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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
Brightside Wooden Boat Services Opens for the Season
Making the ownership and use of wooden boats effortless is the goal of Brightside. It's also the life dream of owner Shawn Grant and the career path of his partner Jacob Harrington. Started in June 2008, the year-old business is already bustling with boats, plans, and dreams. Projects include rentals, storage, maintenance and restoration, with the latter supplying a fascinating view of history, craftsmanship, and passion for visitors to the busy shop where eight wooden boats are currently at various stages of work from bare frame to final painting. "I've been working with wooden boats since I was a little boy," says Shawn, a Farmington native, who has lived in Belgrade for the past 15 years. It's a family legacy. Grants have been plying the waters off the coast of Maine since the 1590's; his father still keeps a mooring in Boothbay. "I've owned a lot of wooden boats," Shawn explains. "I've always paid someone else to restore them. The shops weren't doing any better than what I could do myself." What Shawn, and Jacob, can do in their barn on Hulin Road is complete restoration. Although they specialize in mahogany speedboats, they will work on any wooden boat up to 30'. In addition, they offer owners in the area maintenance contracts, winterization, storage, and spring readiness. Working with them part time on the electrical components is Jason Cook, a student at New England Institute of Technology studying for his American Boat Yacht Council certification.
As they develop their restoration business, Shawn and Jacob also are increasing their rental fleet. Two craft are currently ready; two more will be by the end of the season; eight is their goal, including a couple of cabin cruisers that people can rent for the weekend. For renters not on Great Pond, Brightside will deliver. There's a lot of history in wooden boats, and Shawn is hoping to incorporate it history into the business. Joel White, for example, son of EB White (of Great Pond vacations and "Once More to the Lake" fame) was a famous boat designer and Shawn has the molds for his 1986 The Haven twelve and a half, which he plans to build this summer. Another example is a GarWood 1947 that he had trucked east from Michigan last fall. The company went bankrupt in 1948 and Shawn knew finding one was a rare opportunity. Wooden boats in disrepair have a new life at Brightside. For more information on restorations, maintenance, or rentals, call | ||
