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The
Cape Cod catboat has graced the waters of New England since the mid
nineteenth century. Originally designed and sailed as rugged yet
accommodating work boats, their stout construction and rig could
withstand the tough proving grounds of the waters off Cape Cod and
beyond. Strong winds, tides and treacherous shoals demanded a design
which would stand up to these conditions, yet sail fast and provide
enough room to carry a large payload. Throughout the early years
yachtsmen watched these sturdy craft ply the waters with grace and speed
in a wide variety of conditions and by the late 1800’s a number of
shipwrights were building catboats for the sole purpose of racing.
However, by the mid 1900’s, more modern sailing designs had decreased
the popularity of catboat racing and more reliable engines had decreased
the efficiency of sail boats as working craft. Many people felt that
the catboat had outlived its purpose.
Fortunately,
Breck Marshall did not subscribe to that theory. In 1962 he undertook
an exhaustive study to create a “modern day” catboat that would
incorporate all the best features of these historical craft; stability,
speed, spacious accommodations, shallow draft and classic beauty. His
goal was to produce an affordable catboat with exemplary sailing
characteristics and by using the relatively new technology of fiberglass
construction, make them easier to maintain than their wooden
predecessors. The result of his labor was the Marshall Sanderling.
The
early years were a bit rough for Breck. Many traditional sailors were
not very approving of the classic catboat being built in fiberglass. Yet
he remained persistent. He entered the Sanderling in as many catboat
races that he could and was consistently placing in the top three spots
and usually in first. Within a few years the virtues of the Sanderling
were becoming apparent and more and more orders were placed for new
boats. Nearly 50 years and more than 800 Sanderlings later it is evident
that Breck’s vision of the “modern” catboat was a success.
With
the popularity of the Sanderling on the upswing in 1965, Breck expanded
the Marshall fleet to include a comfortable, shoal draft family
cruiser, the Marshall 22.
Building on the reputation of quality construction and strong sailing
characteristics, the appeal of this boat was strong from the start. To
date we have produced over 275 of them.
To round out the line of Marshall Catboats, Breck developed the 15 foot Sandpiper
in 1972. The lines were a scaled down version of the Sanderling and she
proved to be as nimble and comparably stable as her larger sisters.
Like the Sanderling, the Sandpiper quickly established herself as an
accommodating family boat and the appeal as a one design race boat soon
followed suit. In the nearly 40 years since the first Sandpiper was
built we have produced almost 600 of them for owners throughout the US
and overseas.
In
1976, Breck expanded the lines of the Marshall 22 to create the
Marshall 26. The idea was to create a larger cruising catboat with
standing headroom. While it did have plush accommodations by catboat
standards, the cost of production was very high and some of the
aesthetic appeal was lost. Therefore it was a difficult boat to market
and only two were produced.
 1976
was also the most difficult period in Marshall Marine’s history.
Breck’s sudden passing shook much of the good will and customer
confidence that he had built over his career. He was the face of the
company and without that recognition, some orders were cancelled and new
orders were scarce. His wife, Sarah, and his business partner Bill
Pinney were determined to keep the company moving forward and with the
help of John Garfield, who was hired in 1973 to help with sales and
production, they worked hard to gain control of the operation and get it
back on track. Within a year John became the general manager and Sarah
stepped back from the day to day operations.
Once
things were back on a more even keel, catboat sales became very steady
again. John managed the operations very efficiently while continuing to
pay close attention to quality and detail. In 1986 Sarah and Bill
recognized John’s dedication to Marshall Marine and sold the business to
him. His expertise in all aspects of the business served the company
well and for many years John promoted the boats admirably. He developed a
great rapport with thousands of cat boaters over the years and was
always a strong proponent of the camaraderie that exists among the
owners of these unique boats.
While
I hadn’t worked in the family business, I had been working in the
marine industry since the mid 1980’s as a boat builder, rigger, yacht
captain and customer service manager at another boatyard. I had also
obtained a degree in naval architecture from Maine Maritime Academy.
John had been a good sounding board for me during these years and after
numerous discussions we came up with an idea. John wanted to plan his
retirement and I was looking to own a business in the marine industry.
This appeared to be a natural fit and in 2001 I came to work at Marshall
Marine.
The
idea was for me to learn as many aspects of the business as possible
and then purchase it from John. After five years under John’s tutelage,
I, along with my wife Kristen, purchased the company and the business
was back in the Marshall family. I am very grateful to John for this
opportunity and for all his help and continued support and friendship.
To
date, Marshall Marine has produced nearly 1,700 catboats. My goal is
to maintain the same standards of quality construction that Breck set
down in 1962 and look for ways we can improve our boats wherever
possible. Constructive feedback from current Marshall Cat owners is
always appreciated, and taken into consideration. We look to expand on
this rich history and maintain the catboat’s standing as the classic
American sailing craft that it is.
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