photo by Joy Okazaki

The CYC Monday Lunch group on June 22 got a tour of the manufacturing facility in Kent where Kvichak Marine Industries is building 45-foot "Medium Response Boats" for the U.S. Coast Guard. Leading the tour, in the yellow shirt is Jonathan Spalding, Kvichak's RB-M Production Manager. CYC Member Keith Whittemore is president of the company and started it with partners Jim Meckley and Brian Thomas (both active sailors) in his garage 30 years ago. Since then Kvichak has built all manner of aluminum boats, ranging from gill-netters to high-speed passenger ferries. The company, in partnership with Marinette Marine of Wisconsin, won the $600 million contract for the Coast Guard boats in 2006 and developed the Kent facility to build them. So far, nine of the 180 on order (with an option for 250) have been delivered.