Jersey Cape Yachts
Jersey Cape offers a complete line of Yachts – Express and Convertible Sportfishing and Sport Yachts as well as a center console model.
ALL YOUR PARTS AND SERVICE NEEDS COVERED
GENUINE FACTORY PARTS IN STOCK
DOCKSIDE MECHANICAL SERVICE AVAILABLE
Jersey Cape is a full service boat yard and member in good standing of:
The Service Yard
A full service facility - offering Winter and Hurricane storage programs and a full stockroom of parts. As a boat manufacturing facility, we'll have everything you could possibly need!
Mobile Marine Service
Now Offering Mobile Marine Service for Cummins-Yanmar-Seakeeper-Onan-Westerbeke-Kohler-FCI Watermakers
New 45' Express
The new Devil 45' DIRCT BILL made her debut showing at the Jimmy Johnson, Quest for the Ring Scales.
Storage & Service work
Hurricane haul outs, connect with us.
Follow Jersey Cape Yachts on social media for the latest events, projects, and company news.
Check out Jersey Cape Yacht Sales for new brokerage listings available.
- Post 66 Convertible
- Post 56 Convertible
- Post 53 Convertible
- Post 50 Convertible
- Post 47 Convertible
- Post 42 Convertible
- Post 53 Open
- Post 42 Open
- Repair & Refit
- News & Events
POST MARINE GROUP LLC
23145 Buck Neck Rd Chestertown, MD 21620
Phone: 410.846.4625 Fax: 410.778.3395
Business Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm EST
- Repair and Refit
- Contact Post Yachts
- Worton Creek Marina
- Upper Chesapeake Yacht Sales
Since its beginning in 1957, Post has developed a solid world-wide reputation as a premier builder of semi-custom yachts from 42 to 56 feet.
The company was founded by Russell Post, who had previously co-founded the original Egg Harbor Yacht Company. He was well-suited for the task, for at the age of 15, he had built his first boat in which he later won an international sailing championship.
Russell always approached boat building with the same energy and enthusiasm. For example, he sold his only car in order to purchase the cedar needed to build the very first Egg Harbor (hull #1). Other operating funds were generated by building and selling small skiffs and sailboats.
The natural inlets of the South Jersey coast, where currents scoured the channels and ocean waves crashed through unchecked, proved to be an ideal testing ground for those early models. Mr. Post made it a point to personally run each boat in order to assure its seaworthiness in all sea conditions.
After the sale of Egg Harbor, Russell enjoyed a short-lived retirement. By 1957 he was back in the boat building business with a new nameplate and company, aptly named Post Marine. With a solid reputation for building quality boats, Russell took the next logical step and opened the current Post facility located on the Great Egg Harbor River in Mays Landing, New Jersey. "Yachts of Quality, Not Quantity Since 1957" was the new company's slogan . . . reflecting a philosophy which has remained management's position today.
With regard to management, Post remains somewhat unique within an industry that often appears to thrive on constant change. In 1975, partners Charlie Walters and Bill Schell purchased the company from Mr. Post. To Charlie and Bill, carrying on the Post tradition amounted to staying the course. In 1957, and at the age of seventeen, Charlie had become Russell Post's second employee.
Over the years, he had seen the pattern for success develop, and had the foresight to take the company to an even higher level with the help of Bill and long-time Vice President Ken Jensen. The conservative management style, that has served the company well through the industry's ups and downs, was a critical part of its success. Unlike many of its counterparts, Post has never tried to build something for everyone. The company has chosen to concentrate its efforts on meeting the high standards of a select number of seasoned boaters. As a result, the crew at Post Marine has been able to maintain a level of quality and value through 54 years of production.
On December 20, 2011 Post Marine Group LLC purchased the assets of Post Marine Co., Inc. Company operations have transitioned from Mays Landing, New Jersey to Chestertown, Maryland. Post Yachts will continue to be run with the same honesty, passion, and spirit that characterized the stewardships of Russell Post, Charlie Walters, Bill Schell, Ken Jensen and their entire Post team. (See company information for a location map and directions to Post Yachts.)
Copyright © 2012, Post Marine Group LLC. All rights reserved.
Build a Yacht: New Yacht Construction
Building a custom yacht from inception to delivery.
Northrop & Johnson is proud to be affiliated with some of the world’s most innovative and award-winning yacht builders, refit yards, designers, naval architects and suppliers. Our reliable brokers can mediate between future owners and yards to help design the perfect custom yacht to suit the owner’s exact needs while maintaining a stress-free environment and seamless build experience. Northrop & Johnson brokers will help new-build owners facilitate every aspect of the process, from choosing the right shipyard and designer to advising on legal issues and project management. By drawing on our established relationships with the world’s industry leaders in these sectors, Northrop & Johnson can promise a flawless new-build process from inception to delivery.
The Northrop & Johnson Advantage
Why work with us
Building a custom yacht is an exciting and rewarding experience but can also be daunting. At Northrop & Johnson, we understand the intricacies and complexities of the yacht-building process and have the expertise and resources to guide you through every step of the way. Here are just a few reasons why you should choose Northrop & Johnson to build your dream yacht:
Market Leader in Building, Selling and Managing Superyachts
Northrop & Johnson has been a market leader in building, selling, and managing superyachts since its inception. Our track record speaks for itself: in 2022, we signed seven new builds worth $153 million, more than any other brokerage firm, according to Superyacht Times’ 2022 market report. Our team has completed more than 129 new builds, giving us unparalleled experience and expertise in yacht building.
Deep Knowledge of the Entire Yacht Building Process
Many of our Northrop & Johnson brokers and team members began their careers in the shipyards, giving them a deep knowledge of the entire process from start to finish. This means they have a fundamental understanding of the language of shipyards and the in-depth industry knowledge required to oversee the whole project. From regulations and market trends to design and tech innovations, our team has the expertise to ensure your dream yacht is future-proofed and built to the highest possible standards.
Specialist Industry Insight and Regular Shipyard Tours
Because we’re so active in the industry, we know what the shipyards are doing, which ones have open build slots and the strengths and specializations of each yard. Several of our expert brokers have extensive executive experience at these yards, and our culture of family and collaboration means they are only too happy to step in to help. With regular tours of yards worldwide, our team of yacht brokers is perfectly positioned to advise which builders suit your unique vision.
These tours allow us to stay current on the latest trends, innovations, and developments in yacht construction. We observe first-hand how different shipyards approach construction and the new techniques and technologies they use to design and build yachts. This knowledge is then passed on to our clients, allowing you to benefit from the latest advancements. It is also an opportunity for us to assess the quality of different shipyards’ work, ensuring our clients’ yachts are built to the highest possible standards.
Greater Flexibility and Choice
With our extensive, active network of shipyards, we can offer you greater flexibility regarding scheduling and availability. When one shipyard is fully booked or unavailable, we can quickly pivot to another without compromising quality or timelines. Your dedicated broker will only be to happy to arrange for you tours of shipyards, allowing you to see firsthand the quality and craftsmanship of different shipyards.
Behind the Scenes
To aid you in your decision-making process, we have partnered with renowned YouTuber David Seal, a respected figure in the yachting industry. His YouTube channels, Yachts for Sale and Yacht Builders, offer an inside look into shipyards and their construction process and techniques, providing a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes.
Post-Delivery Services
Once your vision has come to life, we can cover all your yachting needs with our network of established and experienced companies under the trusted MarineMax umbrella. From ongoing yacht management, berthing, insurance and recruitment to charter management, brokerage and even bespoke luxury experiences you won’t find anywhere else, we offer a complete 360-degree in-house service.
How do we manage new build projects?
There’s only one way to get the yacht you really want: to build it from the keel up. Building a superyacht can be a complicated, long-haul project. Our job is to act as your guide, advisor and single point of contact to simplify the entire process. We bridge the gap between you and the shipyards, designers, engineers, architects, lawyers, project managers and technical representatives.
In short, our brokers act on your behalf to help build the yacht of your dreams at the highest quality and the best price possible, ensuring each step of the build is done accurately and to the most stringent standards.
We’ll be there every step of the way to turn your concept into reality and to make the journey unforgettable—in the very best way possible.
And once your yacht has been launched, we’ll be on hand to enhance your experience with our suite of post-build services thanks to our in-house MarineMax expertise, from ongoing yacht management, berthing, insurance and crew recruitment to yacht charter, brokerage and more
Phases of a new build
The construction of a new yacht is an exciting and rewarding process, requiring careful planning and attention to detail. While each new construction and shipyard will be unique, they follow a similar approach.
Design and planning
This is the first and most crucial phase of any new build. Our team will work closely with you to determine your needs and preferences. We will need to discuss your specific requirements: What kind of build do you want? Where do you plan to cruise? What kind of performance will your vessel need? What spaces and amenities do you envision having aboard?
We will then advise which shipyards, architects and designers are the most suitable for your project and work with them to create a customized design to meet your needs.
Hull construction
Once the design is finalized, hull construction begins. Our team will liaise with your chosen shipyard to ensure that high-quality materials and advanced construction techniques are used to create a strong and durable hull that will withstand the rigors of the sea. Throughout the hull construction phase, we closely communicate with the shipyard to monitor progress and ensure the work is carried out to your specifications.
Interior and deck construction
With the hull complete, the focus shifts to the interiors and deck spaces. Skilled artisans will install wiring, plumbing and other systems and create the various rooms and interior and exterior living spaces.
Sea trials and delivery
The final construction phase involves several sea trials to test the yacht’s performance and ensure all systems function correctly. Once this has been completed to your satisfaction, your vessel is ready to be delivered.
Yacht design
What sort of build are you interested in? You have options.
Generally, there are three kinds of builds, each with pros and cons. They depend on the level of customization you’d like.
Production builds are usually part of a line of pre-designed vessels. They often have standard features and accessories and offer the least customizability. They usually are the fastest to deliver and the least expensive option but can be hard to modify or upgrade after purchase. However, because they are pre-designed, they’re a proven platform with demonstrated quality.
Semi-custom
Semi-custom builds are a compromise between production and fully custom builds. They offer many customizable opportunities—particularly concerning interior and exterior décor, design, appliances and finishes—and allow the owner to be closely involved in the build. Like production builds, they are part of a pre-designed line, expediting build time and reducing costs and risk.
Entirely custom builds are naturally the most expensive and time-intensive option. However, nothing is off limits, from the size and layout to amenities, interior and exterior design and technical specifications.
Whichever you envision, we know the right experts for you.
After-sales support
With the delivery of your superyacht, your journey will have only just begun.
Yacht ownership should be enjoyable and hassle-free, which is why we can cater to all your needs in-house with our established MarineMax companies. With 360-degree support, we’re with you all the way.
Here are the services we can offer you.
Yacht Management – Place your luxury yacht in the right hands with the services of our superyacht management team.
Berthing – Whether you purchase or rent a berth or a mooring, there is peace of mind in knowing that your yacht has a safe harbor available at all times.
Insurance – Yacht insurance gives you the confidence to cruise anywhere in the world without worry.
Crew Recruitment – Our crew services experts specialize in accurately placing crew members on the appropriate yachts and guiding the successful careers of thousands worldwide.
Charter Marketing – Allow your luxury yacht to be so much more by offering her for charter, enabling you to enjoy charter revenue while cruising at your own leisure.
Yacht Marketing – As a global leader in yacht marketing, our inter-connected, highly specialized creative team executes your custom marketing plan, supporting your charter or sale. As the only yacht brokerage firm with an in-house video production team, we can also follow the construction of your yacht.
Brokerage – Due to our broker’s knowledge, experience and ability to negotiate at the highest level, Northrop & Johnson is the world leader in selling luxury yachts over 80 feet (24m). Appointing Northrop & Johnson as your representative will ensure your yacht’s successful and timely sale.
Partnerships – We are proud to partner with some of the most exclusive premium brands in the yachting and luxury sectors, enabling us to offer you an elevated level of service and added benefits.
Concept Yachts for Sale
Shipyards & builders.
Northrop & Johnson is proud to be affiliated with the world’s leading yacht builders. Our reliable brokers are able to mediate between future owners and shipyards in order to help design the perfect custom yacht to suit their exact needs while maintaining a stress-free, seamless and enjoyable build experience. Northrop & Johnson brokers serve as an invaluable liaison between the client and the shipyard, maintaining the balance between both parties. Working alongside all parties involved, together with the appointed yacht manager, they supervise every project throughout its entire build to ensure each yacht delivered adheres not only to contractual specifications but to the owner’s expectations.
Abeking & Rasmussen Northern Europe
Acico Yachts Northern Europe
Admiral Yachts Southern Europe
Amels Northern Europe
Arksen Yachts Western Europe
Azimut Southern Europe
Baglietto Southern Europe
Benetti Southern Europe
Bering Yachts Turkey
Bertram North America
Bilgin Yachts Turkey
Blohm + Voss Northern Europe
Broward North America
Burger North America
Cantiere Delle Marche Italy
Cantieri di Pisa Southern Europe
Cheoy Lee Asia
Christensen North America
CMN Northern Europe
Codecasa Southern Europe
CRN Southern Europe
Custom Line Italy
Delta North America
Derecktor Shipyard North America
Feadship Northern Europe
Ferretti Yachts Southern Europe
Hakvoort Shipyard Northern Europe
Hargrave Custom Yachts North America
Hatteras North America
Heesen Northern Europe
Holland Jachtbouw Northern Europe
Horizon Asia
Icon Yachts Northern Europe
Infiniti Yachts Western Europe
ISA Yachts Southern Europe
Lazzara Yachts North America
Lürssen Northern Europe
Marlow Yachts North America
Mondomarine Southern Europe
Moonen Yachts Northern Europe
Nautor's Swan Northern Europe
Nobiskrug Northern Europe
Nordhavn North America
Numarine Southern Europe
Ocean Alexander Asia
Oceanco Shipyard Northern Europe
Overmarine Mangusta Southern Europe
Palmer Johnson North America
Palumbo Southern Europe
Perini Navi Southern Europe
Pershing Southern Europe
Picchiotti Southern Europe
Princess Northern Europe
RMK Marine Southern Europe
Rossinavi Southern Europe
Sanlorenzo Southern Europe
Sirena Yachts Turkey
Sunrise Yachts Southern Europe
Sunseeker Northern Europe
Tankoa Southern Europe
Trinity Yachts North America
Turquoise Yachts Southern Europe
Van der Valk Western Europe
Vicem Yachts Southern Europe
Viking Yachts North America
Wally Western Europe
Westport North America
Wider Italy
Yacht Brokerage News
Building Your Dream
Our new construction experts will help you navigate the waters to build your dream yacht.
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© 2024 Northrop & Johnson
Capt. Karl Anderson
Marine industry consulting and more, the boat builders of south jersey.
This article first appeared in the 2018 issue of “ On the Rip ” the magazine of South Jersey Tournaments, Cape May, NJ.
By Karl Anderson
Deep in the heart of the South Jersey Pine Barrens, the headwaters of the Mullica, Bass and Wading rivers begin to gently flow through the densely wooded forests percolating through ponds and small lakes. The flow transforms their sweet waters as they wind through the bogs and cedar swamps all the way to the vast salt marsh where it mixes with the salty sea water of the Atlantic.
These nutrient rich and beautiful areas have produced several well known and proven timbers that have lent themselves perfectly for building boats, homes, barns, carving decoys, you name it, they are well suited. Most notably the aromatic and mellow Jersey Atlantic white cedar and white oak timbers.
Prior to fiberglass, these materials had been used for hundreds of years to build sturdy, seagoing boats of all manner, for every purpose imaginable as required for commerce of the day, transportation, work and recreation. The proximity to large cities like Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia and New York also placed the area in an enviable position to get products to those markets.
This area of New Jersey also produced a hearty, hard-working population that intertwined life with the surrounding resources of the woods, marsh and waters of the rivers, creeks, bays and certainly the bordering sea. The necessity to get on the water and have boats that were purpose built to make a living or simply feed the family became paramount to their sustainability. The abundant natural resources of cedar, oak, pine, salt, salt hay, wildfowl, oysters, clams, fish and a good, somewhat sandy soil to grow food plots, offered the opportunities of life to these independent people.
Eric Mullica sailed up the river that today bears his name sometime near 1695 and settled on the north side of the river where he set up a farm and sawmill in what is now known as Lower Bank. Some five years later a fellow named Thomas Clark settled on the south side of the river and established Clark’s Landing. While some twenty-five years later the dutch sea captain Yoos Sooy came up river, settled next to Eric Mullica and the combined enterprises supplied so much timber for shipbuilding that in a nearly one hundred year period left the river areas virtually stripped of trees.
Through the American Revolution and into the late mid-1800’s ship and boat building flourished in the area with a need for vessels to transport the prized timber, harvest shellfish, fish and move people. There were many specialty craft developed and built along the Jersey coast during these years including the garvey, credited to Gervas Pharo, a West Creek bayman from the 1700’s.
The garvey is a flat bottomed, blunt-bow work boat still being built today, designed to ply the shallow bays for all types of work particularly clamming, crabbing and waterfowling. Another exceptional local craft is the Barnegat Bay sneakbox, a specialty gunning boat developed in 1835 by Capt. Hazelton Seaman of West Creek.
Probably the most noteworthy and influential boat design for the area was the Sea Bright Skiff and her southern sister, the Atlantic City skiff. An adaptation from the Norwegian sjekte (shek-ta), a double-ended boat that was used in Norway’s inshore fisheries and related trades that traces back to the Vikings!
Along the Jersey coast over a nine year period in the 1800’s there were 158 shipwrecks, The coast was heavily traveled due to the New York shipping lanes to the north and the Delaware Bay to Philadelphia to the south. During one nor’easter in February of 1846 there were 10 ships pushed on the beach from Sandy Hook to Cranberry inlet which was due east of Toms River.
These wrecks and one in particular off Barnegat Light led to the founding of the U.S. Life Saving Stations. With the need for a versatile, lightweight boat that could be launched and retrieved from the beach with a small crew, the lifeboat was designed with an angled, squared-off transom from the evolution of the sjekte . The local cedar made them light and the oak frames made them strong.
The Van Sant’s – Atlantic City
The Van Sant family built sailing craft and serviced boats in Atlantic and Burlington Counties for nearly 180 years. In 1760, John Van Sant started the first shipyard at the Forks of the Little Egg Harbor. At some point Van Sant moved from the Forks and opened a yard on the Bass River at New Gretna. Another yard was opened in 1895 by Nicholas Van Sant in Port Republic extending that family legacy.
It was in Atlantic City around 1885 that the brother’s Joel II and Edward Van Sant opened the first yard there. Five years later, Gardners Basin was dredged and various family members operated three boat yards over the years developing not only a loyal customer base but a crop of boat builders that would go on to build cruisers and very early sportfishing boats.
The Leek’s – Mullica River
However, the Leek family are perhaps the most renown for building recreational and sportfishing boats. With a heritage of building boats on the Mullica starting sometime between 1712 and 1715, the Leek name has long been floating on the tides of the nations waters.
Charley, “C.P.” Leek got a start and became a seasoned veteran as a member of the Life Saving Service, which lore has it, gave him the left eye injury requiring a patch to cover it. Along with his great-uncle, Charley started a yard on the bay in Atlantic City building pleasure boats around the turn of the century. They worked into building passenger carrying sailboats like the “Captain Starns” and many other sail boats in the “cat boat” style for the sportfishing fleet at Beach Haven.
Charley came on hard luck and moved back to the Mullica River and opened C.P. Leek and Son’s building all kinds of custom boats, many designed by noted architect Lockwood Haggas. According to Naval Architect David Martin who grew up in Atlantic City and later designed for the Leek family and others, CP’s son, John E. Leek was “the bad boy of the Leek family because he worked for other people”.
He worked for Adam Price of Parkertown, Carl Adams of Port Republic and in the drafting room for John Trumpy, who was the Naval Architect for his Gloucester City, NJ boatbuilding operation before moving to Annapolis in 1947. According to Martin, “John E. probably got a better all-around boat building education than anybody in those years. During the war, he worked for the Navy, he was the inspector of many of the boats being built at small yards for the war effort. Companies such as Ventnor Boat Works built patrol boats and other craft for the government.”
Russell Post also worked for Carl Adams on the Nacote Creek, Ventnor Boat Works and at the Navy Yard. John E. and Russell got to know each other at the Ventnor yard and when the war wound down it left them looking around as to what they would to do, so in 1946 they started the Egg Harbor Boat Company building a 28-footer originally designed by Haggas, taking over just a small pice of C.P.’s shop that they rented.
After a disagreement, John E. and Post parted ways. In 1948 John E. and his brother Cecil started Pacemaker Corp. and began production building of a 29-footer designed by Lockwood Haggas, then continued with a slew of boats deigned by David Martin. John E. had two sons’s, Jack and Donald who both worked at Pacemaker and after John E.’s passing in 1957, built it into a large company with boats reaching far and wide.
In 1966 Pacemaker under the guidance of Jack and Donald started a subsidiary called Alglas. Donald was president of the endeavor and began building molded fiberglass boats. Their first effort was a 25-footer taken off a wooden Pacemaker that was first a sedan with a flybridge and no windshield, which sold over one thousand units. They then introduced the center console version, the “Wahoo” which is still popular today with the Jersey coast striped bass fisherman. After the sale of Pacemaker to Fuqua Industries, then Mission Marine, the company foundered under the leadership of bean counters and faded away.
In 1977, Jack Leek opened up shop on the Mullica River with a group of former Pacemaker foreman who all leveraged homes or whatever to become partners. This humble beginning was the start of the powerhouse builder Ocean Yachts. With efficient new designs from naval architect David Martin of Brigantine, the company introduced a 40-footer that was the first true 30-knot production boat.
Their second release was a 55-footer that topped out at 35-knots. From there the team at Ocean developed a full line of boats including 46 and 48-footers that once up and running in production they could turn out a boat every Friday.
With designer interiors, maximum use of space layouts and unmatched efficiency and speed, the company flourished under the leadership of Jack and his son John E. III. Looking to his retirement, John E. III approached Pat Healey about Viking acquiring the Ocean plant on the Mullica River to relieve the crowded work flow on the Bass River and they struck a deal for the facility to continue operations under the Viking banner were today they produce the 37, 42 and 44-foot models.
Russell Post – Atlantic City and Mays Landing
One of the founding partners in Egg Harbor Boat Corp., Russell Post stayed on after John E. Leek left to start Pacemaker. Post eventually sold his shares in Egg Harbor and in 1957 started his own company, Post Marine, building wooden 34-footers in May’s Landing on the Great Egg Harbor River.
The company went on to build other wooden models including transitioning into fiberglass with a popular 42-footer and then a 46. In 1975 Post sold the company to partners Charlie Waters and Bill Schell who ran it very successfully until a national recession took its toll on the builder.
Carl Adams – Port Republic
Carl Adams got his start with the Van Sant Boat yard in Atlantic City at 16 years of age. He built his first shop at around 19 years old in 1905, building garveys and sneakboxes for local baymen. In short order he outgrew that shop and built a larger one in 1917. Once again he sold this shop and built yet another one in the city. In 1920 the Volstead Act was passed and prohibition lit up the boat building business in south Jersey. Adams built rum runners and law enforcement boats for the Coast Guard.
The Great Depression and the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 forced the closing of that shop. He opened a new shop with his son Alvin in 1935 called the Modern Boat Works on the Nacote Creek in Port Republic where they built custom sportfishing boats for many charter captains.
During WWII the Adams’, father and son were sent to build airplane rescue boats for the government in Cambridge, Maryland. Returning to Nacote Creek after the war the Adams’ began making production 21, 24, 26 and 30-footers in the Jersey Skiff tradition. They also built many private boats including a 60-footer and charter boats for the famous Oyster Creek fleet, most notably some 40-foot walk-arounds that charter fished well into the late-90’s. Without question, Adams, known for a high standard of quality in every boat he built is a key figure in South Jersey boatbuilding history as many of the names who went on to build boats at one time or another worked with or for Adams.
Adam Price- Parkertown
Starting in 1926 from a shop on Route 9, Adam Price who was a bayman became a prolific builder of all types of boats including racing hydrofoils and garveys but he was especially focused on sportfishing boats. Many of the boats for the large early Beach Haven Yacht Club Charter fleet were built by Price. Most of these were 32 to 36 footers typical of the day.
One of these was noted Capt. Tom Jones’ “Miraamy” who along with his wife made the annual pilgrimage from the tuna grounds off Long Beach Island to West Palm Beach for sailfish season through the 1930’s up to the war – quite a journey for the time. Af some point around the great depression, Carl Adams came to Parkertown and helped Price layout larger boats which put Price in good position for after WWII.
A multi-talented builder Price also made his own patterns for hardware to have them cast per his specification as well as building his own fighting chairs. During WWII from the modest shop in Parkertown, Price ran three-eight hour shifts and produced over 700 boats for the war effort including landing craft used in the Normandy invasion and many other theaters of the war as well.
After the war Price built several 42-footers for himself which he called “Southwind”. By the time he retired from boat building at age 50, he was running charters from his boats out of the storied Beach Haven Yacht Club and chartered the winters in West Palm Beach. His last boat, the “Southwind V” was a culmination of many refinements specifically for sportfishing.
Troth Boatworks-Marmora
Just west of Ocean City the Troth Boat Works started by Clem Sr. and son Clem Jr. built 29 and 32′ fishing boats as well as many custom boats Including the Kontes brothers Prowler II, III, IV and Doc Lummis’ “Fishin’ Fool” that fished offshore from Cape May. Troth boats were fixtures at many Cape May and Atlantic county marinas.
With a meager start in Morgan, New Jersey during the Great Depression, Henry Luhrs began repairing boats for the Belford fishing boats and later, during WWII, Luhrs and his crew were repairing Coast Guard picket boats.
HIs first production boat was the start of Henry Luhrs Sea Skiff Company in 1945 with a 21-foot skiff that had 60-hp engine, shelter cabin and two-bunks. With steady growth of the company his sons, John and Warren grew into the business that expanded to a capacity of over 1200 boats a year. Against his families wishes, in 1962 he reluctantly sold the company to the Bangor Punta Corporation, a large timber company from Maine.
Soon after, son’s John and Warren purchased Silverton Sea Skiff’s a Tom’s River, NJ builder growing that company to a over a thousand boats a year production. In 1973, the brothers also founded Hunter Marine, building production sailboats and in 1978 founded Mainship Corporation a massive builder of coastal trawlers.
Jersey Yachts
In 1963, Fred and Etta McCarthy along with Gordon Keenan began Jersey Boat Works in a building at the Burlington County airport. Building wooden skiffs, in short order they outgrew the space and built a new factory on a 4 acre parcel and designed the building for the transition into building fiberglass boats. In 1966 they introduced a 31-footer available as a sedan or a sportfisherman. In 1966 they introduced the 40-foot Jersey, selling several hundred. In 1978, the McCarthy’s bought out Keenan and introduced a 48-footer. In 1981, Jersey introduced a new 36, then a 42 and then a 47-footer calling them the Jersey Dawn Series with new styling including a sweeping shear, flared bow and much less hard corners. Jersey built a good number of boats over the years and are found all up and down the coast still today. The McCarthy’s sold the company in 1988 and it quickly foundered under the new lack of leadership.
Viking Yachts-New Gretna
On the shores of the Bass River, where the Viking yard now stands was the farm and shipyard of John Mathis, a prolific builder in his day. Mathis started building boats near that land around 1729, building coastal schooners working the timber trade. 230-years later a young Bob Healey would come upon a 258-acre section of John Mathis’ land.
The New Jersey Parkway was being constructed and a large area of dredging occurred to use as road bed fill. This dredging created a circular harbor that Healey and his investment partners would develop into a marina once they recruited his brother Bill to oversee the construction.
By 1961 the marina was ready for tenants but they were hard to come by, so to make ends meet they became boat dealers. They sold Owens boats for a time but needed a Jersey boat to compete. The big builders of the day, Egg Harbor, Pacemaker and Luhrs did not want to disrupt their dealer networks so there were no opportunities.
Continuing the search, they found Carl Peterson, an upstart German builder in Egg Harbor who called his company Peterson Viking Yachts. He was building a typical sedan style boat of the day with competitive quality and could complete 10-12 boats a year – the Healey’s sold seven of Peterson’s boats two years in row. With boat slip rentals still slow, the boat sales helped greatly.
Unfortunately, Peterson Viking Yachts was failing, and a bank loan was called. Being in the right place at the right time, Bob Healey had spent a great deal of time at the Peterson shop and saw an opportunity. When their other partners did not want to be in the business, Bob and his brother Bill gave the marina to the partners and they took the land behind the marina and converted a winter storage facility into a boatbuilding facility. It was 1964 and they renamed the operation Viking Yacht Company. Though expanded several times over the years, that original building is still there today.
The early wood boats were 37-footers in Sedan and Sportfish configurations as well as a 44-foot Motoryacht with many standard features where other builders sold them as options. In 1971 they transition to fiberglass with a 33 foot Convertible. The next year they introduced a 40-footer that sold over 600 units.
Through the ’70’s and ’80’s Viking continued to develop new products that sold well, such as their 46 and 48 footers, continually gaining competitive ground on their competitors of the day, Hatteras and Bertram. The mid-nineties brought basically an entire new line of very successful boats with softer lines and a greater emphasis on fishing. The 2000’s have seen an incredible release of fresh, new, highly styled and engineered product absolutely driven by offshore fishing and purpose built for that enterprise.
Their focus on sportfishing, previously only found in custom boats has hurled the company forward to lead the industry and become the behemoth it is today. That sportfishing focus has been pushed by Bill’s son Patrick who has been and is leading the company forward with an aggressive demo and tournament schedule competing at the highest levels in the sport with a great deal of success. Patrick and his cousin Bob Jr. who runs the business side of the company much like his father, are now joined at the company by Patrick’s two sons, Sean and Justin.
An almost total vertical integration from the keel up, with interior customization, tuna tower and electronics divisions, a world-class Florida based service facility along with a strong global dealer network has set the course for the future. Viking Yachts are fished and cruised the world over and that is certainly a credit to their drive for quality, function and total customer satisfaction.
New Jersey may be the butt of “what exit?” jokes, but there is no denying the deep rooted history of boat building in the state and how it has impacted not only the country, but the world. With her inviting coastline, bountiful estuaries, bays and often cantankerous inlets the need for well-designed, solid built boats has driven builders over the years to create some of the most recognized and respected sea going boats on the water.
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8 thoughts on “ the boat builders of south jersey ”.
great article
Proud to have lived, fished and boated at the Jersey Shore most of my life. Great article!
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Thank you, many great builders throughout history in our area for sure. Many more that I just couldn’t include.
Great article. As Adam Prices granddaughter and John Mathis great-great-granddaughter.Charlene Mathis Liddy
Thank you. You must be kin to Verl & Ken. My father knew your grandfather very well. He fished out of Beach Haven Yacht Club also. Your grandfather was a very prolific builder, especially during the war effort.
Vearl and Ken Mathis are my parents.
Thank you for all the information here, all in one place. Always looking for any information on Ventnor Boats as I still own a 1948 Ventnor which has been in our family for 65 years, so far! I love all the wooden boats and always appreciate seeing these works of art restored to their original condition. Thomas Corcoran Muskegon, Michigan.
Thanks so much. I love the South Jersey boatbuilding history unfortunately I could only cover so many builders. Guess I need to do version 2. Would love to see a pic of your Ventnor Boat Works. Love it that you still have it in your family, that is an incredible feat in and of itself. Very special. Thanks again! Karl
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About Viking Yachts
Building a better boat every day is the mantra of the viking yacht company.
Viking prides itself on its renowned manufacturing capabilities. From the initial design to the finished product, Viking’s highly-regarded reputation is rooted in the company’s commitment to produce 90 percent of the boat in house.
Except for components such as engines, transmissions, pumps, hoses, air conditioning units, electronics and entertainment systems, virtually everything else is produced in house by our talented workforce.
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