Texan starts new Canadian yacht building company
RICHMOND, British Columbia – Texas businessman Don Davis has purchased the Canadian manufacturing facility that once housed Sovereign Yachts, and has started building boats there under the name Richmond Yachts, according to a recent press release from the company.
Richmond Yacht’s six-acre yard in Richmond, B.C., contains a 70,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility under cover and has the capacity to simultaneously build four composite yachts from 120-feet to 155-feet in length.
Sovereign Yachts, Canada, ceased operations in September 2003, but Davis funded the completion of his138-foot tri-deck yacht Status Quo, then purchased the yard’s infrastructure, leased the space, retained a 50-person workforce and in April 2004 commenced operations as Richmond Yachts.
He immediately resumed construction of a 142-foot hull, started by Sovereign, that is scheduled to launch December 2005. A lifelong yachtsman who has owned several yachts, Davis said he plans to begin building each yacht on speculation.
As Richmond Yacht’s president and CEO, Davis is the majority owner of the yard and has assembled a group of experienced professionals to manage the operations.
Keith Kiselback, vice president of operations, spent four years in that position at Crescent Custom Yachts before coming to Sovereign seven years ago. He and Davis work together on the design and detail of every yacht.
Gavin Ericksen will be responsible for the naval architecture. Ericksen spent three years in charge of the design department at Crescent Custom Yachts.
Richard Boisvert, chief financial officer, has a banking background and extensive boating experience cruising the East Coast and Caribbean.
Warren Hutson will be Richmond’s engineer for all projects. Hutson has designed and controlled construction of numerous high tech manufacturing facilities.
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