Hinckley continues to expand its service network

SOUTHWEST HARBOR, Maine – Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard, Vineyard Haven, Mass., has signed an agreement to become a Hinckley Authorized Service Center, The Hinckley Co. reported in a recent statement.

Hinckley said it has been steadily expanding its network of boatyards and service centers during recent years to better serve the growing number of the company’s Talaria jet boats, including its Picnic Boat.

“Hinckley is committed to providing the highest level of service to our customers and one of the ways we are meeting that commitment is by establishing service centers in areas where there is significant traffic of our boats,” said Gerry Dischino, president of Hinckley Yacht Services. “Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard has an excellent reputation among yachtsmen for service and repair, is strategically located and has very strong management. All we plan to do is give the yard in-depth training on how to repair and maintain Hinckley yachts.”

Established in 1856, Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard is the island’s only full-service, year-round boatyard, according Philip P. Hale, president and owner since 1986. The yard has 80 feet of frontage with access to Vineyard Sound, deep water at its dock and a 29,000 square foot building used for a marine supply store, repairs, maintenance and winter storage of sail and powerboats up to 20 tons and 45 feet in length. In addition, the yard has a seasonal retail store and service operation in Edgartown.

“We are very pleased to be working with Hinckley,” Hale noted. “Although we already have a number of Hinckley yachts in our storage fleet, this additional training and support will give us the special expertise we need to meet the service needs of every Hinckley owner – especially jet boat owners.

Training in “jet” technology planned

All three mechanics from Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard will be given extensive training at Hinckley’s Southwest Harbor boatyard in Hamilton water jets, the JetStick handling system pioneered by Hinckley and all other aspects of maintaining the boats, Hinckley reported.

The technicians were previously factory-trained and certified in maintenance and repair of the Yanmar engines that power the yachts.

Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard offers complete repairs on engines, rigging, sails and plumbing, electrical and refrigeration systems. In addition, the yard does fiberglass repair, woodworking and is known for its expert refinishing with conventional marine paints and varnishes, as well as Awlgrip, according to Hinckley. The company employs just under 20 people year-round and hires up to 10 additional employees during the summer.

The Hinckley Co., which is headquartered in Southwest Harbor, Maine, was founded in 1928 and is considered to be one of the oldest yacht builders in the U.S. The company has full-service yards in Southwest Harbor, Maine; Portsmouth, R.I.; Oxford, Md.; Savannah, Ga.; and Stuart, Fla., as well as a
Hinckley Authorized Service Center in the Great Lakes. In addition, the company provides yacht refit, maintenance, repair and storage services for boats up to 150 feet in length and 180 tons and operates a yacht brokerage, charter service and retail business.

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