Maryland Boat Shops Donate Thousands of N95 Masks and Gloves to Support COVID-19 Response
Two Maryland boat shops stepped up to help their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic by donating large supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). Pasadena Boat Works and Weaver Boat Works contributed thousands of N95 respirator masks and boxes of nitrile gloves to health officials and first responders in the region, demonstrating how local businesses can provide essential support in a public health emergency.
Major Donations of N95 Respirators
Pasadena Boat Works, a dealer of Carolina Skiffs and other powerboats, donated 14,000 N95 respirator masks to the Maryland Department of Health. Shortly after that gift became known, Weaver Boat Works, a custom fishing boat builder, donated an additional 7,000 N95 masks from its own inventory to Anne Arundel County. Together, the two shops supplied 21,000 N95 masks to help protect medical staff, emergency personnel and other frontline workers.
Why Boat Shops Had N95 Masks
The presence of N95 respirators in boat shops is not incidental. These masks are commonly used by shops’ employees while sanding, fiberglassing and finishing boats, operations that create fine dust and airborne particulates. Pasadena Boat Works owner Rick Levin noted that his access to a large supply of masks came through previous involvement with a foundation that produced colorful ventilator masks for children undergoing cancer treatment. That network helped make the donation possible when masks were urgently needed for COVID-19 response.
Additional Protective Supplies and Practical Choices
Weaver Boat Works also contributed 1,050 boxes of nitrile gloves, the disposable gloves frequently used when handling epoxy and other boatbuilding materials. Weaver employees evaluated their operational needs and determined they could shift to reusable face coverings for routine shop tasks, allowing the business to offer its stock of disposable N95 masks to county authorities and first responders instead.
Community-Minded Decision by a Family Business
Although Weaver Boat Works owner Jim Weaver could have sold the masks through the family’s Deale Hardware & Home Store, the family and their employees agreed to donate them rather than profit from the supply. That choice reflects a broader commitment to community welfare at a time when protective gear was in short supply for those who needed it most.
First Responders and Civic Duty
Ashley Hangliter, a manager at Weaver Boat Works and Jim Weaver’s daughter, described the donation as a civic duty. “There is no point in life more vulnerable than when you need to call upon first responders,” she said. “If there is anything we can do, to help those who stand in harm’s way, it is the least we can do to put community before profit.” This sentiment helped guide the decision to place community needs above potential commercial gain.
Impact and Local Coordination
The donated N95 respirators and boxes of nitrile gloves were distributed through state and county channels to reach emergency medical services, hospitals and other frontline teams. Pasadena Boat Works coordinated its gift with the Maryland Department of Health, while Weaver Boat Works gave its masks to Anne Arundel County officials for distribution to first responders. These donations eased immediate shortages of critical PPE and supported frontline workers performing essential duties during the pandemic.
Local Businesses Supporting Public Health
These contributions highlight how specialty businesses such as boat builders and marine dealers can play a vital role in public health and emergency preparedness. By redirecting protective equipment from routine industrial use to medical and emergency applications, Pasadena Boat Works and Weaver Boat Works ensured that scarce resources reached those facing elevated risk on the front lines.
Chesapeake Bay Magazine reported on these donations and the ways local shops adjusted their practices to help protect medical personnel and first responders during the COVID-19 crisis.