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APALACHEE BAY

  YACHT CLUB

WELCOME TO ABYC

Apalachee Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) offers cruising and racing, social events, and monthly programs. The club also promotes youth activities through sponsorship of the Apalachee Bay Community Sailing organization.

ABYC membership is open to individuals whether they are actively involved in yachting or not and includes sailors, power boat owners, and non-boat owners wishing to participate in the club's many activities.

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Apalachee Bay Yacht Club

P.O. Box 1830

Crawfordville, FL  32326

To email ABYC and individual officers,

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ABYC Standards: What Boat Builders Need to Know to Stay Compliant

Table of Contents

When it comes to developing, implementing, and policing initiatives concerning workplace safety, sanitation, public health and more, the United States leads the way. As it happens, the U.S. also boasts a comprehensive boat safety sector, one that is comprised of several organizations that contract with public and private entities to ensure the best possible structural outcomes for marine professionals, passengers, and our fragile environment. One such organization is the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) , a non-profit group that consists of hundreds of marine industry professionals who volunteer their time to establish the most influential boat safety strategies in the world.

Nevertheless, just because ABYC writes the rules doesn’t mean that the path to compliance for boat makers is always an obvious one. You see, the Council’s regulations are designed to be self-governed by the manufacturer, a fact that makes for a simpler build process, but also one that can make responsible boat makers second guess their final products. Luckily, the ABYC makes things like self-compliance and individual certification simple paths to follow. After reading this how-to, you should be ready to dive into ABYC compliance on your own.

In today’s guide, we’ll discuss:

An Overview of the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC)

The basics of abyc standards for boat builders, abyc certification programs, the abyc certified component program, compliance audit tool from abyc, further reading on abyc standards for boat builders.

The American Boat & Yacht Council, widely referred to as ABYC , is a non-profit organization that provides its members with information on safe boat construction and repair. Additionally, ABYC invests much of its time and resources into developing global safety standards for vessel design and construction.

Soon after being established in 1954, ABYC became a member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) , an organization that oversees the development of standards across a variety of different industries. As you’d expect from the Council’s background, ABYC focuses much of its energy into researching the standards that it develops, but it also provides plenty in the way of education and professional support. The organization routinely holds seminars, workshops, and technical certification courses that are aimed to provide members with the tools needed for simple compliance adoption.

According to the Council , the education and standards teams are represented by a voluntary group of experts who are committed to design safety and efficacy, including “boat builders, technicians, engineers, boat and accessory manufacturers, surveyors and investigators, retailers and dealers, yacht brokers and designers, marinas, law firms, government agencies, boat owners, insurance companies and more.”

ABYC’s current collection of standards, entitled,  Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft ,  is a newly-updated compliance guide for boat makers and covers all of the major boating systems.

The backbone of the ABYC is not just its large directory of members or even its partnership with ANSI; it is actually the 400 voluntary marine professionals that are the ones who develop the iron-clad safety standards through collaboration. The 16 Project Technical Committees (PTCs) bring to the table their decades of experience and, after the standards are empirically tested and written, share them with safety organizations the world over. ABYC’s process is worth outlining for a number of reasons, one of them being that the Council uses only peer-developed standards that the individuals writing them will be made to follow. Boat builders can rest assured knowing that their acts of compliance are ones that are drafted and upheld by industry leaders and industry leaders only.

It’s important to note that neither ABYC nor any other body actually certifies vessels (although there are other certification programs, such as Yacht Certification , which are based on ABYC standards), making it the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure full compliance. That said, over 90% of boats on the water adhere to ABYC standards, which illustrates how highly today’s boat makers regard public safety. Manufacturers who are found to be in full compliance enjoy increased liability protection , as well as automatic compliance internationally (in most cases).

With that said, let’s take a look at some of the ABYC standards basics. At present, the ABYC standards cover 80 key application points directly related to small craft. They are as follows:

• A-1 Marine Liquefied Petroleum LPG Systems (ANS)
• A-3 Galley Stoves (ANS)
• A-4 Fire Fighting Equipment (ANS)
• A-6 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment (ANS)
• A-7 Liquid and Solid Fueled Boat Heating Systems
• A-14 Gasoline and Propane Gas Detection Systems (ANS)
• A-16 Electric Navigation Lights (ANS)
• A-22 Marine Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Systems (ANS)
• A-23 Sound Signal Appliances (ANS)
• A-24 Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems (ANS)
• A-26 LPG and CNG Fueled Appliances (ANS)
• A-27 Alternating Current (AC) Generator Sets (ANS)
• A-28 Galvanic Isolators
• A-30 Cooking Appliances With Integral LPG Cylinders (ANS)
• A-31 Battery Chargers And Inverters (ANS)
• A-32 Power Conversion (ANS)
• A-33 Emergency Engine/Propulsion Cut-Off Devices (ANS)
• C-1 Primer Bulbs
• C-2 Carbon Canisters
• C-3 Alcohol, Kerosene, and Solidified Fuel Cooking Appliances for Marine Use
• C-1500 Ignition Protection for Marine Products
• E-2 Cathodic Protection
• E-10 Storage Batteries (ANS)
• E-11 AC & DC Electrical Systems on Boats (ANS)
• E-30 Electric Propulsion Systems (ANS)
• EDU-1 On-Water Power Standard
• EDU-2 Skill-Based Human-Propelled Standard
• EDU-3 Skills-Based Sail Boat Standard
• EDU-4 On-Water Instruction Standard
• H-1 Field of Vision From The Helm Position (ANS)
• H-2 Ventilation of Boats Using Gasoline (ANS)
• H-3 Exterior Windows, Windshields, Hatches, Doors, Port Lights, & Glazing
• H-4 Cockpit Drainage Systems (ANS)
• H-5 Boat Load Capacity (ANS)
• H-8 Buoyancy in the Event of Swamping (ANS)
• H-22 Electric Bilge Pump Systems (ANS)
• H-23 Water Systems for Use on Boats
• H-24 Gasoline Fuel Systems (ANS)
• H-25 Portable Gasoline Fuel Systems (ANS)
• H-26 Powering of Boats (ANS)
• H-27 Seacocks, Thru-Hull Fittings, and Drain Plugs
• H-28 Inflatable Boats (ANS)
• H-29 Canoes and Kayaks (ANS)
• H-30 Hydraulic Systems (ANS)
• H-31 Seat Structures (ANS)
• H-32 Ventilation of Boats Using Diesel Fuel (ANS)
• H-33 Diesel Fuel Systems (ANS)
• H-35 Powering and Load Capacity of Pontoon Boats (ANS)
• H-37 Jet Boats – Light Weight (ANS)
• H-40 Anchoring, Mooring, and Lifting
• H-41 Reboarding Means, Ladders, Handholds, Rails and Lifelines
• P-1 Installation of Exhaust Systems for Propulsion and Auxiliary Engines
• P-4 Marine Inboard Engines and Transmissions (ANS)
• P-6 Propeller Shafting Systems (ANS)
• P-14 Mechanical Propulsion Control Systems (ANS)
• P-17 Mechanical Steering Systems (ANS)
• P-18 Cable Over Pulley Steering Systems For Outboard Engines
• P-21 Manual Hydraulic Steering Systems (ANS)
• P-22 Steering Wheels (ANS)
• P-23 Steering and Propulsion Controls For Jet Boats (ANS)
• P-24 Electric/Electronic Propulsion Control Systems (ANS)
• P-27 Electric/Electronic Steering Control Systems (ANS)
• S-7 Boat Capacity Labels (ANS)
• S-8 Boat Measurement and Weight (ANS)
• S-30 Outboard Engine and Related Equipment Weights (ANS)
• S-31 Environmental Considerations for Electric/Electronic Components Installed Onboard Boats (ANS)
• T-1 Aluminum Applications
• T-5 Safety Signs and Labels
• T-17 Compass Installation
• T-19 Fabrication Equipment, Procedures, and Materials Quality Control
• T-24 Owner’s Manuals
• T-31 Marine Law Enforcement Craft Acquisition and Safety
• T-32 Design and Construction in Consideration of Aquatic Invasive Species
• TE-4 Lightning Protection
• TE-12 Three Phase AC Electrical Systems on Boats
• TH-12 Outboard Engine Mounting Guide
• TH-22 Educational Information About Carbon Monoxide
• TH-23 Design, Construction, and Testing of Boats in Consideration of Carbon Monoxide
• TH-29 Sewage Systems
• TY-28 Boat Lifting and Storage

As you can see, the standards are comprehensive and cover everything from the vessel itself to components such as marine generators , marine propellers , and more.

Non-members are able to access short explanations for each document on the ABYC website , but boat builders seeking certification will need to either become members of the Council or purchase its 2018-2019 (or most current) manual to access full descriptions.

Because the ABYC doesn’t provide its own way to ensure compliance, it focuses much of its efforts on education through its signature certification programs. This is an important detail for boat builders to consider as they welcome new engineers and technicians onto their teams. At this stage, the Council provides eight standards certification courses modeled from its own regulations. They are as follows:

• ABYC Standards
• Marine Systems
• Marine Corrosion
• Marine Electrical
• Diesel Engines
• Gasoline Engines
• Marine Composites
• A/C Refrigeration

Each of the eight courses is developed specifically for marine professionals. In 2019, roughly 3,500+ technicians and engineers had become certified through ABYC’s nationally-accredited program, which is verified through third-party, NOCTI Business Solutions. Applicants have the option to obtain certification by going through one of two routes: in-person certification courses or self-study courses with testing administered by a proctor .

Those working to obtain certification must fit into one of the following two categories: advisor or technician.

ABYC defines advisors as “people who work within the marine service sector that desire an ABYC certification but do not physically work on boats performing repairs.” In order to be granted certification, an advisor must receive a passing score on the certification exam. Certifications are valid for five years. If an advisor wants to become re-certified, they must receive a passing score on their re-certification exam and show proof of 10 CEUs (Continuing Education Units).

Technicians are defined as “those that are actually certified to perform trouble-shooting, repairs and equipment installations on boats,” (i.e. technicians and installers). In order to be granted certification, a technician must receive a passing score on the certification exam and show proof of two years of marine technician/installation work experience via the Work Experience Form . Certifications are valid for five years. If a technician wants to become re-certified, they must receive a passing score on their re-certification exam and show proof of 10 CEUs (Continuing Education Units).

Certified advisors and technicians can earn their CEUs by taking relevant courses at approved higher education institutions or by taking advantage of the ABYC Online Learning portal . There, members are granted free access to a range of multimedia presentations and learning tools that can be used at a students’ chosen pace.

In addition to the in-person, self-study, and online study options, ABYC also offers even more educational opportunities through its Marine League of Schools initiative. The Marine League of School is a special status given to institutions whose instructors are certified and whose curriculum is overseen and developed by ABYC. A current list of these schools is as follows:

• New England Institute of Technology
• Cape Fear Community College
• Kodiak College
• Skagit Valley College
• Grenada NTA
• Broward College
• Suncoast Technical College
• Fort Myers Technical College
• Tidewater Community College
• Great Lakes Boat Building School
• Carteret Community College
• Florida Keys Community College
• Georgian College
• Kingsborough Community College
• The Landing School

Boat builders may not be able to certify an entire vessel, but ABYC does have a program that oversees specific components. The ABYC Certified Component Program “confirms that samples of components fully comply with the current applicable ABYC Standards.” The benefit here is that boat builders can offer customers products that have added integrity in terms of both safety and overall efficacy. Additionally, all boat makers that take part in this program are able to double-check the Council’s Certified Components list, an important register created to heighten industry visibility. The International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI) contracts with ABYC to administer these standards on a global level.

In terms of procedure, component manufacturers can undergo one of two separate testing options, the first one being a review conducted by an IMCI-approved laboratory . The second option requires the component manufacturer’s in-house laboratory to be formally-assessed by ICMI. The manufacturer can begin testing and submit testing reports upon approval.

Below you will find the current ABYC Certified Component Program fees schedule:

• Initial component fee: 230€ (good for the current year and following calendar year)
• Manufacturer seeking certificates of compliance to both ABYC and ISO standards at the same time: 325€
• Certificate fee for products with an existing ISO certificate issued by IMCI: 150€
• Annual update for components without re-evaluation: 50€
• Annual update for components needing re-evaluation due to a changed standard or component: 150€

Screenshot via ABYC

Boat builders who are serious about developing and/or reinforcing their own in-house ABYC compliance programs can now take advantage of a streamlined standards checklist, offered by the Council. The ABYC Compliance Audit Tool is an interactive PDF form that serves as an itemized checklist which reflects the major compliance items outlined in Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft . 

Currently, the tool is free for business-level ABYC members and available for purchase at $89.95 for all other levels of members.

For more information on ABYC compliance and what it means for boat builders, visit the following resources:

• What is ABYC Certification and Why is it Important for Boat Manufacturers?
• Benefits of ABYC Certification
• ABYC Certification – Linkedin
• What Does ABYC Certification Mean?
• ABYC Education Policies
• Certified Boats with ABYC Standards
• Standards, Tables, International Equivalents
• Certifications and Ratings: What’s the Deal?
• ABYC Forms Alliance with CEERI
• Online Store: Certification Study Materials

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It all started with Ruth Ann and Wally Lesynski who embarked on a life-changing journey that would set the course for their family, building MMYB from the ground up, almost 7 decades ago. Today, Jay Jr., second generation, and Jay III, third generation, are at the wheel of their legacy.

Both Jays were brought up in the Merri-Mar boatyard and started working when they were barely old enough to tie a bowline. Enjoy this snapshot of a few reflective conversations.

Early days:

Jay was a liveaboard with Ruthann, Wally & sister Merri-Lee, year-round at the marina aboard the Sea Princess, a Lesynski-built 38’ cedar and mahogany flybridge sedan that the family called home for 18 years. He recalls that one of his many yard jobs as a youngster was as a “roller gatherer”, responsible for moving cedar “rollers” underneath cradles when the boats came off the rails, the key to moving boats around the yard at the time.

Jay graduated from Newburyport High School. While in school, he played several sports, hockey being his favorite. At the same time, Jay was immersed in the family business. He is a firm believer that his real education came from hard work, which continues every day at Merri-Mar.

Favorite memory:

Jay’s adventurous spirit was teased for years watching Wally and a select few drop into Deep Princess, the one-person submersible that Wally built, and take her for a dive. Then there was that magic day when Wally felt he was “ready” and gave Jay clearance to take her for his first underwater voyage.

Lesser-known fact:

Jay loves to be underwater. Be it with a tank & regulator, or aboard the Deep Princess, Jay has clocked many hours submerged, exploring, and salvaging.

Jay and his wife Debra have known each other for most of their lives. They both earned their 100-ton USCG Licenses together. They have sailed extensively Downeast ME, to the Bahamas, and all through the Caribbean with more cruising on the horizon. They live in Newburyport with their Schipperkes, Tug & Tiller.

When Jay was young he split his time between Plum Island and Merri-Mar…beaching and boats…in the surf…running skiffs…living IN the water and ON the water 24/7. Being ON the “water” continued through the winter, with Jay starting to play ice hockey when he was about 5. As he says, “It was not a bad way to grow up”.

Jay continued to play hockey through high school while learning the business and working at Merri-Mar. He graduated from Newburyport High School and wrapped up his senior year playing hockey at the TD Garden. Jay attended Johnson & Wales for business for a short time. Ultimately, he decided that he needed to follow his passion for all things maritime and get back to being hands-on at Merri-Mar.

Favorite Memory:

Learning from Wally happened daily. One of Jay’s earliest and favorite memories was when they were building the Marine Hauler and Wally taught him the concept of welding when he was about 6 years old. YES, 6 years old. The bond forged through learning to weld with Wally at such a young age had a tremendous impact and likely set the stage for Jay’s talents as a fabricator. He can make just about anything out of anything.

Jay and his grandfather Wally were great buddies. With the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, they went to the Whistling Kettle in Amesbury for breakfast every day for about 10 years, Breakfast takes on a whole new meaning when you are counter-side 7 days a week. The Whistling Kettle folks would test out the daily specials on Jay to off-set his boredom with breakfast fare.

Jay and his wife Lisa have enjoyed a wonderful long-term relationship together. They married in Jamaica in December of 2022 and live in Newburyport with their Old English Bulldog, Stanley. Lisa and Jay welcomed their first grandchild in January of this year. Callie Rose is quickly becoming Jay’s North Star.

Known as MMYB’s front-line, go-to coach, and boat project therapist, Billy has been managing the MMYB Parts department and Ship’s Store for 14 years. If you stop by the Store, particularly in the Spring and Fall, you might think you stepped into a rowdy family reunion, with Billy juggling a queue of salties looking for parts and advice, swapping notes, and sharing tales of the season.

Born in Exeter, and raised in Hampton NH, Billy has been a Granite State-er since his beginnings. When Billy was 12 his Dad bought a 37 ft wooden Jones Porter lobster boat, Green Eyed Lady, and ran it out of Hampton. That, shall we say was “only the beginning” and Billy set sites on his future as a commercial fisherman.

During the summer months, through grade & high school, Billy worked on a number of fishing charters & party boats out of Hampton. He was a “pier rat” with his lifelong friend Derek, both picking up odd jobs, getting in trouble, and just biding time until they graduated from Winnacunnet HS in 1993. He started out on the Jeri Ann, a gillnetter out of Portsmouth, NH. For the next 17 years, he fished for mostly groundfish (pollack, cod, redfish, monkfish, etc.), “accidental tuna”, and lobster, on more than a dozen boats up until the increasingly unreasonable commercial fishing regulations forced him out as one of many “government displaced commercial fisherman” in 2010. Shortly after, he landed at MMYB, where he combined his deep knowledge of mechanics, troubleshooting, and a working life on the water, with an extensive familiarity with the waterscape from the Gulf of Maine to The Hauge (Canada fishing line) & points South, to launch a new career on terra firma. This was quite a welcome change of course, that not only combined his comprehensive knowledge of the maritime industry with the ability and stability to support his family life, but provides MMYB clients and industry partners with an incredibly valuable resource for all things maritime. Billy is a certified technician with VOLVO, Cummins, and YANMAR, along with ABYC certification.

In 2021, Billy and his wife Renee, transformed their lives by “officially” welcoming Callie and Dominic (niece/nephew) into their family. They are new homeowners (2022) and live in Seabrook. In his “off-time”, Billy fits in early AM fishing trips, afternoons at the beach with his family, and sneaks in some surfing and off-road motorcycling when he can. He also is very involved in his kids’ afterschool activities and recently signed on as President of the Boosters for his son’s Wrestling Team at Winnacunnet High School.

An unknown secret about Billy, and this is not a fish tale…he is an avid fan of Hallmark Christmas Movie Marathons. Seriously!?!

Are you a salty detail oriented bean counter who is a people person and has a good sense of humor?  If yes, we are looking for an Office Manager to join our energized Team in a small, fast-paced marine/retail environment.  Primary responsibilities include all things financial, A/R & A/P, payroll, and vendor/customer relations.  Proficiency in QuickBooks, Microsoft Office and POS systems required.

If you think you are a good fit, we would like to talk with you!

For a full job description, and/or to apply, email your resume & cover letter to [email protected] , and put “Office Manager” in the SUBJECT heading. No phone calls please.

401K/w match • health insurance • paid holidays •  vacation time

Brandon's deep connection with water is rooted in his beginnings, growing up in Michigan's Great Lakes Region, developing a passion for fishing and water sports at an early age. His career started in construction with a degree in Construction Management in Michigan, but his love for the ocean led him to Ft. Lauderdale in 2006, where he launched his career in the maritime industry. He earned his Master Scuba Diver status and a 100-ton USCG License, in Ft. Lauderdale, then set off on an 8-year global adventure aboard private Motor Yachts, clocking 150,000+ nautical miles, traversing Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the Bahamas and Caribbean.

He then headed to New England, where he met his wife Nicole and her dog Hani, and here he stayed! Before joining Merri-Mar, he spent 3 years as captain & crew with Coastal Discoveries in Newburyport. Brandon has been an integral member of the MMYB Team since 2016. His diverse and global maritime experience, combined with integrity and a genuine affinity for all things maritime, offers clients a deep understanding of what it takes to match their wish list with their dream boat.

Brandon lives in Stratham NH with his wife Nicole, and two sons Chase and Cameron. What most folks don’t know about Brandon, is that his salty endeavors land-stage-side as a Donald Duck impersonator.

Cari grew up in upstate NY, spending most of her time outside enjoying the Adirondack region and pursuing her life as a “creative” in music and the arts. At a young age, she realized that if left idle her adventurous spirit would get her into trouble so she jumped into college early, attending Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington MA. Her continued journey east was driven by her education, earning her BA in Russian and Fine Arts from the State University of NY at Albany, and her Masters from Lesley University in Cambridge.

In the beginning of her career, Cari trained in paper/art conservation and served as an archivist for the City/County of Albany, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute & the Harvard Theatre Collection. Her path segued into fundraising where she honed in on revitalizing philanthropy programs for non-profits that spanned healthcare, academic, and cultural missions. She held executive positions at several non-profits, including Girl Scouts of Eastern MA, the North Shore Medical Center, and the Newburyport Maritime Society, and worked for a consulting firm delivering fundraising, strategic planning, and executive search services for about 7 years.

On the salty side of life, Cari crewed for a few years on the Alexandra Rose a 37’ ketch out of Salem MA. In 2006 she met Captain Tim, who skippered many vessels one being the Schooner Adventure out of Gloucester. Cari crewed weekends on several boats with Tim at the helm including many years on New Horizons , a 60’ motorsailer out of Boston and Kennebunkport, and Adirondack III an 80’ schooner out of Boston. While on New Horizons , she crewed OpSail 2012, a tall ships event with parades of sail from New York to Norfolk. Cherished times were spent cruising the BVI, with a soft spot for Jost Van Dyke & Virgin Gorda.

Cari has been with Merri-Mar for a little over a year fine-tuning branding and communications, writing grants, and learning the brokerage side of the business. A not-so-lesser-known fact about Cari is that she recently got back into painting and is showing and selling her artwork. She lives on Lake Attitash in Amesbury with her butterscotch kitties Duff & Aesa.

Raised on the Parker River in Newbury, Eric comes from a large, long line of mariners. Be it fishing, cruising, water sports, and/or “hanging on the Plum Island sandbar”, he recalls his family heading out for day trips en-masse, as many times as possible during the season. When he was a kid, his father built a 35’ Duffy that offered opportunity for many family excursions to points north, mostly in Maine. Eric went to Tritan Regional High School, then Whittier Regional Technical Vocational High School where he graduated with a degree in electrical technology. Before Whitter, Eric was selected to participate in the People to People Student Ambassador Program, an immersive travel experience and cultural exchange that sent him to Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia where he met with local dignitaries, took part in summits and UN meetings, and enjoyed a variety of outdoor adventures.

On the work front, Eric bounced around North Shore marinas including Parker River Marine Sports, Curtis Custom Marine, Crockers, and Riverfront Marina working the docks and in yards. He worked for several employers honing his skills in roofing, electrical work, masonry, operating heavy equipment, and truck driving. He drove for Coca-Cola and Action Paving before landing with Hall & Moscow for about 5 years where he worked in many capacities including building the Institution for Savings’ clocktower in Gloucester and creating the extensive signature waterfall at the Hillside Center for Sustainable Living in Newburyport. He was with TRUE Homes & Design creating outdoor spaces when he heard that Merri-Mar was looking for help so he jumped at the opportunity. He has been working here for about a year…doing a little bit of everything.

Besides cruising around in his 22’ Chris-Craft, when not at work, Eric is into a variety of board sports and competitive mountain biking. He lives in Newbury with his girlfriend Renata, cat Smitty, and dog, Ivan.

An unusual truth about Eric is that “he has the propensity to finding his way to bad things”, like rescuing folks from boat accidents, finding missing deceased bodies in the Merrimack, and being the first on the scene of a nasty car crash. Being in the right place at the wrong time, or wrong place at the right time, has a few of the Newbury elders raising an eyebrow as far as Eric’s timing.

Although David was raised in Rowley MA, his Mother’s “Newfie” roots and stories attached to her legacy remain an evident part of his make-up. David’s memories of visiting family, and “earning cash jigging for cod” and other related activities off the Newfoundland coast, make it no surprise that he landed in the maritime industry.

After David graduated from Triton Regional High School, he took night classes at various vocational schools while testing his interest in machinery in his day jobs. He settled into his 23-year tenure at Winninghoff Boats where he fine-tuned his expertise in welding, primarily aluminum boats, and fuel and hydraulic tanks, earning his welding certification for USCG Chapter T (passenger) vessels. While at Winninghoff he built thousands of fuel tanks, and 150+ aluminum boats ranging from flatbottomed skiffs and fire boats, to large commercial vessels. A boat of note is the Henry Longfellow, a 65 ft riverboat still in service operating charters on the Charles River. He then started with Merri-Mar where he has done “a little bit of everything” for the past 19 years.

Running parallel to his career in the maritime industry was a solid trek as a musician, playing bass in a band known as the 60’s Invasion. At their high point, they were averaging 40+ gigs per year. David finally retired (for the most part) about 2 years ago.

A lesser-known fact about David’s life is that he has spent Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends camping with his compadres from high school since 1980…that’s twice annually for the past 44 years!

David lives in Madbury NH with his wife Nancy of 31 years, and their two cats Thelma Lu and Toodles.

When you think of Merri-Mar and engine service, Mike Fortin has to come to mind. Mike is our veteran in-house engine expert.

Mike is originally from the Andover/Lawrence area. He attended the Greater Lawrence Technical School and graduated with a focus on engines, more specifically machine tool technology. He spent the earlier days of his career in the automotive industry where he sank into his craft for about 10 years. He then dove into the marine industry working on boat motors for Riverfront Marine in Salisbury MA for the next 10 years. Next stop Merri-Mar, where he will be celebrating his 25th anniversary this year. He is the go-to guy for all engine mechanicals and electrical systems, transmissions, outdrives, and diagnostic work, and is certified as a Cummins, Yanmar, Mercruiser, Volvo Penta, Northern Lights, and Kohler generators technician.

When not at work, Mike is happily maneuvering through his Grandson’s rigorous sports schedule. Kole, age 10, keeps both of his grandparents on the fly through overlapping seasons of basketball, baseball, football, wrestling, karate and soon-to-be on deck, dirt biking. It's no surprise that Mike’s 2 Albemarles haven’t clocked many engine hours over the past several years, but the family does manage to squeeze in water time with his extended tribe in the Lake Winnipesaukee & Ossipee regions.

A lesser-known tidbit about Mike is that he is a newlywed. After 14 years, he and his wife Angie tied the knot in the summer of 2023. They live in Elliott ME with their grandson Kole, and feline friend Kaylie.

When you first meet Sean, you think- “what a nice guy”, “he’s so polite & mellow”, little would you ever think that under that flannel shirt beats the heart of a card-carrying adrenaline junkie.

Originally from New Milford CT, Sean graduated from Ridgefield High School, landing jobs “doing everything on boats” all through school. After he graduated, he headed west to Big Powder Country, landing in Durango CO, attending Fort Lewis College. Over his 5-year tenure in CO, he held all kinds of jobs having to do with ski-resort life – fitting boots, waxing skis, ski rentals, etc. His favorite job was a 2-year stint working the Gondola at Telluride.

He headed back east after college and worked for Sound Sailing for 2 years, then Norwalk Cove Marina for another 5 years. This is where he really cut his teeth on rigging, and got into the racing circuit, sailing in the St. Thomas International Regatta twice, Key West Race Week, and in the 2016 Newport to Bermuda Race his boat placed 4th in their division.

It was around this time that he met his now wife Sarah. He moved to Peabody MA, Sarah’s hometown, and began to search for a job in the maritime industry on the North Shore. In 2020, Sean walked into MMYB and asked, “Hey, do you need any help”? The rest is history. Over the last 4 years, Sean has plugged into all aspects of the service side of the business but is found most often skyward in a bosun’s chair or our manlift, stepping and un-stepping masts, and working his rigging magic on deserving sailboats throughout the season.

Sarah and Sean exchanged vows in 2023, and live in Raymond NH with bestie canine Murphy, a Shephard-Lab mix. When asked about an unknown fact about himself, Sean admitted that he can solve any Rubix Cube, be it a 3X3, 4X4 or 5X5 cube Cube, in a minute and a half!

Merri-Mar Yacht Basin Inc. 364 Merrimac Street Newburyport, MA 01950 Phone: (978) 465-3022 Fax: (978) 465-1443

HOURS MON – FRI : 8 AM - 5 PM

BROKERAGE is also open by appointment on weekends.

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Welcome to Atlantic Yacht & Ship, Inc. We remain an integral leader in the yacht and ship brokerage industry, serving the yachting community since 1959. Atlantic Yacht & Ship, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is located in the heart of the “Yachting Capital of the World”. Whether buying or selling a quality motor yacht, center console, or having your luxury yacht built. Atlantic Yacht & Ship is your one-stop resource for the highest quality luxury yacht sales and service in the yachting industry today. The dynamics in buying or selling a yacht are complex and time consuming, but at Atlantic Yacht & Ship, our team of professional yacht brokers are prepared to handle the entire process and create a positive and easy experience for all our clients.

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Filter by type, 08 – 24, marine engines and fuel systems certification – online live – october 2024.

3 days/wk for 3 weeks. October 8-24, 2024. 3:00PM – 4:30PM, ET.

08 – 10

Marine standards certification – online live – october 2024.

3 days/week for 1 week, October 8-10, 2024. 9:00AM – 10:30AM, ET.

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29 – 14

Marine corrosion certification – online live – october/november 2024.

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USCG Risk Mitigation Series 7: New Technology in Electric, Fuel, Capacity, and Flotation

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) and American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) partnered for a series of virtual events dedicated to mitigating the risk in designing and building recreational boats.

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Marine electrical certification – online live – november/december 2024.

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14 – 16

Marine standards certification – online live – january 2025.

3 days/week for 1 week, January 14-16, 2025. 3:00PM – 4:30PM, ET.

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