Holding Our Course.

 

CW Hood Yachts is comprised of a dedicated core of craftsmen and women who have an eye for tradition and the know-how to get the job done right. Whether starting a new build or restoring an old classic, we approach every challenge with a wealth of experience and a commitment to quality service. That's how it's always been, and that's how it will always be.

 

The Hood Legacy

Few names in our maritime history garner such respect and admiration as the renowned Hood lineage. From a revolution in sailmaking to a revolutionary jet boat, the Hood name has become synonymous with innovative advancements in the boating industry.

For CW Hood's own Chris Hood, a career in boatbuilding started as early as the age of twelve, when he was enlisted to help restore his family's sailboat. Before long, he found himself launching a design of his own, a little tender known as the Ocean 1. Incredibly simple by design, this little boat was packed with cutting edge features (injection-molded construction, self-bailing cockpit, and a roller-reefing rig) that even much larger boats had yet to develop.

 

Initially based out of Ted Hood's (uncle to Chris Hood) Little Harbor marine complex, Chris Hood started CW Hood Yachts with the help of lifelong friend and fellow boatbuilder Chris Stirling. The small operation worked hard to fuel growth by tackling challenging projects in engineering and composite construction.

 

Momentum gathered, and by the mid-1990s CW Hood Yachts hit high gear, launching such products as the redesigned Wasque 26, which brought together traditional yacht quality with advanced composite manufacturing. At the same time, the company was awarded the honor of being the sole US builder for the International One Design (IOD) class. Hood moved into a larger facility nearby, and eventually set up shop in his hometown of Marblehead, MA, where operations continue to this day.

 

Following the move, the powerboat lineup expanded to include 30- and 32-foot models, both based on renowned Jarvis Newman Downeast hulls. Eventually, CW Hood moved to acquire the entire Jarvis Newman company in an effort to keep alive an icon of the Maine boatbuilding industry. All of the original Newman models, ranging in size from 30 to 46 feet, are now offered on a build-to-order basis through CW Hood.

 

With the advent of the 21st century come the next generation of Hood innovations, like the award-winnding CW Hood 43, the remarkably spacious Hood 50 motoryacht and now the Katama 30 with a Volvo Diesel inboard outboard propeller drive.

 

For the crew at CW Hood Yachts, no matter where the future takes them, they will never let go of their past and their shared belief that every customer and every new boat launched become part of something very special: a little bit of the Hood legacy.

 

Meet Our Crew

 

		Chris Hood, founder of CW Hood Yachts, oversees all aspects of the business. Chris lives in Marblehead with his wife Nancy and 3 kids, who can sometimes be spotted on a quick trip through the shop on their way to school. Chris enjoys sketching new ideas in the design office and hopes to have more time to spend on the water with his family when the weather is warm.				Chris Stirling A lifelong friend to Chris Hood, Chris Stirling manages all new boat construction, refit and repair projects, and all other boatyard operations. He enjoys spending time outdoors and weekending in Maine.
		Kimberlee McDonald handles office operations and listing updates. She also helps with different aspects of customer service and service boat storage logistics. Kimberlee is a Notary Public has been a part of our team since 2007. Kimberlee likes going to the beach locally and traveling internationally.				Joe Parker Joe is our lead broker. He manages all aspects of our brokerage boats, as well as helping customers list their boats with us. Joe loves spending time with his family and cruising the coast of Maine.
		Eleanor Lawson An avid sailor and RYA Yachtmaster, Eleanor has become our CW Hood 32 expert and heads up our website, marketing and social media. Eleanor has sailed Transatlantic to Ireland and coaches a high school sailing team in Rhode Island.				Ian McGregor, our accounting guy, grew up in a seaside town near the border between England and Scotland close to five 1,000 year-old castles. He is a freelance CPA and has 25 years of industry experience. He enjoys soccer and "real" tea from the UK.
		Matt Barner is a graduate of the Landing School and works with us as a finish carpenter and brightwork technician. Interested in boats since the age of 4, Matt's shrinkwrapping abilities have been proven to withstand hurricane winds. When not at work, Matt likes skiing, boating, and camping.				Mechanic Desmond Binger joins us from the Caribbean islands. He enjoys cooking, martial arts, and coaching his sons' soccer and baseball teams.
		Rick Baker is a fiberglass and refinishing expert. As a kid, RB would ride his bike to his grandfather's autobody shop to learn about mechanics, and later worked on boats with father. He has been with us at CW Hood for over 10 years. In his spare time, RB enjoys fishing with his daughers. On Fridays, RB takes over the yard radio to play classic rock.				Dave Robison, designer, has worked for nearly 20 years with various designers and boatbuilders in Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. When not on the water with his family in Marblehead, Dave likes to ski.
		Will Parker, mechanic and Marblehead native, has a passion for the marine industry founded in a lifetime around boats. Graduate of the Landing School's marine systems program, Will studied small vessel operations at Maine Maritime and holds a USCG 100 Ton Captain's License. When not working on boats, Will enjoys fixing up trucks.				Kelvis De Jesus works in fiberglass and painting. Kelvis is from the Dominican Republic and likes taking his daughter to the beach. His favorite projects are new builds because you get to learn a lot, work as a team, and the finished product is so impressive.
		Chris Callahan, woodworking and varnish extraordinaire, grew up summering in Rockport, MA. Chris joins us in Marblehead after studying wooden boat restoration at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, RI. Chris is currently teaching himself to cook.				Amy Hyam is a long time Marblehead boater and helps us with detailing, decommissioning, and commissioning. Amy enjoys watercolor painting and flying upside down.
		Kiwi-turned-Marbleheader Vern Urlich has joined Joe in our yacht brokerage. An avid racer in New Zealand, Australia and at the Boston Yacht Club, Vern can be found skiing in the mountains of Maine and New Hampshire during the winter with his wife, Dorothy and their two children, Ty and Taylor.				Having driven everything from a forestry skidder to an 18-wheeler, mechanical engineer Scott Webber is comfortable enough around engines to think outside the box – a necessity for problem solving in the marine environment. Scott likes to come up with new ways to make the shop and company run more efficiently and economically. When not at the shop, Scott can be found coaching his kids’ lacrosse and soccer teams.
		Marbleheader Dirk Martin helps us shrinkwrap boats for the winter. He and Chris Hood have been friends forever and are the godfathers of each other's children.
		Bosun is the new guard dog at the Brokerage and Design Office. He enjoys sleeping, chewing on his leash, and frolicking in the snow.				Shep the boatyard dog joined the yard in the fall of 2010. Shep specializes in sleeping 20 hours a day and following Chris Stirling everywhere he goes.