Some people go to the opera. In South Bristol, Maine, people gather at the John’s Bay Boat launch.
For nearly 40 years, Peter Kass has built traditional plank‑on‑frame lobster boats from a wooded waterfront property at the end of Poorhouse Cove Road. The owner of John’s Bay Boat Company began his boatbuilding career at Gamage Shipyard, moved briefly to Padebco when Gamage shifted to steel, and opened his own shop in 1983. Kass designs and constructs recreational and work boats, but his wooden vessels are especially admired for their smooth, easy motion—an attribute lobstermen prize when they spend long days in variable offshore conditions.
When Kass prepares to launch a new boat, current owners, curious neighbors, and friends and family of the new owner converge on the property. It’s a social event as much as a boat launch: sometimes as many as 35 owners will drive for hours, from Massachusetts and Downeast, to watch a new John’s Bay hull slide down the ways.
The launch is an opportunity to inspect the latest build and to reinforce the strong community around Kass’ work. “Peter calls all the owners a week ahead of time,” said Scott Dugas of Yarmouth, Maine, who owns a 42‑foot John’s Bay. “We come here because we’re all friends.”
Last October, Kass launched Twilight II, what he believes to be his 75th boat: a fire‑engine red 46‑footer commissioned by Douglas Blasius, a 29‑year‑old lobsterman from Friendship, Maine. Weather threatened to keep people away, but the rain did little to dampen turnout. More than 100 people—babies to octogenarians—arrived in slickers and under umbrellas for the 8:30 a.m. high‑tide launch. Trucks and cars lined the narrow dirt road for half a mile back to Thompson’s icehouse on Route 129. “There’s a lot of people here,” one lobsterman observed. Another summed up the crowd’s motivation: “People respect Douglas. He shipped out, lived small and saved his money.”
Inside the bay, where Twilight II had occupied the shed up to the doors, tables offered donuts and coffee alongside a selection of more spirited beverages. The spread reflected the informal camaraderie that surrounds these launches: a true community celebration rather than a formal ceremony.
Before sending Twilight II into the water, the group sheltered from the rain under trees and beneath the boat’s overhanging bow. Even in heavy rain, nobody suggested canceling. “Boats are meant to be wet,” someone quipped. Conversations ranged from admiring the new design to friendly comparisons of boat lengths and configurations—pride and practical knowledge mingling freely.
Kass‑built boats tend to hold their value. For example, Bernadette, a 32‑foot boat launched in 2005, recently sold for around $300,000. Owners are often repeat customers: many begin with a 32‑footer, then move up to 36, 40, 42, 46 or 47‑foot models as their needs and ambitions grow. Kass notes the physical constraints of his workshop—he could build larger boats, but would need to extend the shed to do so.
Blasius commissioned his new boat in the fall of 2019 and pushed its beam close to the practical limit of the shop. “She’s 16 feet wide,” he said. “There wasn’t much more room left for the hull to the side of the boat shop.” Kass intentionally resists the trend toward extremely beamy lobster boats. He believes excessive beam for a given length flattens the hull too much, compromising how the boat rides in a seaway.
With Twilight II, Blasius became a second‑time Kass customer. He learned to set traps with his brother at age 12, graduated from Maine Maritime, spent five years at sea as an engineer on oil tankers, and in 2017 bought a 23‑year‑old 40‑foot John’s Bay. Pleased with that boat’s comfort and seaworthiness, he commissioned a larger vessel better suited to longer trips. “The original Twilight was really comfortable for her size,” Blasius said. “I go 20 to 40 miles offshore, and I knew a bigger one would be even more comfortable in the weather.”
Blasius specified twin side‑by‑side helms—an outside helm to starboard for hauling pots and an inside helm for protected runs to and from the grounds. “When I get there, I put my oil gear on and go outside while I haul my traps,” he explained. “At the end of the day, it’s a really comfortable ride home.”
Each Kass boat is a custom creation. Clients describe their needs, Kass carves a half‑hull model, and takes the lines directly from that form. “I can’t draw anything,” Kass says with a smile. “I’m still kind of old world.” The hands‑on, craft‑based approach yields boats that reflect both the owner’s priorities and Kass’ decades of experience.
Twilight II was built with an open transom and powered by an 800‑hp Caterpillar, giving a top speed near 22 knots. Most days Blasius cruises at 1,800 rpm for about 16 knots, efficient for traveling to and from his 800 traps—roughly half of which he can haul in a single day with two stern men.
Notably, the new boat does not include a head. Many working lobstermen regard a marine toilet as an unnecessary complication; for day trips they prefer the simplicity of a five‑gallon bucket. Blasius said, “We’re only going lobstering for the day, not staying overnight.” His girlfriend, Hannah Shute, suggested installing a head, but Blasius opted to keep the layout simple.
At the launch, all the John’s Bay owners posed for a group photo with Kass and the owners of the new boat. Shute smashed a bottle of champagne against the stem, Kass released Twilight II down the railways, and the boat slid into the water. Blasius then docked long enough to take Kass and a load of guests on a short inaugural run, followed by a second trip to give others a ride.
Blasius praised the craftsmanship and the people behind his boat. “It’s one hundred percent to my liking,” he said. “I chose a Peter Kass because they make a beautiful boat, they put their heart in it and they are well built. They do a great job. They’re almost like family.”
Kass has grown accustomed to bringing people together for launches, but he hadn’t expected one of his boats to play a role in forming a relationship—until Blasius met Shute. A year before the launch, Blasius noticed Shute on a dating site where her profile photo included a John’s Bay boat in the background. Asked whether that image prompted him to pursue her, Blasius replied with classic Maine understatement: “I thought it was promising.”
This article was originally published in the January 2022 issue.