If attention to the little things is important to most businesses, it’s critical to this company. In recent years, this builder of world-renowned sailing boats has added a line of day-sailers to its respected ocean-going yachts. The latest addition, a 42-footer called the M42, won an award from Cruising World magazine as best domestic cruising boat of 2005. Maine governor John Baldacci visited Morris Yachts’ 102 workers at the Trenton facility in February, citing the award and the company’s designation of Pine Tree Zone status. That designation could mean the creation of 15–20 new jobs as the yacht maker expands over the next three to five years. The company—which includes service yards in Bass Harbor and Northeast Harbor—has doubled its workforce in just the last five years.
Advertisement
In a recent interview, Morris said his philosophy is simple: “Hire the best people, point them in the right direction, and get out of the way.” Morris credits good communication among all divisions for the company’s solid reputation. Input from workers on the service side “makes us a stronger builder, and vice versa.” The level of communication also keeps employees more engaged in the whole process, according to Steve Mullane, production manager at Morris Yachts.
The company has launched just under 200 power and sailboats in its 34 years; both Cuyler Morris and his father and company founder, Tom Morris, take pride in knowing that virtually all of these vessels are still in service. The one exception is the Friendship sloop that was destroyed during filming of the movie The Truman Show.
“Dad kinda heard about that after the fact,” said Morris, with a that’s-Hollywood-for-you sigh. While less in-volved in day-to-day operations since his son took over the helm in 2001 (he joined the firm in 1996), the elder Morris represents the company at trade shows and conventions, and lends his expertise on the production floor when needed. Running a family business carries with it what the younger Morris called “a duty to uphold the tradition and the legacy, and the pride in doing so.”
While Morris is excited about the latest Cruising World designation (one of three “Boat of the Year” awards from the magazine in the past 12 years), the company’s Pine Tree designation is what will make his life easier on a day-to-day basis. The designation will allow Morris Yachts to pull together its construction operations, now in five locations, at an upgraded Trenton facility. “We’re nuts for efficiency, so that’s really driving us crazy,” Morris said. The service operations will remain at their Mount Desert Island locations. And, while sales offices may one day dot the globe, don’t look for a Morris Yacht to be built
anywhere else.
“I think that what we do is uniquely Maine; this is uniquely American craftsmanship,” Morris says with understandable pride. He adds, “I don’t think you can export that; at least, I hope not.”
