Brownell Boat Works founder dies

MATTAPOISETT, Mass. — David “Freddie” Brownell — founder and president of Brownell Boat Works and numerous other marine businesses that bear his name — died last week after a long illness, according to SouthCoastToday.com. He was 80.

Born in Mattapoisett, Mass., where he remained a lifelong resident, Brownell attended Fairhaven High School, where he cut his commute time by adding a motor to his bicycle, the paper reports.

Brownell’s other businesses included Brownell Boat Stands, Brownell Boat trailers and Brownell Systems. Through these ventures, he sold products he had developed himself, including a hydraulic trailer and adjustable boat stands that have become the industry standard.

“The shop was a mile and a half from the water,” friend Ron Lima told the paper. “I watched him build the first trailer and I drove it for 10 years.”

To read more about Brownell’s life, click here.

• For more of the latest news, click here.