US boatbuilder offers marine professionals ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunities

Maine-based boatbuilder Hinckley Yachts is looking to boost its workforce, amid labour shortages challenging almost every sector. 

Hinckley says it wants to increase its workforce in the state by at least 10-15 per cent in the next year and is committed to supporting regional workforce development and the marine trade schools in the wider New England region.

“We need top carpenters, electricians and mechanics,” says Kirk Ritter, GM of Hinckley Yacht Services, “and not necessarily in that order. Traditionally we wanted to hire people with marine industry experience, but there just aren’t enough experienced people around in those disciplines anymore. If you’re a top professional at any of these three trades, we have an expert team that can teach and train you. That’s why we’re calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a career and life change that might not happen again.”

“Let me put it this way,” says Ritter, “We have the best team of marine professionals in the industry leading all our departments, and most have been here 30 years or more. If you want to live and work essentially across the street from one of the country’s top national parks [Acadia] in one of the most beautiful states in the country and learn from the best of the best, we’d love to hear from you!”

Hinckley currently employs 60 people at its Southwest Harbor service centre, and another 200 at its manufacturing facility in Trenton, Maine. 

The post-covid boating boom has significantly increased demand in the past two years, and consequently put a squeeze on the sector.

Ritter says there are opportunities in positions throughout the yard, not just the top trade disciplines. Any potential team members with exceptional sales and customer service skills are also always in demand.

“We also do everything we can to keep you here once you join us,” says Ritter. “We have a unique team culture where we work together to help all team members grow and develop, and we do everything we can to support those who want to attend outside training programmes to further develop their skills.”

To that end, the company announced in April 2022 that it was implementing the Hinckley Yachts Student Loan Assistance Program (HYSLAP), an employer-paid student loan programme for employees graduating from post-secondary school technical trade programmes.

“We are very committed to developing the talents of our existing team members,” says Geoff Berger, CEO of The Hinckley Company. “The HYSLAP programme will support that, as do all our managers and team leaders on an ongoing basis by training and teaching our time-honored methods on the job. HYSLAP was also developed working in close partnership with Maine’s The Landing School, one of the top marine trade schools in the country.”