The Bancroft 24 at Portland Yacht Services, Geting its Bottom Painted in Preparation for its Launching Next Week. Dan Hassett, of Falmouth, and a Graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, is the Boat’s Captain. The Bancroft is 66 ft. long and 24 ft beam.
The Mega Yacht Columbia is Docked at Portland Yacht Services – Probably for the Summer and Possibly Beyond. She is 141 ft long with a beam of 25 feet and is Gaff Rigged.
Captain Dan Hassett (l) with Crew Member Tommy Bancroft in Front of the Bancroft 24 at Portland Yacht Services Recently.
With the recent establishment of a Marine Division, Bancroft Contracting Corporation has significantly expanded its portfolio in the Portland area said Captain Dan Hassett. Earlier this week, he graciously took time to describe the expansion of Bancroft while overseeing the painting of the bottom of the Bancroft 24 of which he is the Captain. It was hauled ouf of the Harbor recently for its annual Coast Guard inspection and its routine maintenance at Portland Yacht Services.
Two years ago, David Winslow, of Winslow Marine passed away according to Mark Morrissey, Project Manager for the new Marine Division and a former employee of Winslow Marine. Since his death and the sale of the company’s assets, Winslow has gone out of business. The family-owned and managed Bancroft purchased the Marine Division of the almost 35 year old company.
David was the son of Winslow’s founder, Eliot. Eliot who died in 2006 had been in the US Coast Guard and the US Navy before starting Winslow Marine.
Bancroft is currently repairing the docks and piers around Ocean Gateway that experienced some damage from recent storms as well as wear and tear from a busy waterfront terminal. The Marine Division has also done repair work on the Great Diamond Island docks and Chebeague Island docks. Towing barges are a primary function of Bancroft’s new Division.
“We are small and getting bigger all the time,” said Mark Morrissey, Project Manager for the fledgeling Marine Division that currently employes ten people. He was formerly with the US Coast Guard.
On the other end of Portland Yacht Services and in the water is the mega yacht Columbia. She is the stunning replica of the original 1923 Gloucester fishing schooner. Updates were made from the original – adding an engine room, four state rooms and accommodations for six crew members in the forward section of the yacht. Her hull is made of steel rather than the traditional wood hull. The Columbia was built in 2014 for Brian D’lsernia, Founder of the Florida based Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc.. The company builds ships for the military including the US Coast Guard. Late last year Civil Seas, a California company, purchased her. Two years ago Mr. D’lsernia retired. His son Joey was appointed CEO and Chairman of the Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. In the meantime, you can charter her. Or if you can come up with really, really big bucks, you can purchase her.
Portland Yacht Services, owned by the wealthy Phineas Sprague, Jr., of Cape Elizabeth, was previously located on the almost ten acres of waterfront property on the east end of Portland – at the base of Munjoy Hill. For years, it was the site of the popular annual boat show and the annual flower show. Years ago Sprague sold the property to Casey Prentice of Prentice Hospitality to develop into a high end community – Portland Foreside.. The award winning restaurant, TWELVE, is part of that development as well as the anchor building Sun Life. Original plans called for a hotel and condominiums on the property.
For background information on TWELVE, please visit post herein dated September 19, 2022.