For more than six decades, Merri-Mar Yacht Basin has specialized in providing quality service for boats of all makes and sizes. Whether you need a major refit or engine repower, fiberglass repair or bottom painting, or problem-solving to figure out that tricky electrical hiccup, we will work with you to customize a work plan based on your boat’s unique needs, communicating cost expectations along the way. We are also known for the fabrication of various materials and have been manufacturing custom parts for boat owners and the marine industry for decades. Our talented team of craftspeople and factory-trained technicians are there for you year-round. Please check with our Main Office for current pricing.
MMYB has a long tradition of wooden boat building, restoration, and maintenance. Unlike traditional carpentry, marine carpentry needs to consider often extreme conditions, corrosive environments, and unforgiving structural strain. Today, besides wood, modern materials (various types of fiberglass, resins, epoxies, etc.) are able to withstand the conditions better and are much more resilient to salt water, motion, and pressure. From structural boat repairs to finer interior finish work, our team of professional craftspeople are continuously expanding their repertoires of modern materials and evolving techniques to best address your boat’s unique needs.
Since our beginnings, our founders Ruthann and Wally, planted the seeds of creativity and innovation, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking combined with a “can do” attitude. That philosophy is evident in our daily work, designing and building our work boats & yard equipment to maximize resources and efficiencies. When presented with an “issue”, be it a fuel leak, steering issue, etc., we work with the owner to dig deep into the “why”, which often turns into a “why not”. We are known for making manufacturer improvements and custom upgrades, are not believers in band-aid solutions, and will always have the boat and boat owner’s budget and long-term interests in mind.
Boats of all ages and sizes are equipped with electronics and electrical systems of varying complexity. Even the smallest of electrical mishaps knock out your nav lights, present safety issues, shut down your engine, or worse. Let our team approach and years of experience troubleshooting electrical challenges get you the answers you need to be paddling with the current.
When asked what sets MMYB apart from others in the marine service industry it would have to be FABRICATION. We work in stainless steel, steel, bronze, aluminum, fiberglass and wood, and take pride in working closely with our customers to make those creative solutions tangible, functional, and beautiful. We are most known for fabricating custom mounts, and fishing accessories, and can create just about anything from scratch. We also can replicate those discontinued antique parts and hard-to-find doohickies! Precision, quality, durability, and affordability are important elements of each of our fabrication projects. Just ask and we’ll make it.
There is nothing more beautiful than newly varnished brightwork or a fresh gel coat to brighten the spirits of a tired vessel. Whether we are pressure washing & bottom painting, epoxy coating, or detailing with fine brushwork, our team’s meticulous preparation and obsessive eye on a flawless finish is both restorative and transformational.
As authorized service dealers for top engine manufacturers like, but not limited to, Cummins, Yanmar, Mercruiser, and Volvo Penta, our professional, factory-trained technicians take pride in their ability to install, diagnose, repair, and often repower a wide variety of propulsion systems. We partner with recreational and commercial boat owners on everything from scheduled maintenance to complete Tier-compliant engine upgrades. All of our work is proudly done in-house, ensuring that our high standards of quality control and service are delivered to you, our customers.
Let’s face it, "stuff" happens on boats…all the time. We specialize in bumps n dings, engine hiccups, wacky steering surprises, and the oh-so-popular post-tow troubleshooting session. Nothing surprises us here at MMYB. Sometimes we make the repair ourselves other times we coach you through the "how to’s" of tackling it yourself. In any case, we are here for you!
Stepping and un-stepping masts, bending on sails, and rerigging for single-handed sailing are all a part of the fabric of MMYB. Our professional team has logged in thousands of nautical miles sailing around the world, thus knowing the subtleties of what it takes to rig right. In addition, we partner with globally known Doyle Sailmakers on a number of canvas-related activities including cleaning, repairs, and custom design. MMYB also serves as a central distribution point for their business in points North, primarily Maine. This relationship minimizes excessive shipping costs, maximizes scheduling and fuel efficiency, passing quality and savings to the customer.
We have 35 slips and 35 moorings, with low turnover and a waitlist. When you secure a space on our waterfront you join the MMYB family! Most of the family have been here for decades, and stay with us year-round, storing their boat for the winter, winterizing, scheduling off-season service, readying for spring commissioning, etc. We splash in May and haul in October!
Travelift
Grove Crane
Marine Hauler
Here in New England, we treasure our short boating season. The realities of the harsh winter seem to blow in far too quickly, and the time between the Spring splash and the Fall haul is here and gone before you know it.
At MMYB we tackle our seasons with gusto and view both winterization and spring commissioning as excellent opportunities to provide essential preventative maintenance and, if necessary, maximize downtime in the off-season to address key punch list items on your boat’s to-do list. Not only does professional preventative maintenance extend the life of your boat, but it is an attractive asset to a prospective buyer if you decide to sell. Whether you want to handle some but not all of the winterization and spring commissioning to-do’s, store your boat with us, or take it elsewhere, we work with you to decide who will be doing what.
Complete boat Winterization can include hauling out, pressure washing, a full engine service (inboard/outboard/gen-set), fuel stabilization, battery treatment &/or storage, AC/water/head systems, fluids & lubes, sail and canvas repair & cleaning, un-stepping masts &/or storage, liferaft recertification, and more.
All hands on deck when it comes to shrink wrapping and winterizing your boat. As soon as your boat is hauled it goes into the queue for service. Each boat is custom framed and wrapped, employing moisture-preventative measures as needed, protecting your boat through the blustery New England winter. MMYB encourages investing in custom covers and embraces eco-friendly practices, and proper disposal of wrap plastic, framing, and strapping.
We are there for you when you most need us, and offer 24 hour emergency hauling.
MMYB is one of a few marinas with a 50-ton Travelift available year-round in southern New England. It is the only year-round marina on the Merrimack River and surrounding coastal communities, that can respond to an emergency 24/7, 365 days a week. MMYB often works with USCG Stations from Portland ME to Boston MA, Harbor Masters from the Merrimack River, the Gulf of ME, Cape Ann, and Massachusetts Bay, Boat US, and Sea Tow, assisting with break-away docks & boats, and sinkings/salvages, etc.
