MLA Business Member Spotlight: Yankee Marina and Boat Yard

Yankee Marina and Boatyard in Yarmouth was founded by Ralph Stevens. As a young man Stevens worked as plant manager in his father’s sardine company, the Royal River Packing Corp, on the west bank of the Royal River. Ralph continued to work at the plant after it sold in 1956 to Stinson and Zwecker and bought the adjacent land in 1964 with the vision of a marina and boatyard. He built Yankee Marina working nights and weekends while he continued to run the sardine factory. He started small but slowly and steadily built up the business until there were slips for 100 vessels and winter storage space for 200+. Additional boat services were added over the years as the company expanded.

Yankee Marina and Boatyard employees by the river. YM&B photo.

“Dad loved people,” his daughter and company president Deborah Delp explained. “He was a fair man, he looked out for the local people, as well as his crew.”

Yankee Marina and Boat Yard became a MLA business member, according to Delp, “because we totally support the lobstermen. We try to help where it’s needed, and lobstermen are having a hard time because of the new regulations.”

The company offers a wide variety of services, from heated storage and marina services to fiberglass repair, mechanical system overhauls and marine electronics. It is the state’s sole dealer for Tidewater center console outboards and a Seakeeper authorized service center.

Yankee Marina is a busy place throughout the year. In an area of the coast where finding access to the water is difficult, Delp makes sure that local people have a spot for their boats at a reasonable price. A few slips are set aside so that local contractors working on nearby Hope Island, for instance, can travel to and from the island each day. “Dad would appreciate that,” she laughed.

Delp’s two brothers work in the business with her. Many of the employees have been with the company for decades. “I think it has to be about people. We put a lot of time into our customers and into our employees. I believe, that at the end of the day, the true richness of life comes from our relationships,” Delp said.

Yankee Marina and Boatyard

142 Lafayette St.

Yarmouth, ME 04096

207-846-4326

https://www.yankeemarina.com