Custom Wooden Boat Building & New Construction

WHILRWIND II, a Gil Smith Catboat, under construction at Artisan Boatworks  /  www.whirlwind2.com  /  photo by Alison Langley

Artisan Boatworks’ team of master craftsmen build fine wooden boats

up to 60′ feet LOA at our purpose-built shop in mid-coast Maine.

Our expertise and passion for these boats stem from our deep appreciation for the work of yachting’s great designers and builders: the Herreshoffs, Fife, Starling Burgess, B. B. Crowninshield, John Alden, Olin Stephens, Joel White, and their contemporaries. Like our clients, we are drawn to the supreme blend of timeless beauty and wholesome performance achieved by these masters.

Artisan Boatworks has extensive experience restoring and maintaining century-old classics.  This experience is what underlies our recognized skill building stunning replicas of those same designs which embody the intention and spirit of their designers. Our replicas have been featured at the Herreshoff Museum’s “Classic Yacht Symposium,” on many magazine covers and calendars, and admired by experts throughout the Northeast.

For many clients, we build new boats and replicas using classic materials and techniques exactly as they were 100 years ago.  We know where to source the original blueprints, precise woods, and bronze hardware original designers specified; and are able to duplicate the original building methods used by the great yards of the last century.

Other clients seek our expertise building wooden boats that incorporate state-of-the-art epoxy coatings and adhesives.  Artisan Boatworks pioneered and excels in the skillful application of these and other cutting-edge technologies to wooden boat construction. These innovations enable us to combine the ageless appearance and qualities of classic wood construction with improved strength and low maintenance.

For most of our clients, the commission of a custom wooden boat is the culmination of a lifelong dream.  At Artisan Boatworks we take these dreams to heart, working closely with each client throughout the design and building process, listening carefully, and collaborating effectively. We pride ourselves on meeting deadlines, respecting budgets, and ensuring that the end result is the exact realization of your dream. If you’ve always dreamed of owning a classic, we can help you discover a prestigious design that perfectly meets your needs, or customize a design to suit your individual taste. For those who would like to join an existing fleet, we work closely with yacht clubs and class associations to ensure that our reproductions will be accepted and competitive on the race course.  We also work with current designers such as those listed on our Links page to create entirely new custom designs. Contact us today to discuss your vision.  For precise replicas of classic designs or exquisite new high-performance carbon fiber and cold-molded Spirit of Tradition daysailers, cruisers, and racers, the team at Artisan Boatworks is second to none.