We welcomed readers to send a photo of their favorite cruising grounds. Ida Little sent the following:
And here’s one from reader, John Hughes…
We received this press release from our friends over at Gig Harbor Boat Works. Looks like they are making their excellent boats more available and accessible—Eds
Gig Harbor Boat Works is now Shipping Nationwide
These traditional-style rowboats, sailing dinghies, and yacht tenders fill a growing gap in the small craft market.
GIG HARBOR, WASHINGTON, MAY 2023 — Walk the docks at your local marina, and you’ll notice all the yachts have one thing in common… their tenders are almost exclusively inflatables and RIBs. The traditional rigid rowboats and sailing dinghies that used to dominate the yacht tender market a generationor two ago are now missing from your typical marina.
What happened? Back in the 1980s and ‘90s, there were hundreds of small, independent boatshops building fiberglass dinghies for their local markets. But as much of America’s manufacturing industry was outsourced overseas, the craftsmen who ran those small shops retired without the next generation of skilled workers ready to step in. As rigid dinghy availability waned, inflatables eclipsed traditional tenders.
Nowadays, customers who prefer a rigid dinghy—whether for aesthetics, durability, or simply the enjoyable rowing and sailing experience they provide—are often unable to find them.
Gig Harbor Boat Works, with their lineup of high-quality fiberglass rowing and sailing boats from 8-17’ in length, is standing ready to fill that gap. The company’s recent production expansion, and newly developed shipping capabilities, have given the company the ability to reach boaters across the country in ways like never before.
“Our boats marry the best of both worlds – traditional old-world designs that are fun to row and sail, yet appeal to the lifestyle of the modern recreational boater,” says founder David Robertson. “Our smaller dinghies make excellent tenders that complement the looks of a mother ship, and our larger skiffs are very capable daysailers or pocket cruisers in their own right.”
Since their incorporation in 1987, Gig Harbor Boat Works has specialized in hand crafted custom rowboats and sailboats, with the majority of their business based out of the Pacific Northwest. As a family run small business that builds boats to order, Gig Harbor boats have historically been known as a boutique, high-end custom product. The company's limited production capacity, and well-earned local reputation, meant that there was never a need to expand outside their regional market.
However, the best kept-secrets can't stay secret forever. In 2020, the pandemic shutdown changed everything.
“The pandemic brought customers out of the woodwork from across the country,” says Katie Malik, General Manager (Robertson’s daughter). “When people started looking for socially-distanced ways to get outside and get exercise, our small boats were a perfect fit.”
By early 2021, the company's waitlist stretched over a year long, and they faced a critical decision: keep doing what they'd always done, or take the opportunity to expand to meet demand.
Malik continued, "We decided to take advantage of the opportunity to grow and step out of our comfort zone. We put a huge effort into hiring and training more production staff, while maintaining the quality and attention to detail that we're known for."
Over the course of 2022, the company doubled its production pace, and now has a much more reasonable 2-3 month wait time on new orders. The company also recently signed a new lease to add much-needed production space to sustain their growth trajectory.
The other hurdle, of course, was how to get their boats from Gig Harbor on the Puget Sound into their customers’ beaches and boathouses in far-flung corners of the country. Gig Harbor Boat Works searched long and hard for a reliable shipping solution that balances the need for secure shipping and the need to keep costs affordable for their customers.
Protecting the boat during transport is paramount. "Nobody wants to see their brand-new boat baby arrive damaged," Malik says. The company works with freight companies who can deliver crated boats securely to the customer’s home or preferred marina, or experienced individual truckers who can transport a group of boats together in a combined shipment.
Gig Harbor Boat Works charges no markup whatsoever on their shipping costs. Malik says, "What we pay is what the customer pays. Full stop. Because of the Amazon Prime influence everyone is accustomed to ‘free shipping’ these days, but there’s really no such thing -- the consumer just ends up paying an inflated price for the product itself. We choose to keep our base products affordable, so that they can be accessible to more people.”
“Small craft boating is such a powerful way for people to connect with each other, and with the natural world. As we grow, Gig Harbor Boat Works is honored to help more people have that opportunity.”
For more information on the ins and outs of using this Substack program, check out our previously published article on the topic. —Eds
Go Gig Harbor Boat Works!...thank you for stepping up with such fine quality boats...