Hodgdon Yachts, a boat and yacht builder based in East Boothbay, was founded in 1816. Employee Chip Haggett constructs half models, which were previously used as a sort of blueprint for boat makers.

“It’s a holdover from the Old World, really. Traditionally, what a person would do if they wanted a boat made, they’d go to a builder, and a builder would get an idea of what the person wanted based on these half models,” Haggett said. The builder tweaked the model based on customer feedback, and once the client was satisfied, the builder would begin construction on the actual boat.

Blueprints are now rendered on computers, and Haggett constructs half models after the fact for clients as a memento. “Today, I’m doing it backwards,” Haggett said.

Although wooden boats are falling out of favor to carbon and fiberglass, which are easier to maintain, Haggett still prefers the feel of a traditional wooden vessel. “I love working with wood, because to me, wood has a soul. Put me in a wooden boat, and I can feel that vessel’s soul,” Haggett said.

The company recently opened new sales offices in Newport, Rhode Island, and Monaco.


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