Video: Standish Boat Yard's First Launches

With some last minute scraping, varnish touch-ups and checks for leaks, launched its first boats in the water for the 2011 season on Monday.

Vice President Ken Hilton and crane operator Eddy Belisle launched two Albin 28 power boats on Monday using their hydraulic crane: “Island Bound” of Tiverton and “Fleur de Lis” of Fairhaven, MA.

Depending on the weather, Hilton said they will launch another five to six vessels this week as boat season officially begins.

“It’s a little later than last season,” he said.

He added that the crane can lift up to 16,000 pounds. The largest boat they launch is a 35-footer. Standish Boat Yard has about 10 to 12 Albin 28 models.

Once the “Fleur de Lis” was placed in a slip, Hilton quickly and methodically tied down the bow and stern and hopped onto the boat to check for any potential leaks in and around the hull's interior. Once the boat was deemed safe from leaks, Belisle removed the gallow and slings that hold the boat in suspension during the launch.

Belisle, of Dartmouth, MA, said he has been working at Standish for seven to eight years. He’s their jack-of-all-trades handyman, who is licensed to operate the crane and forklift, as well as take on any mechanical or electrical tasks.

Standish Boat Yard is a full service marina and boat dealer that is a six decades old landmark establishment in Tiverton. Some of their services include slips, moorings, gas and diesel fuel, pumpout facility, showers, engine repair, hull repair and their crane for launching boats.

They carry numerous marine products and claim to be a top dealer of Albin model boats.