Eastern Boat Works: The Story of a Downeast Builder Known Across New England

If you spend time on the water in the Northeastern United States—particularly in northern New England—you’ve likely seen an Eastern boat. Eastern Boat Works is not just the Eastern brand; the company also builds Rosborough and Seaway models, making it a familiar name across the region’s marinas and harbors.

Eastern began in 1981 in East Rochester, New Hampshire, when Carmen Carbone launched a single model: an 18-foot Downeast-style boat designed by the celebrated Royal Lowell. The modest New Hampshire facility included two small assembly bays and a glass shop that could hold two hulls at once. Over the next decade the line expanded to include a 22-footer and a Royal Lowell 27-footer, broadening the company’s appeal among traditional Downeast buyers.

In 1993 a turning point arrived. Employee Bob Bourdeau bought the business from Carbone, and after a devastating fire destroyed the original facilities, he relocated operations to Milton, New Hampshire. Bourdeau spent the next 25 years growing the company through ups and downs while steadily expanding the model lineup and manufacturing capacity.

In 1994 Bourdeau acquired molds for the highly regarded JC 31 and the extended JC 35, both Royal Lowell lobster-hull designs. He added buildings and refinements to the product line, and by 2007 annual production peaked at 117 boats. Then the 2008 recession hit; production dropped to 59 hulls the following year. To survive, Bourdeau simplified some features to reduce costs and pursued strategic acquisitions, buying molds from Nova Scotia’s Rosborough Boats and acquiring Maine’s Seaway Boats. Those moves eliminated competitors and strengthened Eastern’s position in the 18- to 35-foot Downeast market.

The Rosborough acquisition brought the 22-foot Sisu and the iconic 25-foot Rosborough RF-246—often credited as the original pocket trawler—into the company’s offerings. Seaway added a line of rugged, hard-chined Downeast boats for buyers who preferred a different hull form or exterior teak trim over Eastern’s round-chined designs.

Another chapter began with Greg Hopkins. A salesman who moved to Milton in 2008 to start a financial and insurance services firm, Hopkins regularly visited Eastern to offer services like 401(k) plans. Over the years a friendship with Bourdeau developed. In April 2019 Bourdeau surprised Hopkins by asking if he wanted to buy the company; Hopkins agreed after a short deliberation and a vacation to the Bahamas. Hopkins had owned only one recreational boat previously—a Maxum bowrider—but believed he could run the business and keep the skilled staff together. He bought Eastern in 2019 and today employs 47 people, including 11 long-standing employees who form the company’s foundation.

Eastern operates across four separate buildings with about 30,000 square feet of manufacturing space for fiberglassing, assembly and rigging. Hopkins points out employees like Randall Duquette, who has hand-laid every Eastern hull built in the last 30 years, and describes the company’s apprenticeship program, which pairs younger workers with experienced craftsmen for multi-year training. Duquette’s long service is being honored with a sign for the fiberglassing building as he approaches retirement.

Hopkins has faced his own challenges. After buying Eastern, the pandemic in 2020 disrupted production: orders rose but output slowed. In the summer following Hopkins’ purchase, another fire broke out inside the fiberglassing building, causing heavy smoke damage and forcing a complete interior rebuild. During downtime the shop refreshed its molds, and by early 2024 production was recovering.

Hopkins emphasizes the company’s balance of tradition and adaptation. Long-time employees such as brothers Tom and Will Sargent and 28-year veteran Keith Henner continue building and finishing boats while new hires learn through hands-on apprenticeship. Hopkins says Eastern has injected younger talent without losing respect for the company’s experienced core.

Today Eastern Boat Works offers 21 outboard-powered models ranging from 18 to 27 feet. The inboard-powered 31 and 35 were taken out of production right before Hopkins took ownership, and their molds are held in reserve. Modern buyers favor outboards for convenience, and Eastern builds semi-custom boats with engine options from Honda, Yamaha, Mercury and Suzuki—allowing customers to match what local mechanics support. Hopkins stresses that outboard reliability has made brand differences less critical for most buyers.

Power requirements across the range are modest and matched to efficient hulls: the Seaway 18 runs well on as little as 50 horsepower; the Rosborough RF-246 performs comfortably with a 150-hp outboard; and the Eastern 27 runs nicely on twin 150s (with twin 200s available). The company’s lineup includes Seaway hulls at 18, 21, 24 and 27 feet and Eastern hulls at 20, 22, 24 and 27 feet, in multiple configurations from center-console to hardtop. Models such as the Eastern Islander (a wine-and-cheese cruiser), the Eastern Explorer (a more pared-down plan), and the Eastern Tournament (a fishing-oriented layout) reflect the brand’s semi-custom approach.

The Rosborough 246 family—available in Halifax, Yarmouth and Digby layouts—offers standing headroom of 6 feet, 5 inches, notable for a 25-foot pocket cruiser. The Digby layout adds a shower to the standard galley and head, making these boats popular with trailable cruisers and economical Loopers who can cruise using 150-hp outboards or opt for higher speeds with 250-hp engines. The Rosborough 22 Cape Breton and the Sisu 22 provide compact cruiser options; the Sisu’s hull offers generous V-berths measuring 6 feet, 9 inches.

Looking ahead, Hopkins says Eastern plans new model unveilings for fall 2025 boat shows and will host an owners’ rendezvous in Essex, Connecticut, in 2025. His aim has been to bring fresh energy to a company rooted in hand-built Downeast tradition while offering the semi-custom choices buyers want—from hull color matching to upholstery selection—so owners can personalize their boats.

Eastern Boat Works today stands as a versatile builder: whether customers want a utilitarian center-console, a compact cruiser with amenities, or a small lobster-style yacht, the company’s long history, experienced craftsmen and semi-custom approach make it possible. Hopkins summarizes the philosophy simply: “You make the boat your own.”

This article was originally published in the July 2024 issue.