Boatbuilder Interview: Dale Cottrell
Cottrell Boatbuilding…40 Years Hand-Crafting Small Wooden Boats
Editor’s Note: In addition to the Seasoned Sailors we’ve been interviewing, we plan to intersperse questions and answers from boatbuilders and perhaps other specialists in the marine trades—sailmakers, for instance. Today we visit with Dale Cottrell, who along with sons Ben and Seth, builds beautiful small rowing and sailing boats in Searsport, ME. To visit the company’s richly illustrated website, go to www.cottrellboatbuilding.com, or call/text (207) 548-0094.
Above - Dale Cottrell, who started it all, is flanked by sons Ben, left, and Seth.
Above - An elegant Maine Whitehall pulling boat, with two rowing stations. The Whitehalls range in length from 10’ to 17’ with pricing from $14,995.
Above - A pair of Fiddlehead Tenders—sailing version to left, and a rowing model.
Above - A pretty Fiddlehead Tender on the wide swim step of a powerboat.
The Questions for Dale Cottrell…
1. How did you first get started in boatbuilding?
I’ve had my hands on boats for as long as I can remember. I grew up on the water. There were boats everywhere. I first started sailing in Penguins. My brothers and I built a boat in the basement in our family’s home, learning the lines and the logic of a good hull long before I ever turned it into a career. It wasn’t just a hobby; it was a fundamental part of my upbringing.
Above - Dale Cottrell tests a new Chaisson Dory. Prices for the 10’ 2” model start at $14,295.
2. What were the first few boats you built, and how do you view those designs now?
My early builds were strip-planked canoes, which taught me the precision required for fine woodwork. From there, I transitioned into a line of fiberglass dinghies known as the Puffins. Looking back, those designs were incredibly solid—in fact, the Puffins are still in production today and doing quite well, which speaks to the staying power of a well-thought-out design.
Above - Dale Cottrell’s early boatbuilding years included producing thousands of traditionally styled little Puffin Dinghies, shown here. Tiring of work with chemicals and resins, Dale and family members made the move to hand-crafted wooden rowing and sailing boats…and never looked back.
3. Tell us about your first shop space, and the current shop you occupy?
My first “real” shop was a humble two-car garage; one bay didn’t even have a finished floor—just dirt. It was a tight squeeze, but it’s where the foundation of the company was laid. Our current shop is twice that size and, I’m happy to say, has much nicer floors. It’s a space that finally matches the quality of the work we’re putting out.
4. Please describe your lineup of small boats, including some of the options that are available to customers?
Our current lineup focuses on classic, functional beauty. We specialize in Whitehalls, Wherries, and Dories. We offer various configurations to suit how a customer intends to use the boat, whether they are looking for a traditional rowing experience or a versatile small craft for coastal waters.
Above - Nothing prettier than the stern of a Maine Whitehall like MAGIC.
Above - A 10’ 2” Fiddlehead Tender. Pricing from $14,995
Above - A nicely finished Maine Whitehall from Cottrell Boatbuilding.
5. Which design in your lineup has been the favorite with buyers?
Above - A customer favorite, the 12’ 6” Whitehall rowing boat.
The 12-foot Whitehall is undoubtedly our most popular model. It’s a timeless design that strikes a perfect balance between elegance and performance. It’s the design that most often captures the imagination of those looking for a classic rowing craft
6. Over the years, how have you found new customers—marketing or mainly word-of-mouth?
While word-of-mouth has always been our backbone, the digital age has changed things. Today, the majority of our reach comes through our website, www.cottrell boatbuilding. It allows us to showcase our gallery and connect with rowing and sailing enthusiasts all over the country who might not have found us otherwise.
7. The number of professional builders of wooden boats has been in steady decline, but your company has survived for 40 years. What’s been your secret to success?
Survival in this industry for four decades comes down to a simple, uncompromised formula: we build exceptionally beautiful boats at fair prices. We don’t cut corners on the craftsmanship, but we also ensure our boats are accessible to people who truly want to use them. Integrity in the build and honesty in the price—that’s the secret.
Above - A Fiddlehead Tender nears completion in the Cottrell shop.
8. Have you thought about building larger wooden boats, or are you committed to small rowing and sailing boats?
We’ve found our niche in small boats, particularly those that two people can comfortably carry. There is a specific joy in a boat that is easy to launch and handle. That said, we aren’t strictly “catalog” builders; we’ve completed several custom one-off projects over the years and always enjoy the challenge of a unique commission.
Above - One of the “unique commissions” was this classic little Moth sailboat.
9. If you could have only 10 tools in your shop, what would they be?
In a boat shop, your tools are an extension of your hands. If I had to strip the shop down to the absolute essentials, these are the tools we couldn’t live without:
Table Saw
Bandsaw
Joiner
Planer
Drill Press
Cordless Drills
Saber Saws
Hand Planes & Chisels
Screwdrivers
Tape Measure
And one more thing—A Keen Eye
10. What else would you like to say about Cottrell Boatbuilding, your staff, and your dedication to hand-crafted boats?
At its heart, this is a family story. My wife Lynn and I, along with Seth and Ben (two of our three sons), are deeply proud to carry on this Maine boatbuilding tradition. We aren’t just building products; we are building functional pieces of history designed specifically for the waters they’ll call home.
There is an incredible, humbling feeling when a customer comes to the shop to pick up their boat. We’ve seen people moved to tears and others overcome with pure joy—especially when we’ve recreated a vessel that holds a deep, personal meaning for their family.
In a world where you can click a button online and receive a soul-less, plastic object made by a machine, there is still a place for the human touch. Technology like 3D printing has its virtues, but it simply cannot compare to something built by hand with care, love, and a genuine appreciation for the material. We work with wood that grew out of the ground and took decades to mature; I like to think those trees are happy to have been turned into boats. In a disposable world, a handcrafted wooden boat is something that lasts—not just as a tool, but as a legacy. •SCA•
Privileged I am to live not far away and have rowed and written about some of Dale's boats.
Excellent interview, with words to treasure - thank you!