Haven Boatworks: Restoration, Repair, and Haul-out

The Port of Port Townsend's 300-ton Travelift defines the practical limits of haul-outs at Haven Boatworks, allowing the yard to handle everything from small runabouts to substantial commercial hulls for scheduled maintenance and emergency repairs.

Operational footprint and logistics

Haven Boatworks occupies a marine-industrial footprint in Port Townsend, Washington, with direct access to sheltered harbors and nearby marinas. That Travelift capacity is more than a number: it dictates how charter fleets, private owners, and shipwrights plan maintenance windows, transport logistics, and parts deliveries. Haul-out slots typically book weeks in advance during peak summer months, so captains and charter operators coordinate slip reservations and parts procurement early to avoid downtime.

How capacity affects charters and rentals

For companies running a fleet of charter yachts or rental boats, the yard’s lifting capability impacts availability. A superyacht or a larger motor yacht needing routine prop work or a fresh coat of antifouling must fit within the Travelift limit; otherwise, arrangements are made with adjacent facilities. In practice, this means scheduling refits around local racing seasons, fishing seasons, and tourist peaks — logistics that touch every part of boating operations from captain staffing to customer itineraries.

Core services offered

Haven Boatworks provides a broad slate of marine services spanning restoration, maintenance, and new construction. Work is performed on both commercial and pleasure craft, covering wooden classic boats to fiberglass motor yachts.

• Wooden boat restoration and custom carpentry
• Bottom maintenance, antifouling, and hull painting
• Diesel engine repair, parts supply, and service
• New construction projects and structural refits
• Electrical, plumbing, and systems upgrades
• Rigging inspection and replacement for sailboats

Service table: quick reference

Specialty: wooden boat expertise

Wooden boats are the yard’s specialty. Experienced craftsmen perform plank replacement, frames repair, and varnish work that aims to restore both structural integrity and the boat’s aesthetic soul. As any long-time sailor will tell you, a wooden hull that’s loved back to health can be fit as a fiddle—and that’s the kind of phrase you hear around the slips when a refit goes well.

Materials and techniques

The shop stocks traditional timbers and modern composites where appropriate, blending historic methods with updated fastenings and epoxies. This hybrid approach preserves character while meeting modern safety and regulatory expectations for commercial operation or charter service.

Meet the crew

The workforce at Haven Boatworks blends shipwrights, mechanics, painters, and systems technicians. Roles are often cross-functional: a shipwright might shift from structural repairs to helm console restoration in the same week, depending on the workload.

Typical crew roles

• Lead shipwright — oversees wooden construction and restoration
• Mechanical technician — diesel and propulsion systems
• Composite specialist — fiberglass and laminate repairs
• Painter/finisher — topside and varnish work

Notable projects

Past projects showcase the yard’s range. Selected refits include:

• Henrietta Foss — structural plank and paint restoration on a classic working boat.
• Adventuress — conservation and systems upgrade to support public sail programs and educational charters.
• Mardo — engine refit and bottom work to return the vessel to charter service.

Project highlights and implications

Each project demonstrates a typical flow: assessment, parts ordering, haul-out, repair, systems testing, and relaunch. For charter operators, that sequence is a playbook — minimize yard time, maximize sea days. For private owners, it's a patience exercise and a careful balancing of budget and heritage.

Practical advice for boat owners and charter operators

Plan early, especially for summer refits. Verify haul-out constraints against your vessel’s specs, arrange for parts to arrive ahead of time, and coordinate crew availability. If renting a yacht or planning a charter, ask whether the vessel has recent hull and engine service records; those can make or break a safe, enjoyable trip.

To wrap up: Haven Boatworks leverages a 300-ton Travelift, skilled shipwrights, and a full-service workshop to support wooden-boat restorations, diesel work, painting, and new construction. Whether you're managing a yacht for charter, planning a sale, or running a rental fleet, the yard’s capabilities influence scheduling, cost, and readiness for the water. In short, the facility is a solid resource for owners seeking reliable boat, yacht, and superyacht maintenance—helpful whether you're cruising the sea, exploring a lake or gulf, planning a fishing trip, or renting a vessel for sun-soaked days on the ocean.