Alec Brainerd

Boatbuilder, Artisan Boatworks

Alec Brainerd A Maine native, Alec Brainerd began his boating career painting bottoms at Seal Cove Boatyard in Harborside, Maine, varnishing oars at Shaw & Tenney in Orono, and crewing aboard the 112’ Schooner Roseway.

Throughout the 1990’s Alec crewed on many yacht deliveries between New England and the West Indies, spent two years aboard the 94’ William Fife ketch Sumurun racing and chartering in New England and the Mediterranean, and sailed aboard the 82’ cold-molded yawl Zanna through the South Pacific, to New Zealand. In Auckland he worked on the refit of a 100’ wooden ketch, Aile Blanche, built by Camper and Nicholson in 1939.

In 2000 Alec returned to Maine to replace the deck on the 83’ Macintosh schooner Appledore III, and remained aboard as captain for three years. He then worked for Taylor Allen and John England at Rockport Marine building the W-76 cold-molded racing yacht White Wings designed by Joel White, and the 76’ topsail schooner Lynx, a traditional replica of an 1812 privateer.

Following five years with Rockport Marine, Alec helped Nigel (Twig) Bower build the 53’ John Alden schooner Heron, and Dave Corcoran of Bull House Boatworks build a 26’ Chuck Paine daysailer. In 2002 Alec founded Artisan Boatworks, and a purpose-built shop was constructed on Main Street in Rockport. Since then the business has grown steadily—building, restoring, and maintaining wooden boats.

Alec lives in Rockport with his wife, Erin, and two young daughters.

Videos

Title
How to Make a Herreshoff Tiller, with Alec Brainerd: The tiller is the conduit for a sailor’s intentions and a boat’s response; delicacy is an asset....
Brilliant Small Sailboat Designs – Herreshoff 12.5, Beetle Cat, Buzzards Bay 15 & More: Whether or not you’re in the market for a small sailboat, you’ll love the chance to scan the classic small sailboat...

 

Guide Posts

Title
Good Reads: A Recommendation by Alec Brainerd: OffCenterHarbor.com asked our guides to share their favorite books that should be in every boater’s library… I am ad...
Learning From Experience: My Biggest Disaster and What It Taught Me, by Alec Brainerd: A few winters ago we received a call from a gentleman in Palm Beach, Florida who wanted a new Watch Hill 15 built, to sa...
The Three Boats I Lust After (and Why) – Buzzards Bay 18, Dark Harbor 12 & Belfast Lough One Design: There are designs that simply cannot be improved upon.  The Herreshoff 12 ½, the Herreshoff Fish Class, the Buzzards B...