New building beefs up Eastern Boat production

Several larger cruisers inside Eastern Boat\'s newly acquired building inside the Milton Industrial Park await their last bit of rigging prior to shipment to dealers all over the country. (Harrison Thorp photos)

MILTON - Eastern Boats, a fixture in Milton for more than 20 years, expanded its manufacturing footprint in the Milton Industrial Park earlier this month, moving its administrative and rigging departments into the former Globaltek building adjacent to Eastern's current complex within the park.

Jake Bourdeau, the son of owner Bob Bourdeau, told The Lebanon Voice that the expansion increases by one-third the square footage of manufacturing space the renowned boat maker enjoys.

Eastern Boats has been producing boats for more than 30 years, beginning with a single 18-foot model then slowly, but steadily broadening its stock to include about a dozen different boats, ranging in length from small fishing runabouts to 35-foot cruisers, some with flying bridges.

The new acquisition adds about 22,000 square feet to the 30,000 Eastern Boat already owned in its other three buildings.

Madison Peterson of Milton works on one of the boats on the Eastern production line at their newest building in the Milton Industrial Park.

The newly acquired building houses administrative offices as well as lamination and rigging areas, new model development, a stockroom and special projects, said Jake Bourdeau, who works in sales.

Eastern Boats, known for their clean, crisp Downeast lines and sturdy construction, developed a solid customer base using direct sales, but recently has developed a nationwide dealer network.

Jake Bourdeau said Eastern has dealers all over the East Coast as well as Seattle, Wash., and Long Beach, Calif., among others. He said a new area of growth is expected in the Great Lakes region.

Besides their own signature brand, the Eastern acquired the Seaway brand in 2009 and Rosborough in 2012.

Workers prepare Eastern Boats in the company's rigging department inside their newest building, which formerly housed Globaltek.

All told the Milton facility puts out about 120 boats a year, ranging in price from $27,000-$350,000 and employs some 45 people, most from Milton and nearby towns.

Eastern will be one of many vendors at the New England Boat Show slated for Feb. 14-22 in Boston.

To find out more about Eastern Boat, click here.