Hodgdon Yachts has been building custom yachts in East Boothbay, Maine for nearly 200 years. Now it’s added refit and repair to the mix. The creation of Hodgdon Yacht Services is the latest in a string of diversification measures.
Hodgdon Yacht Services officially began operating on June 1. It came about six months after the acquisition of Boothbay Region Boatyard. Located in nearby Southport, the yard specialized in the maintenance and repair of yachts less than 80 feet LOA. Hodgdon Yachts’ management team decided to merge Boothbay Region Boatyard’s operations with those of Wotton’s Wharf, which it also acquired. Wotton’s Wharf is a marina in Boothbay Harbor that plays host to the annual Shipyard Cup regatta. Hodgdon created that race and organizes it annually. The merger was finalized on June 1, hence the official start date for Hodgon Yacht Services.
Hodgdon Yacht Services operates out of the above-mentioned locations and Hodgdon Yachts’ headquarters. Yachts to 65 feet are to be hauled in Southport. Storage and dockage for them, plus larger yachts, take place there, too. Megayachts to 400 gross tons and 197 feet (60 meters) are handled in East Boothbay. Fiberglass and advanced-composites work (pictured), joinerwork, painting, electrical and mechanical services, and more are available. A new lighter-weight interior was recently installed aboard an unnamed 82-foot motoryacht, for example.
All told, about 150 people are reportedly now Hodgdon employees. The builder says this makes it one of the largest employers in its region. It also points to how Hodgdon Yacht Services is the latest evolution of the yard that got its start in 1816. Hodgdon has a custom interiors division, supplying cabinetry and more for its own projects as well as those of other builders. The division targets projects up to 262 feet (80 meters). Then there’s Hodgdon Custom Tenders, which builds a variety of “toys” for megayachts worldwide. Two of its tenders were delivered a few months ago to Germany, for Ester III at Lürssen. Hodgdon further operates Hodgdon Defense Composites, specializing in defense craft for the U.S. government.
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