MaineBoats Blog

Front Street begins work on major new building

The shipyard has bought a city-owned parking lot and secured a loan to construct a 22,500-square foot building on the property. The new facility will accommodate large yacht refits and commercial vessel construction projects while adding approximately 40 more full-time jobs at Front Street Shipyard.

ABBRA Holds Successful Pilot of ‘Step Up to Supervisor’ Class in Maine

Class is designed to help boat building supervisors understand leadership responsibilities

Maine Boat & Home Show Announces New Name, Lineup of Special Events

Maine Boat & Home Show gets a new name, but it’s still the same great show. This year it will take place Aug. 10-12 in Rockland, Maine.The event , which formerly was known as the “Maine Boats, Homes, & Harbors Show,” will now be called the “Maine Boat & Home Show.”

New ferry rates will take effect in May

The Maine Department of Transportation plans to implement a new flat rate ticket pricing structure at the Maine State Ferry Service on May 21, standardizing ferry prices across the entire system. A key component of the new rate structure is an overall decrease of more than 10% to the truck/freight rates to help keep the costs to Maine businesses supplying goods and services to and from the islands competitive.

Back Cove Yachts introduces the Back Cove 34O. (Yes “O” is for outboard)

Recognizing the increasing popularity of outboard propulsion, the Back Cove Design team has produced the first ever Back Cove with standard Yamaha 300 HP engines. Optional 350hp Yamahas and 350hp Suzuki engines are also available.

Grant will help state’s efforts to understand endangered Right Whales

With 17 North Atlantic right whale deaths last year, there is growing interest among stakeholders, including regulators and the Maine lobster industry, to improve the data on which future regulations are based. A new grant from NOAA will help the Maine Department of Marine Resources collect better data, starting this summer.

Proposed ferry fare hike delayed

Maine DOT needs to fill a $700,000 hole in the budget for the Maine State Ferry Service, but a proposed rate change and price hike met with resistance, prompting the commissioner to delay a final decision until later this spring.

New director for maritime museum

The Penobscot Marine Museum has hired Karen E. Smith, Ph.D., as its new executive director. Smith will join the museum from the Cedar Falls (Iowa) Historical Society, where she served as executive director for six years.

C.W. Hood Yachts introduces sleek new 24' daysailer

Stephens Waring Yacht Design in Belfast has partnered with C.W. Hood Yachts in Marblehead, Mass., on a sleek new 24' daysailer, called the Hood 24. The first model was introduced at the New England Boat Show in March.