East Passage Boatwrights' Success Story

The three IYRS alumni who decided to form the boat building and restoration company EAST PASSAGE BOATWRIGHTS is the current success story of our website. Formed in Bristol RI  by Nick Eide ('04), Seth Hagen ('02), and Carter Richardson ('04) , in 2006, the establishment has already made its mark in the local industry and national boating scene.  Nick Eide, Seth Hagen and Carter Richardson were drawn to Rhode Island to attend the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport. Dedicated to traditional methods of yacht restoration, IYRS provided an ideal atmosphere for an extensive education in all things wooden boat; from project management to survey and assessment, lofting and planking to fine joinery. Nick, Seth and Carter, as IYRS graduates, enter the wooden boat community with not only the theory, but the hands on experience necessary to build, repair, and restore traditional wooden boats. Nick Eide’s work experience has included the restoration of an 1896 Lawley Knock-About Aspenet, J.P. Morgan’s Herreshoff built motor launch Corsair and building a replica of a Lawley built lapstrake tender. His larger boat experience has come from the likes of the 104 foot Mathis Trumpy motor yacht Freedomand Scout, a 73 foot commuter yacht. Having an interest in metal work, an important element in traditional wooden boat construction, Nick completed extensive internships with Garden Gate Blacksmiths and The Mystic River Foundry. Nick is continually developing his own specialized tools for the trade. Seth Hagen has been working in the wooden boat field for seven years and has been fortunate to work on many famous designs including the Beetle Cat, the Nantucket One Design, and various Herreshoff designs, including the 12 1/2, the S-Class, the New York 30, and two 1920’s motor launches. His hands also lent to the restoration of William Gardner’s Mariner 40, L.F. Herreshoff’s Araminta, and the Sparkman & Stephen’s yawl Blackwatch. He also worked on the 1885 schooner Coronet documenting and removing the interior as well as performing the background research. Carter Richardson partnered with Nick at IYRS on the customary Beetle Cat restoration and took part in researching and restoring a Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 15. Before graduating from IYRS, he collaborated with another student in building an 11 1/2 foot Herreshoff Columbia Lifeboat. Carter has worked alongside Nick on the motor yachts Scout and Freedom as well as contributing in the restoration of a Herreshoff Watch Hill 15, Fish Class sloop and the Nevins’ built New York 32.  See Past and Current Restoration Projects at East Passage Boatrights Visit the East Passage Boatwrights website