For Immediate Release
Dec. 15, 2009
For More Information Contact:
Carolyn Casey, Port of Bellingham 360-676-2500
Steve Nordtvedt, Norstar Boats 360-223-2399
Norstar Boats Brings Nordtvedt Family Back to
Former Uniflite Site
Custom Yacht Manufacturer Leases
Fairhaven Site from Port
[Bellingham, Wash.] It is practically a homecoming for the Nordtvedt family as Gary Nordtvedt, owner of Norstar Boats plans to move his growing custom yacht manufacturing business to the Port of Bellingham's' Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park.
Today the Port's Board of Commissioners approved a lease with Norstar to move and expand its operations in 12,000 square feet at Building 3 in the marine industrial area.
"The Port is very pleased to see another marine trades business with a long history expand and add essential new jobs to our economy," said Commission President Scott Walker. "I believe Norstar Boats will be a great addition to our Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park."
After over 20 years in the boating industry as a designer, engineer, and owner/captain of a commercial fishing vessel, Gary Nordtvedt founded Norstar Boats, Inc. in 1995. A second-generation yacht designer and builder (his father, Art Nordtvedt, designed and built Uniflite boats in the 1960s) Nordtvedt's goal in founding his own company was to work together with Norstar's crew and owners to build the highest quality boats possible.
"I am very excited about moving to the Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park," Nordtvedt said. "It opens up a broad range of new opportunities for Norstar. It allows us to consolidate our operations at one location and it's ideal for the manufacture and refurbishment of quality yachts."
The business currently employs six people and anticipates expanding to 25 employees over the next several years.
"There is long history of boat building in Fairhaven. It was exactly 51 years ago this month that my father, Art Nordtvedt, moved the Uniflite boat building operation to a large wood frame building in Fairhaven that was leased from the Port of Bellingham," Nordtvedt said. "That production facility was a key element contributing to the rapid growth of Uniflite as a national leader in the manufacture of fiberglass boats during the 1960s. During its heyday Uniflite employed more than 500 people. We are very pleased to make a new contribution to that legacy."
Norstar Boats, an established custom power boat builder, launched construction of a new line of sailing yachts earlier this year. The first model, a 40-foot performance cruising yacht was delivered to its new owners this fall. In addition to a growing line of sailing yachts, Norstar has designed and built 30-foot and 36-foot semi-custom fishing and cruising powerboats since 1995.
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