Mavrik Marine plans building for bigger boats

For San Francisco Bay Ferry Mavrik Marine is building a 130-foot long, 36-foot beam and 30-foot high boat in its 36-foot high Pearle Jensen Way facility. When done, they will build a second ferry for them. But orders for 50-foot high boats requires building a 60-foot high building. The company is planning to do that this spring.

Manufacturing big boats requires a big building. Mavrik plans to build twin buildings 60-feet high by 200.3 feet by 86 feet. Each will total 17,226 square feet. At its Feb. 4 meeting the La Conner Planning Commission recommended approval of a variance from the Shoreline Master Program zone that limits building height to 40 feet. Tomorrow at 2 p.m., Feb. 20, the Town’s Hearing Examiner will hold a hearing at the Civic Garden Club and make the decision on the permit.

Mavrik’s application explains no views of the water will be blocked from adjoining upland properties, which are industrial, commercial and agricultural.

Marianne Manville-Ailes, town planner had recommended that the Planning Commission approve the proposal, noting the variance is consistent with the policies of the Town of La Conner Comprehensive Plan.

Mavrik owner Zachery Battle is ready to start construction of the first building as soon as he has permission. While he declined to name specific projects, he said Monday that “constraints have been massive, a real source of inefficiency,” to not have the capacity to build larger boats. The permit states the building “will include steel boat manufacturing, material processing, and shipping and receiving space. The boat manufacturing will include up to three 20-ton cranes on a crane-rail system inside the building.” He estimates the first building will cost up to $2.5 million to construct. Completion is planned for September. The second building will go up when growth requires it.

Battle says he will add a minimum of 20 new employees to his 90 person workforce. “The goal here all along has been to create sustainable long term options for employees, customers and partners; that part has been going well and this will help to support that,” he said. “Long term it opens up the potential for continued growth.” He noted they are building several large boats and have six boats under construction.

The company has work scheduled out to 2022, with a waiting list for their small boat lines. “We have multiple, multiple opportunities going forward,” he emphasized. He is confident of future growth, saying “We have developed a reputation for a very high quality product. Some folks are willing to wait for that.”

Battle noted his commitment to growing the local economy and Mavrik’s efforts to be responsible partners. He praised The Port of Skagit for its support of his company. The buildings will be built on a Port-owned parking lot. After the second building is constructed, it will double Mavrik’s facilities to almost 70,000 square feet and increase his footprint to over 150,000 square feet from the almost 90,000 square feet he currently leases,

His biggest boats will continue to be launched in Anacortes. The Port’s La Conner facility cannot launch boats over 24-feet-10 inches wide.

Fisher Construction Group of Burlington will manage construction. The Fisher family was honored last summer as “Pioneer Family of the Year” at the 115th annual Skagit County Pioneer Association Picnic and General Meeting.

Carletti Architects is the design firm.