West Head Boatbuilders Ltd. The Magazine Fall 2020 - Issue 1 | Page 4

HISTORY

WEST HEAD BOATBUILDERS :

A HISTORY OF DIVING IN
It all started in early 2016 when I was in the market for a new boat .
I had purchased the boat I owned at that time in 2014 and was now looking to sell it and upgrade to a newer model . To my dismay , all of the boat building shops in town were booked right up and didn ’ t have time to build me a new custom craft . After searching around to no avail , I decided I would just build the boat myself . This marked the starting point for West Head Boatbuilders .
With the help of knowledgeable friends , an experienced building crew , and managers Dana Stewart and Stephen Watt , I became a self-taught boatbuilder .
As an avid lobster fisherman from a long line of fishermen , diving into the boatbuilding industry made sense . My family has been fishing for many generations dating back to the 1700s , with my father beginning lobster fishing in 1958 and having been active in the industry for 52 years prior to his retirement in 2010 . With such a rich history , I knew I had a solid understanding of what fishermen looked for in boats based on my own needs and experiences . Relating to my customers comes naturally to me because I ’ ve been a customer for so many years myself .
In the beginning , the shop was under construction , so ...
THE TEAM CONSTRUCTED OUR FIRST BOAT IN THE PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF THE MODEST WEST HEAD SHOP-TO-BE THAT FIRST SUMMER .
Fortunately , it didn ’ t rain all summer long and the crew was able to successfully complete the first project just on the brink of fall 2016 .
Having a team of enthusiastic and experienced employees behind the name really translates into the high standard of quality that West Head upholds in all of our custom boats . With excellent management and some of the best boatbuilders in the industry on payroll ( and we really do have some of the best of the best ), this experience and quality is what really sets us apart from our competitors in the region and beyond .
Prior to accepting a position here , manager Dana Stewart worked for the company that built my first new boat back in 2014 . I previously owned a small 13-year-old boat , and this was the first time I ’ d gone ahead with a custom build . I was thoroughly impressed with Dana and held onto him as a contact for several years . When my future boatbuilding competitor moved out of town , Dana expressed that he wanted to stay behind , and I immediately I offered him a job at West Head . I ’ ve known Dana for six years now , with two of those years working for West Head . He hasn ’ t let me down yet .
Dana manages the engaging work environment that West Head prides itself on . Highly competitive wages and benefits
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