Professional BoatBuilder - April-May 2018

April/MAy 2018 57

what he focuses on. On his desk are

plans for a 65' (19.8m) Morrelli & Mel-

vin (see “Diversifying the Portfolio,”

Professional BoatBuilder No. 127) cata-

maran, somewhat unusual in that it will

function as a day charter in California

and as a private yacht.

Kevin Flanigan joined us. “I grew up

on a cattle ranch in Colorado,” he says.

“I saw a lot of windsurfers on a small

landlord, got into the conversation and

bought the company. Now I get to do

what I like without worrying about the

running of the company.” He says this

with a twinkle in his eye, as if he’s out-

witted the fates...or at least the sales-

men and creditors he no longer has to

deal with.

What he likes to do is build boats,

and under the new arrangement, that’s

founded Schooner Creek Boat Works.

Then, in 2015, he sold the business.

Long on my short list of builders to

visit, I figured I’d missed my chance to

meet Rander. But I wanted to see the

Schooner Creek operation anyway, so

I contacted new owner Kevin Flani-

gan and set a date in August 2017.

The current shop, in its third loca-

tion since the company’s inception, is

set on the Columbia River, on Hayden

Island, looking across at Vancouver,

Washington. On entering the office

complex, I was greeted by a man of

average size, balding, with a boat-

builder’s hands.

“Kevin Flanigan, I presume?”

“No. Steve Rander.”

“Wow! You’re still here?”

“Sshh. I never left.”

Flabbergasted but pleased, I followed

Rander to his office, where he endeav-

ored to explain his presence. “A couple

of years ago my wife and I started to

think about retirement. Kevin, the

Facing page—At Schooner Creek Boat Works, crew work on the

cabintop for the first of two 65' (19.8m) catamarans at left.

When it’s finished, a second will be infused while the mold is still

on the floor. Underneath the hardtop is the mold for the bridge

deck. Above—Magic Carpet is a 42' (12.8m) racing yacht built in

1980 in epoxied wood veneer over wood frames. Right—The 70'

(21.3m) Rage, also built with wood veneers, has had a success-

ful offshore racing career, including first in class in the 1993

Transpac. Below—Steve Rander, left, founded Schooner Creek in

1977 and sold it to Kevin Flanigan, one of his customers, in

2015, though Rander is still deeply involved.

A 40-year-old Oregon custom boat shop relies on

ingenuity, thrift, and diversity to stay profitable.

COURTESY STEVE RANDER (BOTH)

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