Professional BoatBuilder - April-May 2018

68 Professional BoatBuilder

YARD PROFILE: Schooner Creek

ongoing all the time, whereas new

construction is subject to what

Rander calls “the whims of the econ-

omy and the customer.”

“So if it’s risky, why do

new construction at all?” I

ask.

“Because it’s fun!” Rander

replies quickly. “It’s good

money when it’s all work-

ing and the economy is

going and everybody is buy-

ing boats like is happening

now. In 2008 it sucked. We

had some big projects that got us

through to 2010, but thank god we had

the repair business.”

Schooner Creek has indeed proven

itself a smart shop. And compared to a

lot of marine businesses, it is no longer

a small shop.

About the Author: Dan Spurr is an

editor-at-large of Professional Boat-

Builder.

come off the ships, which need annual

service, paint, and gelcoat repair. That’s

been a good source of business for us.

We’ve become pretty diversified.”

Rander says he read once that one

should never have a repair yard build

you a custom boat, because they are

inefficient. “I laugh,” he says, “because

I think we are the other way around.

We do new construction to advertise

to the repair customer that if we can

build new boats, we can certainly

repair their boats.” The repair busi-

ness is Schooner Creek’s bread and

butter, its mainstay, because it’s

outsourced. Schooner Creek also rep-

resents Steyr Motors and Doyle Sails.

The yard has developed a strong

relationship with the Portland Coast

Guard personnel who con-

duct new-build inspections.

“We do our work well enough,”

Rander says, that they “bring

their aspiring inspectors here

to learn. Whenever we have

an infusion going on we

invite them to come by. We’ll

explain why we’re doing it

and how we’re doing it. It’s

a great way to go: Keep everything

on top of the desk, nothing under-

neath it.”

Portland is an active commercial

port. Container ships come in from the

Pacific Ocean, and towboats come

down the river from Lewiston, Idaho,

carrying forest products and grain.

“We don’t generally get involved,” says

Flan igan, “but we do with some of the

high-speed boats and lifeboats that

Above—Work orders and boat keys are neatly set up

in the office. Right—A crew member buffs a hull in the

paint booth adjacent to the main building hall.

“We do new construction to

advertise to the repair customer

that if we can build new boats,

we can certainly repair their boats.”

—Steve Rander

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