking it goes with surfing and listening to Cape Cod Rock (Geoff is a fellow fan, it seems), then you’d only be half right. He grows it to cut every six years and donates it to a charity making wigs for cancer patients!

The day was long, and we drove to our next hotel in Newport, Rhode Island. The white-painted, weatherboarded Bellevue House is the oldest hotel in the town, opened nearly two centuries ago and straight out of Moby Dick. In town, we find the least touristy bar we can and eat burgers and drink beer, watching the baseball, and weather reports showing floods and promising 100pmh winds through the night for much of New England.

Photos from Mystic Wooden Boat Show , New England

The First Sunrise: Boatbuilding in Maine

The main regret of our two US yard tours so far (the one detailed in this issue and another in 2018), is that we’ve not yet made it as far north as Maine, one of the world’s spiritual homes of classic yachts and working boats, a place I know well from youth, having spent a three-month summer there. Another is that we’ve not yet made it over to the west coast, to the epicentre of Port Townsend in Washington and around, although our correspondent Bruno Cianci got as far as California on his own American mission last year. As for Maine, the first place in America to see the sun rise, we’ve followed a few yards from afar over the years. The first of these is Artisan Boatworks , run by Alec Brainerd, who we bumped into at the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic . For some years now, Artisan has been championing the great one-designs and dayboats from American history – the yard has built new or restored almost countless keel boats like the fabled Dark Harbor 17, Buzzards Bay 15 and 18, and various of Herreshoff’s famous 12.5s and their derivatives. They have also been involved in all sorts of other projects, like the restoration of the 1959 S&S yawl Glory , a build of a replica late-18 th century Gil Smith catboat ( Whirlwind II inspired by Mariam ) and a new, 39ft (11.9m) luxury day-sailer designed by fellow ‘Mainiacs’ Stephen Warings Yacht Design. This new boat, Wisp , has been cold-moulded in wood and is nearing its final stages. Artisan presently has the 1903 Herreshoff Bar Harbor 31 Joker for build, one of just 13 built. Alec is keen to find a buyer to start the restoration, and the yard has gathered together all plans and historical information. The other recently restored member of that class, Scud , belongs to the Prada family and has been clearing up racing in the Mediterranean.

Rockport Marine , founded in 1962 by Luke Allen, is another yard that builds new as well as carrying out restoration work, and in common with American boatyard tradition, designs much of its output in-house, with iLn-house designer Sam Chamberlin. The wide variety of boats over the decades has included traditional plank-on-frame and modern wood-composite vessels. Quite notably, two of their most recent projects feature in our awards this year: the LW38 day-sailer and R37 down-east-style lobster launch. This latter has her roots in the lobster yachts from the 1950s by Newbert and Wallace, and was built for simple, sturdy cruising, with no fewer than four layers of col-moulded timber used in her construction. She’s 37ft (11.3m) long as the moniker implies, and has the unique distinction of an open transom for easy swimming and tender deployment and retrieval. The single 550hp diesel will let the boat cruise in the high teens and top out above 25 knots, and an onboard shower and galley make overnighting a possibility, as well as island-hopping at speed. The cold-moulded LW (Little Wolf) 38 is initially striking for her simple good looks. This first one, Mar Amore, was built for island-hopping, weekending, and singlehanding or short-handed sailing.

A few years ago, we hauled the Little Harbor 36 Thora and were taken with the hull shape and svelte centerboard. This memory was fresh when a client called looking for a shallow draft yacht. The brief was for a daysailer (maybe a ‘weekender’) to be mostly single-handed, that would sail a long season, and needed to get underway without fuss. The initial inspiration was Aage Nielsen’s Design 324, and the boat was built in jut 56 weeks. She carries her beam aft to give a good-sized cockpit for day-sailing guests, and a centreboard means she can reach places other boats can’t. The interior will sleep four and there is an interesting touch in the deck hardware, which is all bead-blasted 316 stainless steel – “a soft look which does not need polishing and complements the muted running rigging and modern rope lifelines” according to Rockport. Past restorations include the 1924 Fife schooner Adventuress , the 1941 sardine boat William Underwood and the Alden-designed 1938 motor sailer Trade Wind a few years ago, still looking pristine when we spotted her at the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic. 

Brooklin Boatyard have, like Rockport, been around over half a century founded, as it was, by Joel White (1930-1997) in 1960. Joel, through his design and building work, was one of the best-known figures in the classic boat world in his time, but it’s perhaps less well known that he was also the son of author and essayist EB White, whose works include Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little . These days, it’s another American do-it-all yard: restoration, new build and design, and they’ve done plenty of it. Restoration of a little mahogany runabout Come From Away , the spirit-of-tradition sailing yacht Harper ; and Legend , a modern take on Ernest Hemingway’s 38ft sport fisher, have all featured in our awards over the past few years. The yard has also built quite a few larger spiri-of-tradition yachts, including the 91ft (27.7m) cold-moulded Sonny III . In 2015, Broolin collaborated with an unusual design partner: the architect Frank Gehry, for the build of the sailing yacht Foggy . The yard is currently busy with a new 56ft cruising sailing yacht and the larger, 55ft version of the Hemingway boat – the Wheeler 55, which has just been launched.      

Lyman Morse has built around 110 yachts over the last four decades, and like the others on these pages, they have featured quite prominently in our Awards in more recent years, firstly with the outrageously gorgeous Hood 57LM, a tall, powerful sport-fisher style yacht with a high outside helm, built in cold-moulded timber, and all bright finished. They followed it up a couple of years later with Shadow, a cold-moulded Hood 35LM which was so technologically advanced that it wouldn’t need any crew to motor from one destination to another, which we thought would rather defeat the point, until Drew Lyman pointed out that it would be very handy for deliver trips! Either way, insurance won’t allow it, so the point is moot for now. Either way, she won our award that year (2023). Another 35 was built just a year later. The new 42LM, with a similar, sport-fisher launch, is also now in build. These are all handsome, fast, planning or semi-planing motor yachts built in cold-moulded timber, but the yard has also built quite modern-looking sailing yachts in the material, like two LM46 sloops, and even an all-carbon, 30ft (9.1m) electric foiler, Naiver . Who knows what they might do next?!

Show Me More:

• 6 of the best classic yachts for sale
• Classic Yachts for Sale: Two Remarkable Boats on the Market
• Boat Design & No Need for Ugly Boats: Tom Cunliffe’s Column

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM CLASSIC BOAT

Bad Luck at Sea: Tom Cunliffe Warns of Sailors with Misfortune

Traditional Seamanship: Why Old-fashioned Sailing is Best

Classic Boats for Sale: Yachts & Motorboats on the Market

Classic Boat is the magazine for the world’s most beautiful boats. Packed with stunning images, we have the inside stories of the great classic yachts and motorboats afloat today, as well as fascinating tales from yesteryear and the latest from the wooden boat building scene around the world.

• Telegraph.co.uk

ADVERTISING

© 2024 The Chelsea Magazine Company , part of the Telegraph Media Group . Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

Absolute Classics

Vintage Boats (All)

• Newly Listed
• Chris-Craft
• Project Boats
• Outboard Boats
• Modern-Classics
• Modern Pre-Owned
• Premium Vintage
• Fiberglass Boats (All)
• Thoroughbred Boats
• Vintage Fiberglass
• Modern Fiberglass
• Boat Trailers
• Boat Listing Tips
• List a Boat
• Autos (All)
• Muscle Cars
• British Sports Cars
• Interior ALCANTARA
• Interior Leather
• Interior Cloth
• Interior Vinyl
• Our Restoration Process
• Restorations in Progress
• Past Restorations
• History & Stories
• Paint, Sealants & Caulking
• Brushes and Rollers
• Sanding Supplies
• Stain & Varnish
• Vintage V8 Engines
• Vintage Flathead
• Vintage Ouboard Engines
• Engine parts & Accessories
• Chrome Brightwork & Trim
• Burgees / Flags
• Anchoring / Mooring
• Covers / Tops
• General Boating
• Maintenance
• Electronics / Navigation
• Ventilation
• Plumbing & Pumps
• Electrical & Lighting
• Props, Shafts, Trim-tabs & Rudders
• Engine Parts
• Watersports & Boats
• Trolling & Fishing
• PWC & Jet Boats
• Parts Search
• Mens T-Shirts
• Mens Jackets
• Womens T-Shirts
• Mens Hoodies & Crew Necks
• Model Boats
• Classic Boat Puzzles
• Beau Lake Paddle Boards
• Phone Cases

Boathouse Blog

• Boat Articles
• Car Articles
• Terms of Service
• Returns & Refunds
• Storage Agreement
• Shipping & Handling
• Privacy Policy

Your cart is empty

Look at these Great Summer Specials!

Join the Club!

First year chris-craft antique boat club membership included with boat purchase.

Looking for something unique this Season?

Return to the golden Century of boating....

Looking for a Vintage Boat?

See our full selection of classic wooden boats for sale.

New & Featured Wooden Boats and Cars For Sale

To see our newest listings click HERE

Looking to Buy, Sell or Restore a Classic Wooden Boat?

We have over 31 years of experience restoring & brokering classic Mahogany boats.

We are a brokerage and restoration shop for classic wooden boats, modern mahogany boats and everything in between... If you've got a Chris-Craft, Riva, Century, Shepherd, Garwood, Hacker-Craft, Grand-Craft, or Stan-Craft, we have got you covered.

Check our for sale listings to find your dream vintage boat or auto today! Looking to list? with us? Our listing " tips and tricks " to help make your wooden boat stand out

Want to keep up to date on the shop? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Popular Categories

Classic Autos (All)

Luxury Boats

Vintage Chris-Craft Boats

Fantastic Highlights of the 1957 Century Coronado Photo Shoot

1931 Dodge Runabout in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

1955 21' Chris-Craft Cobra off to the Vancouver International Boat Show

Classic boat restoration, work with absolute classics marine to restore your classic boat.

Are you looking for a classic boat restoration ? Absolute Classics is the leading wooden boat restoration shop for show-winning work in North America. With over 30+ years of classic boat restoration in North America, we work on classic brands, ranging from Chris-Craft to Century. With major shows under our belt, such as Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance, we are the authority when it comes to classic boat restorations. Our restoration service brings remarkability from the past back to your classic boat and makes your boat timeless so it can be enjoyed by generations to come.

Tupolev TU-144

• Read more about CCCP-77112

Crash of a Tupolev TU-144D in Kladkovo: 2 killed

Crash of a Tupolev TU-144S in Goussainville: 14 killed

• Center of World Population
• Closest Large Cities
• Farthest Cities
• Longest Flights
• Most Isolated Cities
• Extreme Elevations

Country: Russia

Continent: Europe

Population: 11,514,300

Country Capital: Yes

For all cities with a population greater than five hundred thousand, Moscow is closest to Tula and farthest from Auckland . The closest foreign city is Gomel and the farthest domestic city is Vladivostok . See below for the top 5 closest and farthest cities (domestically, internationally and by continent) and to see which cities, if any, Moscow is the closest and farthest to. Filter to include all cities over 100k, 500k or 1 million in population.

Cities in Africa

Cities in Asia

Cities in Australia and Oceania

Cities in Europe

Cities in North America

Cities in South America