IYRS students at work inside Restoration Hall in Newport.

RIMTA to Launch Marine Apprenticeship Programs

3/29/2013 - The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) has received state approval and grant monies from the Governor’s Workforce Board RI to launch a pre-apprenticeship and an apprenticeship program for the state’s marine trades. Both programs are the first of their kind for Rhode Island’s marine industry and a critical core… SEE MORE

A Superstorm Sandy Survivor, Reborn: Colleen Marie

3/28/2013 - The Colleen Marie, a Robinhood 36 cutter-rigged sloop, sustained damages during Superstorm Sandy last fall. Brought up from New Jersey by her owners, she now shines from repairs done on her at Robinhood Marine Center in Robinhood, where the yacht was built. Colleen Marie's owners plan to spend a month… SEE MORE
Perfect spring afternoon in Tenants Harbor.

The Glass Half-Full Approach To March

3/13/2013 - As a bookend to my previous post, I would like to offer the visual pleasures of March, when the sun actually hangs around for a couple of days and the cold winds back off a bit. It is the promise of summer that makes spring so sweet. Last weekend in… SEE MORE
Port Clyde afternoon.

In a Different Light: The Beautiful Gloom Of March

3/4/2013 - March is transition month on the coast of Maine. Winter is slowly drifting away, while spring is reluctantly appearing in the form of muddy roads and cool afternoons. Yesterday, as I walked around Mosquito Harbor (just around the corner from Port Clyde), I couldn't help but notice the sun, which… SEE MORE
Ellis 36 Express Cruiser, part of the Ellis Boat Company charter fleet

Ellis Boat Co. Adds Charter Yachts to Downeast Fleet

3/1/2013 - Starting with this upcoming New England boating season, Ellis Boat Company is going to offer bareboat charters out of Dysart’s Great Harbor Marina in Southwest Harbor. In the past, this was the location of the Hinckley Company's charter business, which was primarily sailboats. Now, Ellis is partnering with Dysart's to… SEE MORE
Isle Au Haut ahead!

Isle Au Haut, a Unique Island

2/18/2013 - “Isle Au Haut ahead!” Not an unusual phrase on our boat. Pronounced, “i-la-HO”, the island's name was coined by French navigator Samuel Champlain in 1604. The English translation is, “High Island”. And that’s accurate. From most anywhere on wide outer Penobscot Bay, Isle Au Haut’s impressive hills dwarf all other… SEE MORE
A bit of wintertime excavation at the Wayfarer Marine dinghy dock.

All In a Day’s Work: Dredging in Camden Harbor

2/15/2013 - Winters at most boatyards aren’t only set aside for maintenance and repairs on customers' boats. We also spend a lot of time maintaining the boatyard as well. This year’s major project at Wayfarer Marine was conducted by Prock Marine, based in Rockland. Over the past several years we’ve had some… SEE MORE