In the world of high-end yacht manufacturing, there is a lot of hyperbole thrown around. Here at Lyman-Morse, we’ve always let our work speak for itself. There’s a reason why world-renowned yacht designers like C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, Sparkman & Stephens, and Stephens Warring Yacht Design have praised our boats as being some of the finest afloat. It’s not because of a bunch of marketing speak full of phrases like “the best” or “the finest.” It’s because we hire the best people, use the best materials and construction techniques, and hold ourselves to a standard of uncompromising excellence that has been a guiding light in the custom yacht building industry for more than four decades.
One of the people who has helped us steer our course toward excellence is Lance Buchannan, the manager of our boatbuilding department and a key part of our team for the last 20 years. So, what sets Lyman-Morse apart? “It’s our ability to do whatever the design requires at a very high level,” Lance said. “Whether that’s working in infused vinylester and fiberglass or composites and carbon-fiber, a classically styled boat or something extremely high-tech, we can execute that work at a very high level of quality, no matter what.”
This principle—do what it takes and do it to the highest standard possible—has permeated into everything that Lyman-Morse touches. And it’s this approach that has led us to not only be a leader in custom yacht production, but really, a leader in everything that comes our way. “We do a lot of cold-molded wooden construction, which is very popular now, particularly here in Maine with the Spirit of Tradition class boats,” Lance said. “Then we’re also doing the aluminum work boats spearhead by our Fabrication Division, and then there are projects like the Navier, which is a long-range electric foiling boat, really cutting-edge in design and execution.”
For some, this type of diversification in projects and clientele may recall the phrase “jack of all trades, master of none.” However, with Lyman-Morse, this is far from the case. From the integration of cutting-edge technology to the foundation of tried-and-true boatbuilding techniques that stretch back decades, we successfully embrace our heritage while adapting to the times—a balancing act that sounds easier to achieve than it is.
“We bring the higher levels of CNC integration to the build process, especially into custom boat building,” Lance said. “We cut metal parts, core parts, wood parts, and build a lot of the mold frames internally, all stuff that would’ve been done manually before. I think it is unique to use that high-level of technology within the boatbuilding world.”
But at the end of the day, it isn’t the latest technology, a storied history, or a stellar reputation that drives the folks here at Lyman-Morse. It’s working with clients and customers to make their on-the-water dreams come true.
“We really pride ourselves on working with a client to develop a boat that fits their needs,” Lance said. “I think there was a perception for a while that we were in only the highest-end, rarified air, and maybe cost prohibitive to some people. But we really focus on collaborating with a client to build the boat that they’re dreaming about, and working with them on price, components, and design to ensure that they leave happy, and want to come back again.”