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Jim MacLeod
of Arrowsic, ME
Jul 11, 2008 2:27 PM
I agree with Nan regarding Ragar's comment. Show many a working shipyard that isn't dirty. I just visited Washburn & Doughty a few weeks ago and found it to be very well run. The two owners built the business from the ground up through hard work and determination providing a quality product to their customers and a lot of jobs which are increasingly scarce. Perhaps ragar should get a job where he doesn't get dirty. maybe at DHHS like the rest of the dead beats!report abuseCybaViewa
of Boothbay, ME
In W&D's defense, however, the building was currently undergoing significant renovations to make do until new facilities could be built or purchased. W&D have been actively exploring alternative building options for some time. The business will recover, no doubt, but it'll be a long process. For the time being, we can be glad nobody was seriously injured, thankful to the responders, and now turn our thoughts to those who will be out of work.report abuse
Jul 11, 2008 2:24 PM
Axe or no axe, Ragar is right. My best friend was an employee at W&D for over 10 years and has told me of several times during his employment when he had helped extinguish smaller fires (old wood + welding sparks = POOF!). We always half-joked that one of these days the whole place would be gone in a flash. Well...
In W&D's defense, however, the building was currently undergoing significant renovations to make do until new facilities could be built or purchased. W&D have been actively exploring alternative building options for some time. The business will recover, no doubt, but it'll be a long process. For the time being, we can be glad nobody was seriously injured, thankful to the responders, and now turn our thoughts to those who will be out of work.report abuse
Chris
of Harpswell, ME
Bruce Doughty had spent about a year aggressively pursuing additional sites for a new shipyard so he could replace the building in East Boothbay, but nothing worked out. WCSH6 reported the town center of East Boothbay was being evacuated, although it appeared Hodgdon's Yachts wasn't affected. One tugboat already launched was saved.report abuse
Jul 11, 2008 12:37 PM
WCSH6.com has photo's online. I believe the old wooden building was nearly 50 feet tall, and flames possibly could have reached double that. It was a famous old shipyard building originally used to build wooden ships.
Bruce Doughty had spent about a year aggressively pursuing additional sites for a new shipyard so he could replace the building in East Boothbay, but nothing worked out. WCSH6 reported the town center of East Boothbay was being evacuated, although it appeared Hodgdon's Yachts wasn't affected. One tugboat already launched was saved.report abuse
Nan
of Anytown, ME
This is indeed a tregedy -- the yard had such promise with its expansion and now this. I heard from someone there that the fire was under control by around noontime.
My thoughts are also with the yard workers and their loved ones... such a shame.report abuse
Jul 11, 2008 12:31 PM
Ragar... Got an axe to grind against your former employer? Got news for you -- boat yards are by their nature places where hazardous materials are used. And many of them are big old wooden buildings because they've been around for years, keeping local people employed with good jobs. Except you of course, but I'm sure there's a reason for that.
This is indeed a tregedy -- the yard had such promise with its expansion and now this. I heard from someone there that the fire was under control by around noontime.
My thoughts are also with the yard workers and their loved ones... such a shame.report abuse
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