Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1495026
W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 2 3 New Zealand and my father had a lot of ideas on the boat. It's designed to be a fast boat, but also a comfort- able cruising boat. It's not a lightweight boat, but it's an easy boat to sail. It's easy to use and not overloaded with accessories. We kept it simple. MB: Has the profile of the average boat buyer changed? DL: ere are really a lot of profiles. e LM 46 is the answer to some terrible production boats. We wanted something with a soul. e demographics around this boat are essentially younger — it attracts a younger age group. It's not a fully custom boat. MB: Tell us about the Navier 27 — an electric powered, semi-autonomous foiling vessel. Is the electric boat here to stay? DL: It's definitely here to stay at some levels. Not on all levels. When you're talking about day cruis- ing, it's perfect. When you're talking about going offshore and you have to deal with charging — that becomes challenging. at might be more of a hybrid. [Electric boat use] is all intercoastal. It's perfect. In some ways it's going to be easier and easier. It's pretty incredible. Navier is the company. It was designed by Paul Bieker, a Seattle boat designer. Lyman-Morse is the builder. ey liked our expertise. We're not a full production boatyard. We'll do the first three or four, then let a production company — someone with the capability to build 150 boats a year — take it from there. With the Navier 27, we've built two hulls, test boats. e boats premiered at Art Basel Miami. Navier views itself as a tech company — they're MIT grads. ey approached us because we have a big composite shop. MB: How do you coordinate the various arms of Lyman-Morse? DL: My whole plan here has been to spin off a lot of the stuff, and have each be a profit center. It's chal- lenging to make sure people are in the right places. It's a dynamic mix here — there are a lot of really smart people here. With recruitment and hiring, I've never seen the amount of time we're putting into it. We're recruiting out of the Landing School [in Arundel] and IYRS [School of Technology & Trades, in Newport, R.I.]. We just hired five people. It's a challenge losing people when they retire. e longer they're in the boatyard the more they know. You're only as good as your team — and the place runs great when I'm not around! Peter Van Allen, Mainebiz editor, can be reached at pvanallen @ mainebiz.biz and @ MainebizEditor Ware-Butler Industrial will supply prod- ucts to earthwork and concrete jobs, roads/bridges/construction jobs, grow businesses, storage units, livestock farms, health centers and commercial buildings of all types, infrastructure projects such as sand-salt sheds and municipal buildings, etc. WAREBUTLER.COM CONTACT US for your non-residential and commercial construction needs across Maine. Put our statewide buying power and experienced sales team to work for you! industrial@warebutler.com Fabric / Pipe / Culverts / Styrofoam insulation / Construction lumber Sheet goods / Millwork / Metal roofing and siding products PRODUCTS OFFERED: CUSTOM WORK AVAILABLE You're only as good as your team — and the place runs great when I'm not around!