Maine Home & Design Midcoast Show

It might seem a bit strange for a custom boat builder to be participating in a Home & Design Show but in reality, it's just up our alley. Long recognized for our craftsmanship in yacht interiors, many of our customers have come to us requesting custom pieces for their homes as well. Over the last several years, we've created some amazing furniture pieces including hand carved beds, chairs and cabinets, plus architectural & millwork features. Our metal fabrication team and our new canvas shop have also had a big hand in helping create unique pieces. The fab shop is just now completing an amazing silicon bronze entryway arch for a luxury home in the midcoast area.



We'll have a booth at the Maine Home and Design Show at Point Lookout in Northport Maine. The show hours are Saturday, May 30 from 10-6 and Sunday, May 31 from 10-4. Our display will be in the Pavilion. The exhibit space has already sold out and they have added additional space so it promises to be a great opportunity to see some of the amazing craftsmanship Maine is known for.





We'd love to see you!

WHISTLER Launch and Sea Trials

It was a cold, wet and windy evening on Thursday, but the launch of WHISTLER went off without a hitch. Lyman-Morse employees and customers mingled in the Renaissance building enjoying some of Lisa Tapken's delicious catering and warming up a bit before braving the weather outdoors to get a first peek at the new boat.



There were many ooohs and aahs as people enjoyed viewing her beautiful details, but there was just as much happiness on Friday when the owners went out for the first sea trials. WHISTLER performed amazingly, topping out at 37.1 knots!




The interior still needs a few finishing touches, so we expect have WHISTLER here until mid-June before she heads to her new home.

Here are some pics from the launch and from her first few hours out in Muscongus Bay.

WHISTLER Launch Is Thursday, May 14th

Talk about diversity.

Last month we launched a carbon fiber catamaran and this month we're launching a twin jet express cruiser . Though entirely different, they do share one thing in common... both are amazingly beautiful yachts we're excited to add to our repertoire!



We'll cover the remarkable performance we've seen with the cat over the past several test sails in an upcoming post, but today is dedicated to Thursday's launch. WHISTLER is a a 54' C. Raymond Hunt design which makes her our largest jet boat to date.

Perhaps one of the most exciting features of WHISTLER is her dinghy "garage". The hydraulic gate and sled which extend out over the jets will allow the owner to launch the 10' tender from the interior storage compartment with the push of a button. Powered by twin 1001 hp Caterpillar C-18s coupled with Hamilton HJ403 water-jets, WHISTLER will cruise in the low 30s with a max speed of 35 knots. She features the fly-by-wire Blue Arrow electronic control system with mouse and joystick for steering and docking ease.



The interior is finished in mahogany with walnut and white Formica accents. Accommodations include an owner's cabin with en-suite head and an office which converts to a guest cabin, also with its own head. Granite galley countertops, maple soles, a lifting 32" television with DirecTV and electric grill help round out the contemporary design. She is also our first new build to use Alexseal paint; her hull is a beautiful Dark Gray with Pegasus Gray pilot house and topsides.

Pictures will be posted after Thursday's launch so you can see the interior and exterior details. Check back soon!

Lyman Morse Boatbuilding Receives Governor's Award

We were in the state capital this Friday where we received a Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. We were recognized because of our participation in the Environmental Leaders of Maine program, which we joined in 2005. Our membership in the program asks us to make certain committments to reduce our environmental impact. Thanks to the hard work by everyone here, we were able to exceed our environmental goals as follows:

reduced energy use by 36;
reduced solid waste by 20%
reduced toxic releases by 39%
reduced hazardous waste by 75%
reduced toxic use by 33%



A big part in helping achieve our goals was the construction of our green building which utilizes energy efficiencies including solar and structural integrated panels, and in-floor radiant heating while also diversifying into renewable energy projects including production of the solar cube.

We also signed another commitment to go beyond compliance for three more years in the Environmental Leaders of Maine, Smart Growth through Smart Production Program. We have made the following voluntary commitments in our Agreement:

To further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy usage by 20%
To further reduce the total amount of solid waste by 10%
To further reduce the total amount of hazardous waste shipped off site by 10%
Mentor three companies or organizations
Maintain ourISO 14001 equivalent Environmental Management System, including audits, updates, and improvements as needed.

Thermoforming

Thermoforming is the process where core is heated to a pliable forming temperature in an open "oven" to a high-enough temperature that it can be formed into a mold and cooled to a finished shape. Our oven utilizes a long-wave infrared heat -- this is superior to a flame style heat in that instead of heating the material from the outside, it creates a chemical reaction to heat the entire piece quickly and evenly.

Once the entire mold is covered, it is trimmed to form a tightly fitted layer. The core is then removed so that several layers of dry structural laminate can be laid into the mold to form the first layer of outside skin. The core is then refit on top of that, and a final inside skins of structural laminate are laid on top. The entire piece is then bagged and resin infused.

This heating process serves several advantages. Fist, it is faster. Second, it allows us to build a much lighter boat because we can use core with less kerfs -- meaning there are less pockets for resin to pool and add weight to the overall structure.

In this video, our resident expert in composites, Roy Lupien, walks us through the thermoforming process on the 70' we're currently building. Our not-so-expert camera crew decided to stand next to someone using a grinder so there is significant background noise. Keep your speakers low.

The Mock-Up Process

Getting to the point of being ready to build your dream yacht is a daunting thought. With so many options in finishes, fabrics, materials, etc. it's enough to overwhelm almost anyone. You then have to add in the logistical concerns... is there enough headroom? Will these cabinets be deep enough? Is there enough space to get in and out of the helm seat? One of the most integral pieces of building a custom yacht is the mock-up. At Lyman Morse, we construct a full-scale mock-up for every yacht that we build so the owner can experience first-hand the boat's spatial relationships and configurations. Even with today's sophisticated technology, this hands-on, walk-through step quickly converts the dream to reality. We created a video with the owners of No Slip III, a Hunt 52' launched in 1994. Though this video is 15 years old, its content remains remarkably timely and on point. We still build them the same way, now in facility in Tenants Harbor. Feel free to stop in the next time you're down there. Stuart Farnham will be happy to show you around!

Boats We Wish We Owned: Windwalker II

We've built over 90 yachts throughout our 31 years, each one a unique representation of Lyman Morse's pride, tradition and quality. Though impossible to pick the best, there remains one that has stood out as a perennial favorite amongst our customers and crew. Windwalker II, a Ted Hood designed sloop launched in 1999, holds that distinction.

Perhaps the greatest feature of Windwalker II is her rare combination of luxury and practicality -- this is a yacht you love to admire for her immpeccable aesthetics, yet you're not afraid to actually put her gear to use. Four winters in the Caribbean, 3 Bermuda races, summers in Nantucket and Maine -- she has provided comfort for her owners, guests and crew consistently. In addition, Windwalker II has cruised Nova Scotia, the Chesapeake, participated in the Annapolis-Newport and the Marblehead-Halifax races.

Justin Wiegleb, our Assistant Service Yard Manager, has kept her in tip-top shape as her captain over the years. Justin recalls his favorite experience during the 2006 Newport-Bermuda race. Scorching heat, no wind, seeing other participants in misery... while the Windwalker team all enjoyed her air conditioning, catered food and comfortable berths for all. (Perhaps not the hard core stuff of legend, but not a bad way to travel!)

The owners have had less time to use her over the last year so she is being offered by the Lyman Morse Yacht Brokerage. Asking $1.2M, her next owner is sure to enjoy many happy experiences!