At Work For You Q1 Newsletter Special Edition: Marine Manufacturing

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Alisha Sims
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1 At Work For You Q1 Newsletter Special Edition: Marine Manufacturing

Welcome to 2016 Although it can sometimes be easily forgotten, the Port of Skagit and the facilities it operates are owned not by the Port s Commissioners or employees, but by YOU, the voters and

That is, if you are eligible to vote in the county, and live in one of the three Port districts, you are a part owner of Skagit Regional Airport, La Conner Marina, Bayview Business Park, and also a

More than 50 years ago local voters realized that unless they went about creating and paying for the needed public infrastructure employee friendly businesses would locate elsewhere, with the end

2 Welcome to 2016 Although it can sometimes be easily forgotten, the Port of Skagit and the facilities it operates are owned not by the Port s Commissioners or employees, but by YOU, the voters and taxpayers of Skagit County. That is, if you are eligible to vote in the county, and live in one of the three Port districts, you are a part owner of Skagit Regional Airport, La Conner Marina, Bayview Business Park, and also a part owner in the leasehold interest the Port now has in the former Northern State Hospital property in Sedro-Woolley. The Commissioners and Port staff work for YOU, not the other way around. More than 50 years ago local voters realized that unless they went about creating and paying for the needed public infrastructure employee friendly businesses would locate elsewhere, with the end result being there would be no local jobs for their children. Since then, every six years at the ballot box you have elected one of three Commissioners who become responsible for the operation of your facility. So, how does this impact you? A good example is the La Conner Marina, the first facility constructed at the Port of Skagit more than 46 years ago. Today, in addition to providing recreational boat moorage, there are six marine manufacturing businesses at the site, with a combined 286 employees. Among the types of vessels built, are aluminum special purpose fishing boats designed for the rough conditions in Alaska, and fiberglass recreational boats that have a national reputation for seaworthiness. Other examples are the Bayview Business Park, a 1,168-acre facility owned by the Port where there are businesses that make everything from high technology aerospace parts for Boeing, to pickles from cucumbers grown by local farmers. The Skagit Regional Airport itself has helped accelerate local economic growth by becoming the airport of choice for the many business aircraft that now increasingly fly into the area. The Port does all this, yet collects only 2 cents of every tax dollar collected in the County. In fact, the Port produces $39 in direct and indirect wages for each $1 of property tax it collects. I am now in my third term as a Commissioner for the Port of Skagit, and the incoming President for Over the next year, if we (the Port Commission and staff), continue doing our jobs well, you (the owners) should be able to clearly see an increase in the number of good family wage jobs in everything from agriculture to cutting edge technology, all right here in Skagit County. From my perspective as the longstanding Port Commissioner and the incoming President, I believe 2016 will prove to be a very good year indeed. Dr. Kevin E. Ware, President Port of Skagit Board of Commissioners

Nordic Tugs Iconic Nordic Tugs, Inc., manufactures recreational trawlers at its facility at the Bayview Business Park. The fiberglass motor yachts currently range from 26 ft. to 54 ft. in length.

During the last 26 years they have continued to expand, currently using a total of 80,000 square-feet of manufacturing space and employ 72 full-time employees.

Demand is growing, employment is growing, and we have employment opportunities available.

3 Nordic Tugs Iconic Nordic Tugs, Inc., manufactures recreational trawlers at its facility at the Bayview Business Park. The fiberglass motor yachts currently range from 26 ft. to 54 ft. in length. The company originally moved from Woodinville to the port s business park in 1989 with 12 employees. During the last 26 years they have continued to expand, currently using a total of 80,000 square-feet of manufacturing space and employ 72 full-time employees. The Port has provided wonderful support during the economic downturn, said Nordic Tug President, George Armendariz. Demand is growing, employment is growing, and we have employment opportunities available. After acquiring the first building at the current site in the early 1990 s construction began on a state-of-the-art lamination building meeting all of the requirements of a Title V EPA Air Permit. This was followed by construction of a purpose-built assembly building on the same campus in the early 2000 s. The original building was sold in 2013 and manufacturing operations consolidated in the two newer buildings with improved efficiency. The present infrastructure allows for ample capacity to meet growing demand. The appearance of the Nordic Tug 26 prototype at the 1980 Seattle International Boat Show caused a frenzy of excitement. Nordic Tugs eventually expanded its product line to include a 32 boat (1985), foot models (mid-to-late 90s) and a 52-footer (2003). These models have since evolved to become the Nordic Tug 34, 40, 44, and 54 with integrated transom platforms and fresh interiors. The Nordic Tug 49 was added to the line-up in With demand increasing for larger vessels, the Nordic Tug 26 was retired in The Nordic Tug 26 nevertheless retained a following and it was re-launched in 2009 as a limited production model Located to Port Property 72 BBP Bayview Business Park

Aspen Power Catamarans 2014 Aspen Power Catamarans manufactures mid-range cruisers at their facility at the Bayview Business Park. The yachts range from 28 ft. to 40 ft. in length.

25 Skagit County and the port have been very welcoming to our growing business, said Aspen Power Catamarans owner Larry Graf.

traffic access to our support businesses. The weather is also better and the optimistic, can-do attitude of the people of Skagit County is a delight.

4 Aspen Power Catamarans 2014 Aspen Power Catamarans manufactures mid-range cruisers at their facility at the Bayview Business Park. The yachts range from 28 ft. to 40 ft. in length. The company began manufacturing their boats at the Port of Skagit in April 2014 with 12 employees. The company currently uses 25,000 square-feet of manufacturing space and now employ 25 people. 25 Skagit County and the port have been very welcoming to our growing business, said Aspen Power Catamarans owner Larry Graf. Having moved up from Snohomish County we have been pleased with the quality labor force, depth and range of support business in very close proximity to the business park, as well as fast easy no traffic access to our support businesses. The weather is also better and the optimistic, can-do attitude of the people of Skagit County is a delight. Located to Port Property BBP Bayview Business Park Larry founded Glacier Bay Catamarans in 1987, and subsequently founded Aspen Power Catamarans in 2008 when he developed a new revolutionary patented hull design (Power Proa) and drive system for power catamarans. The nonsymmetrical hulls are shaped to compensate for the offset thrust and torque, and since both forces are proportional to speed and thrust, the boat runs straight. Additionally, it has only one engine, shaft, prop, and keel reducing appendage drag 20%. The combination of new hull design and reduced appendage drag increases efficiency as much as 70% over mono hulls. In October 2014, the hull design was judged as the best multi hull in the world in the 30- to 39-foot category by the AIM Marine Group Editors. The company s design team has more than 30 years in the development of catamarans. Their latest models include the 40 Aspen C120 and the 28 Aspen F90 with plans for a 28 Aspen K90 and 50 Aspen C150.

Mavrik Marine Mavrik Marine specializes in the construction of top quality, aluminum commercial boats at its facility at the La Conner Marina.

The company has a full repair division that can handle a wide range of repairs/refits on commercial and recreational vessels as well as a separate shop that

Currently, the company s facility is approximately 34,000 square feet and employ a combined 89 full and part-time employees.

Battle. Mavrik Marine designs and builds a variety of aluminum work boats and all their stock models are fully customizable.

5 Mavrik Marine Mavrik Marine specializes in the construction of top quality, aluminum commercial boats at its facility at the La Conner Marina. The company builds a variety of high performance boats including commercial fishing vessels, landing craft, crew boats, ferries, and research and patrol boats. The company has a full repair division that can handle a wide range of repairs/refits on commercial and recreational vessels as well as a separate shop that specializes in CNC router cutting and CNC forming of metal parts. The company located to Port of Skagit property in November of 2011 with 15 employees. Currently, the company s facility is approximately 34,000 square feet and employ a combined 89 full and part-time employees Located to Port Property 89 We love the Port of Skagit and the community and the valley is a great place to work and live, said Mavrik Marine owner Zachery Battle. Mavrik Marine designs and builds a variety of aluminum work boats and all their stock models are fully customizable. Mavrik applies their thorough knowledge of aluminum related fabrication to a range of applications from custom aluminum projects and boat building to project management, and production optimization. LCM La Conner Marina Good Jobs For Our Community Port of Skagit mission statement

Eddyline Kayaks 1990 Located to Port property 20 BBP Bayview Business Park Eddyline Kayaks is a manufacturer of premier touring kayaks and paddles at the Bayview Business Park.

With more than 45 years experience manufacturing kayaks, the company has expanded to a 17,500 square-foot facility and employ 20 people.

manner. Owner Tom Derrer began actively kayaking in 1966 when he was first introduced to white water kayaking.

6 Eddyline Kayaks 1990 Located to Port property 20 BBP Bayview Business Park Eddyline Kayaks is a manufacturer of premier touring kayaks and paddles at the Bayview Business Park. Eddyline located to the Port of Skagit in 1990 and remains a family business to this day. With more than 45 years experience manufacturing kayaks, the company has expanded to a 17,500 square-foot facility and employ 20 people. Eddyline pioneered vacuum bag and thermoform technology making the highest quality kayaks and paddles for sea kayaking, open water, recreational kayaking and fishing in an environmentally sound manner. Owner Tom Derrer began actively kayaking in 1966 when he was first introduced to white water kayaking. He became a governing member of the well-established Washington Kayak club and organized races, pool practice of kayaking skills and became a key member of the paddling group that helped develop the sport in the sixties and seventies. In the late seventies Tom immersed himself in kayak design and continued to develop and re-fresh the Eddyline product line. Each Eddyline Kayak represents numerous innovations in hull design and accessory features. Tom is now an internationally recognized leader in the Sea Kayak industry with some of the finest boats and paddles available today: finest in terms of originality, quality and sophistication of construction, superiority in performance, refinement of overall features and aesthetic appearance. Throughout the company s 45 year history, Tom s focus at Eddyline has been to bring advanced technology to the design and construction of kayaks and paddles. Starting with vacuum bag technology in 1971, Eddyline has introduced the H-channel seam, the four way adjustable backrest, spring-loaded rudders, flexible bulkheads, flush hatches and numerous other features. Tom was first to apply computer-aided design and use computer machined originals, vastly improving hull symmetry and performance over hand lofted hulls and decks. Today, Eddyline Kayaks are distributed worldwide and their newest design, the C-135 Sit on Top Fishing Kayak (pictured below), just won Best Boat as well as Best in Show at ICAST, the largest Sport Fishing Trade Show in the world.

Tomco Marine Group Tomco Marine Group builds and sells American Tug recreational trawlers at its facility at the La Conner Marina. The yachts range from 36 ft. to 48 ft. in length.

Today, Tomco is once again thriving with orders for all sizes of our vessels and customers willing to customize them to their liking, said Vice President Kurt Dilworth.

The formation of American Tug has quite the history. Tom started in meetings with Lynn Senour, a well-known West Coast Marine architect.

As a young apprentice, Tom was given positions of increasing responsibilities as he proved himself on the shop floor and he eventually found himself president of a boat yard.

7 Tomco Marine Group Tomco Marine Group builds and sells American Tug recreational trawlers at its facility at the La Conner Marina. The yachts range from 36 ft. to 48 ft. in length. The company began manufacturing their boats at the Port of Skagit in 2000 with 5 employees. Today, American Tug utilizes a 28,000 square-foot facility and employ 40 people. Today, Tomco is once again thriving with orders for all sizes of our vessels and customers willing to customize them to their liking, said Vice President Kurt Dilworth. We have recently added another dealer for the American Tug line, gaining over 12 additional brokers. We will continue to grow slowly to satisfy the current demand. The formation of American Tug has quite the history. Tom started in meetings with Lynn Senour, a well-known West Coast Marine architect. Tom and Lynn have known each other for many years going back to building wooden boats on Lake Union in Seattle. As a young apprentice, Tom was given positions of increasing responsibilities as he proved himself on the shop floor and he eventually found himself president of a boat yard. A few years later, he founded his own company, Nelson Yacht Corporation, building foot custom yachts Located to Port property 40 LCM La Conner Marina He later moved to a position as president of Nordic Tugs before making the decision to develop American Tug. Mike Schoppert and Kurt Dilworth joined Tom at Nordic Tugs in late 1995, creating the team that is now American Tugs. Mike and Kurt have since purchased the company from Tom who has retired but remains an active participant in the company as a consultant and Director. The latest model yacht offered by Tomco is their flagship 485. This vessel is based on their very successful 435 but is extended in the salon / galley area providing a true homelike feel. Styling varies on this model, ranging from classic to modern. Each 485 is customized to meet the individual owners taste and style. Since mid-2014, Tomco has launched 5 of the 485 s with two more in the production cue. The American Tug production line consists of the 365, a single stateroom model that started the company with over 150 on the water, the 395, a double stateroom model that was introduced in 2011, the 435, introduced in 2004 as a two stateroom expedition trawler and the newest model, the 485. WSU Food & Bread Lab

La Conner Maritime Service 1993 Located to Port property 40 LCM La Conner Marina La Conner Maritime Service provides full service boatyard and refit capabilities, new fishing vessel construction, and

Ed Oczkewicz co-founded Maritime Fabrications with Kenny Strickland in the fall of 1978 in Marysville, WA.

In 1983 Ed moved the business to Conway, WA, and focused on products for the fishing industry.

8 La Conner Maritime Service 1993 Located to Port property 40 LCM La Conner Marina La Conner Maritime Service provides full service boatyard and refit capabilities, new fishing vessel construction, and commercial deck gear at its facility at the La Conner Marina. The company currently uses 34,500 square-feet of manufacturing space and employ 40 people. Ed Oczkewicz co-founded Maritime Fabrications with Kenny Strickland in the fall of 1978 in Marysville, WA. The first facility was a humble barn for a workshop, and a converted chicken coop for office space, in the backyard of Ed s parent s place. In 1983 Ed moved the business to Conway, WA, and focused on products for the fishing industry. The company moved from its Conway location to their current facility at the Port of Skagit in 1993 and took on the name of La Conner Maritime Services. The corporate name of Maritime Fabrications has remained the same. Since then, a new 55-ton capacity Marine Travelift was added for more efficient operations, the pressure wash facility was brought up to current Department of Ecology regulations, and covered work spaces were added to meet the growing, year-round workload. We are grateful for our dedicated employees and loyal customers, who are the reason for our growth and success, said La Conner Maritime Service co-owner Isaac Oczkewicz. For the past 37 years, the business has focused, and continues to focus, on longlasting customer relationships, with an emphasis on quality work at a fair price. The customer base has grown and the haul-out facility was upgraded, and a larger, 85 ton lift added to the existing 55 ton lift capacity. Recently, with an increasing demand from both pleasure and commercial markets, the lift was upgraded to its current capacity of 110 tons. INFORMATION: Is there information you would like to see in our quarterly newsletter, or do you have questions related to a story that was featured? Please Contact Andrew Entrikin, Community Outreach Administrator (360) CONTACT US: Airport Drive Burlington, WA Administration (360) La Conner Marina (360) Inspiring Success Delivering Excellence

International Cruising Boat Expo coming June 2 7 to Brewer Essex Island Marina in Essex, CT

International Cruising Boat Expo coming June 2 7 to Brewer Essex Island Marina in Essex, CT If you're having trouble viewing this email, View in a browser window. Please add sailmagazine@email.sailmagazine.com to your address book to ensure our emails reach your inbox. International Cruising