Craftsmanship Rooted in Cape Cod Traditions

Both founders grew up on Cape Cod with boating central to their lives. Metzger learned to repair and restore old workboats from a young age while growing up in a commercial fishing family. Over the years he has owned and worked on everything from Novi skiffs and catboats to Lymans and Blue Jay dinghies. Donovan began building skiffs with his uncle as a schoolboy and later worked in construction at boatyards around the Cape. The pair met while working at Arey’s Pond Boat Yard—Metzger on finishing and Donovan on construction—and later returned to partner in a new venture.

After roles in residential construction and coastal management, Metzger accepted a general manager position at Pease Boat Works in Chatham, a shop known for hand-built wooden boats. Recognizing an opportunity, Metzger contacted Donovan and together they purchased the business in January 2017, rebranding it as First Light Boatworks. The transition preserved the previous owners’ commitment to traditional builds while giving Metzger and Donovan freedom to refine designs and expand the shop’s offerings.

Designs, Methods and the Lapstrake Line

First Light builds boats using classic methods—carvel and lapstrake planking together with modern wood-epoxy techniques where appropriate. Their first major new project as owners was Empress of Blandings, a 34-foot double-ended ketch inspired by Danish fishing boats. Built carvel with a full keel and outfitted as a daysailer, it was constructed in a fully traditional manner without modern epoxy encapsulation, demonstrating the yard’s command of historic techniques.

While the shop still produces sailboats, its lapstrake powerboat range has become the most in-demand product, making up roughly 70 percent of new-build requests. The Monomoy First Light 26, inherited from the Pease brothers, was developed further with naval architect Max Tringale. That hull spawned related models: the Tashmoo 26 runabout and the wheelhouse Pocasset 26. These 26-footers are built seam-epoxied as a monocoque—resulting in strong, lightweight shells with no visible fasteners—typically powered by a 140-hp Suzuki outboard mounted in a well and hidden by a hinged engine box.

Metzger emphasizes the advantages of a modern outboard over inboard propulsion for these boats: reduced noise, cleaner exhaust and simpler maintenance. The 26-foot lapstrake, weighing under 4,000 pounds, can reach about 30 knots and is designed to be versatile enough for shallow-water cruising or open-water passages.

Range of Models and Custom Work

Tringale has also designed 18- and 22-foot lapstrake models for First Light. The 22 is available as a runabout or center console and typically fits a 90-hp outboard package. In addition to these semi-production models, the yard has plans that span from 16-foot lapstrakes to larger wooden designs including Carolina-style 30-footers, a 36-foot sedan cruiser, and even a wooden kayak. Customers frequently commission one-off custom boats tailored to their needs; First Light encourages owner involvement during the build so each boat reflects its owner’s preferences.

The shop does not keep a large inventory—boats are built to order—and current lead times are a little over a year. One of the visual signatures of First Light’s boats is a vibrant palette of hull colors, from crisp whites to pastels and deep turquoises, usually mixed in-house and contrasted with prominent brightwork to create striking, eye-catching finishes.

Sustainability and Electric Propulsion

Environmental stewardship is part of First Light’s identity. The shop runs entirely on solar power and the team is actively exploring electric propulsion for its smaller models. Customers can currently opt for an electric Torqeedo outboard paired with a BMW i3 battery package in place of a conventional Suzuki setup—especially viable on the 22-foot model. Metzger and Donovan are also repowering their 1972 Bob Baker schooner with an electric motor as a demonstration project for island-hopping and nearshore sailing around the Cape.

Production, Service and Outlook

Since purchasing the company, Metzger and Donovan have completed roughly 16 to 18 boats, including about ten lapstrake powerboats. The yard continues steady production—Metzger notes they have not paused new-build work since 2017—while balancing refits, rebuilds and annual maintenance for many of their own clients’ boats. The owners pride themselves on strong customer relationships, a hands-on approach to custom builds and a commitment to American-made craftsmanship.

Although both founders began as sailors and still favor sails, their experience building and testing the lapstrake powerboats has deepened their appreciation for modern power designs. Metzger says he now enjoys both equally and remains intent on building more sailboats alongside power models to maintain a balanced offering. Above all, First Light’s mission is straightforward: to create distinctive, well-crafted wooden boats that blend traditional aesthetics with reliable, seaworthy performance.