Co-Founder Arthur Chaisson on Convenience, Covered Storage, and Staying Young
By Stephen Iandoli
Newburyport, MA — Go anywhere near the Merrimack River in Newburyport, MA between Memorial Day and Labor Day and there’s a good chance you’ll run into Arthur Chaisson. Whether he’s launching a boat into the Merrimack for a customer of his boat storage yard, Boatworks at Newburyport, or patrolling the open waters as Deputy Harbormaster of Newburyport, Chaisson always has his finger on the pulse of the boating community in this picturesque seaport town.
“I know most of the boat owners and those people on the water,” Chaisson said one recent Friday morning. “I’ve worked on the water most of my life.”
The 80-year old stays young by staying busy. Along with a partner, Chaisson has owned and managed Boatworks at Newburyport, located less than a mile from downtown Newburyport, for more than 30 years.
“I had just left a partnership, that didn’t work out, with my brother back in 1984,” Chaisson recalls. “I happened to stumble onto this property, when the owners suggested I start a marina here. I had nothing else to do and thought it had potential. I found another guy who was also interested, so we started it.”
That other guy, Bill Kilkelly, has since moved on and is now a successful roofer in town. Chaisson’s current partner is a Newburyport attorney.
An appealing locale, Newburyport houses several boat storage facilities, but Boatworks services are without peer. Personal experience has given Chaisson great insight into just how difficult, stressful, and inconvenient it can be for a boat owner to enjoy the open water, and he’s adamant about relieving much of the hard work from his customers’ shoulders.
“It’s the only storage facility in the area with the capability to store the boats in covered storage racks,” he said. “We stack them, whereas, in other places, it’s all land storage.”
The safety and security of covered storage can’t be understated when it’s time to put the boat away for the season, especially for frequent boaters who don’t want the hassle of launching and hauling their own boats.
“Our valet service is what really sets us apart,” he said. Valet service? In boating?
“When you’re not using your boat, it’s in our covered building. When you wish to use it, you just give us a call when you’re on your way,” Chaisson said.
“We’ll launch your boat and tie it up to our docks, so when you arrive, all you have to do is hop on board and enjoy your day,” he said. “Then, when you’re finished on the water, all you have to do is park it back on our dock. We haul it back out of the water and put it back in the building.”
“One of the difficult aspects of trailing your boat is that you have to find a vehicle large enough to haul it. When you’re finished boating, you’re usually tired from a long day on the water. We eliminate the process of you having to do all that yourself,” Chaisson said. “We take care of everything.”
It’s part of what keeps the U.S. Army veteran feeling young and healthy.
“I served in the Army, working in intelligence for three years. Then I went to work for the Federal Government, in intelligence, for 25 years,” he said, recalling the lure of Newburyport.
“I used to travel to foreign countries, but I took an early retirement to return to Newburyport and to return to boating,” he said.
Just one visit to the quaint Newburyport downtown district or a walk along any one of the waterside trails, and it’s not hard to see why Chaisson was eager to return.
“Well, there’s a lot of attraction to downtown, which is somewhat unique. Boaters can come right into town, dock, and people can walk around,” Chaisson said. “There are a lot of shops. It’s a bedroom to the Boston area and the city maintains its value in real estate. It’s right on the water, with a good atmosphere and it offers a lot of social benefits.”
Another place offering social benefits is the Newburyport Yacht Club, which Chaisson also helped launch. The club remains right next to his boat storage yard today.
“My partner and I owned the Newburyport Yacht Club when it was called the Boatworks at Newburyport. We created it, managed it and sold memberships.”
When the time came for Chaisson to leave that business, he stayed close to the water.
“When the membership reached 100, we handed it over to the Yacht Club. Since then, they’ve done a wonderful job, building a pool and making it a great family-friendly spot. And they offer a chance to own your own slip.”
The Merrimack River location has plenty of positive benefits for Boatworks at Newburyport, as well. Not only is it a quick trip to the Atlantic Ocean, but there are several spots right in the area to do some of the finest fishing along the Eastern Seaboard.
“We have nine-foot tides every day, twice a day, so the water flushes itself…there’s excellent fishing on the river,” Chaisson, also an avid fisherman, said.
And when you return to the docks with a cooler full of stripers loaded on your boat, all you have to worry about is carrying it to your car – Boatworks at Newburyport will take care of the rest.
Follow Boatworks at Newburyport on their Facebook page, or visit www.boatworksatnewburyport.com. Check out this promotional video, too!
Boatworks of Newburyport mastermind Arthur Chaisson surveys his grounds.
Covered storage racks set Boatworks apart from typical land storage utilized by other facilities.
The docks are the hub of Boatworks unique valet service.
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