French & Webb

What French & Webb does

French & Webb is a privately held custom yacht builder and classic yacht restorer headquartered at 21 Front Street in Belfast, Maine. Founded in 1996 by Todd French and Peter Webb — with French now serving as sole owner since 2019 — the firm designs and constructs bespoke sailing and power yachts, restores historic vessels (notably Herreshoff and Fife designs), and produces high-end joinery for superyachts and architectural clients. Its core build portfolio spans daysailers and cruisers from 15 feet (Levant 15) up to 55 feet (Wings of Grace ketch), with notable restorations including NY40 MARILEE, three Buzzards Bay 30s, the 8-meter Fife QUEST, and the USS SEQUOIA.

The firm's technical approach fuses traditional boatbuilding craftsmanship — steam-bent frames, double planking, hollow stave spars, Sitka spruce and yellow pine joinery — with modern composite construction, including epoxy-laminated wood cores sheathed in E-Glass and carbon fiber, and hybrid propulsion systems using Steyr Hybrid Drive, lithium batteries, and solar charging (e.g., ZOGO and Bella Luna). Production is highly bespoke and capacity-constrained: projects are multi-year, quote-based engagements with no standardized pricing.

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) custom yacht new builds (one-off sales), (2) yacht restoration services (professional services, including structural restoration, hardware fabrication, and period-accurate recreation), and (3) specialty joinery for superyachts (e.g., Blohm + Voss, Lurssen/Harrison Eidsgaard), custom spar construction, and architectural woodwork. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on direct engagement with high-net-worth clients, yachting community referrals, and editorial features in maritime publications such as WoodenBoat Magazine and Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Magazine. There are no dealerships, no external investors, and no disclosed financials.

Name

French & Webb

Legal name

French & Webb

Website

https://frenchwebb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

French & Webb is a privately held Belfast, Maine boatbuilder founded in 1996 that designs and constructs bespoke sailing and power yachts, restores historic vessels such as Herreshoff and Fife classics, and produces specialty joinery for superyacht and architectural clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Yacht Building & Restoration

NAICS

Boat Building (336612), Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (33661)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Sailing Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Custom Yacht Building & One-Off Projects (IMAJAEAL), Semi-Custom & Series Production Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAM)

Keywords

• Custom yacht building
• Classic yacht restoration
• Superyacht joinery
• Composite boat construction
• Custom spar building

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Yacht New Builds: Design and construction of custom power and sailing yachts to client specifications. Revenue from full yacht builds including both sail and power vessels.
2. Yacht Restoration Services: World-renowned restoration of classic yachts including Herreshoff designs, Fife designs, and other vintage vessels. Includes structural restoration, hardware fabrication, and period-accurate recreation.
3. Joinery and Specialty Products: Custom joinery work including spars, furniture, architectural elements, and superyacht interiors. Includes production of custom hardware and specialized components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

French & Webb designs and builds custom sailing and power yachts and restores classic wooden yachts (including Herreshoff and Fife designs) from their boatyard in Belfast, Maine. The firm also provides bespoke joinery, cabinetry, hollow stave spars, and architectural woodwork for the superyacht and luxury residential markets.

Product overview

French & Webb is a custom yacht building and restoration company based in Belfast, Maine, operating since 1996. The company operates as a single unified offering focused on high-end custom yacht construction and restoration, complemented by specialized joinery and architectural services. Their core portfolio includes new builds (Levant 15, Bella Luna, Zogo, FW30, Untide, Webfoot, Erica, Wings of Grace) and restorations of classic yachts (Little M, QUEST, BB30, MARILEE), alongside specialized services in superyacht joinery, custom spar construction, and architectural woodwork. The company is known for combining traditional boatbuilding craftsmanship with modern composite construction techniques.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Levant 15 Daysailer A custom 15-foot daysailer designed by French & Webb, drawing on classic proportions and modern composite construction; actively marketed with incoming orders as of the featured March/April 2021 WoodenBoat Magazine spread.
• New Yacht Construction Bespoke design and build of custom sailing and power yachts from a Belfast, Maine boatyard, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern composite techniques (epoxy laminated wood cores sheathed in E-Glass and carbon fiber).
• Classic Yacht Restoration Restoration services for classic wooden yachts including Herreshoff, Fife, NY-40, BB30, and other heritage vessels; portfolio includes QUEST (8-meter Fife), MARILEE (NY-40), Buzzards Bay 30, Little M (Herreshoff 1926 replica), and Wings of Grace ketch.
• Superyacht Joinery Custom interior and exterior joinery, cabinetry, and millwork for superyacht builders including Hodgdon Yachts, Consolidated Yachts, and Blohm+Voss.
• Custom Spar Construction Hand-built hollow stave masts and spars for sailing yachts.
• Architectural Joinery Bespoke architectural woodwork and cabinetry for residential and commercial luxury projects, leveraging the same fine craftsmanship used in yacht interiors.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Harrison EidsgaardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean design firm collaborated with French & Webb on 60 meter (169 ft) yacht refit. French & Webb created large comfortable seating area design concept for aft deck, hand-picking teak and assembling sculptural seating.
• Consolidated YachtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestoration project partnership building mahogany wheelhouse, navigation area, captain's stateroom and head for 1930s 42-meter yacht. Components built in Maine shop and delivered to San Diego.
• Blohm + Voss ShipyardminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCustom teak jacuzzi built for 100-meter superyacht, shipped to Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg for installation.
• Hodgdon YachtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly collaboration where Hodgdon Yachts entrusted French & Webb to build joinery for cockpit, deck hatches and interior parts of yacht ANTONESA.
• MP&GminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeamed up to build over 100 blocks and 90 ft mast for Herreshoff NY50 SPARTAN yacht.
• Stephens Waring Yacht DesigncoreTechnology or IntegrationDesigned ZOGO hybrid launch and collaborated on MARILEE NY40 interior design with Paul Waring of Stephens Waring Yacht Design.
• CW Paine DesigncoreTechnology or IntegrationDesigner CW Paine collaborated on Bella Luna (refining Herreshoff Alerion hull), Erica (FW45), and Wings of Grace (inspired by Malabar series).
• Fitzgerald NAcoreTechnology or IntegrationDesigner Mark Fitzgerald's firm collaborated on Webfoot (deck salon motor cruiser) and Untide (FW37 daysailer).
• MIT Hart Nautical CollectionscoreOthersSource of original Herreshoff plans and drawings used for restorations including MARILEE, Little M (Herreshoff), and Buzzards Bay 30s.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• C.W. Hood Yachts: Marion, Massachusetts custom yacht builder combining classic aesthetics with modern composite construction. Comparable in cold-molded construction techniques and HNWI target customer base.
• Spirit Yachts: UK-based modern wooden yacht builder producing classically styled, cold-molded sailing yachts. Comparable in craftsmanship, material approach (wood/epoxy composite), and ultra-premium positioning, though operating across the Atlantic.

Direct peers

• Front Street Shipyard: Full-service boatbuilding and repair facility in Belfast, Maine (same town as French & Webb) offering new construction, restoration, and yacht management for sailing and power vessels.
• Gannon & Benjamin: Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts custom wooden boatbuilder producing traditionally constructed and modern sailing yachts. Comparable boutique scale, handcrafted philosophy, and direct-to-HNWI sales motion.
• Hodgdon Yachts: East Boothbay, Maine superyacht builder and refit yard with both composite and cold-molded capabilities. Documented French & Webb partner (joined work on ANTONESA) and comparable in building premium custom sailing vessels.
• Ralph Stanley (Stanley Custom Boats): Brooklin, Maine-based custom boatbuilder renowned for wooden yacht construction and restoration, with deep heritage expertise. Closest direct peer to French & Webb in artisanal craftsmanship and Maine heritage positioning.
• Brooklin Boat Yard: Maine-based custom yacht builder and restoration yard offering new builds, refits, and storage. Direct competitor to French & Webb in the Maine custom sailing yacht and wooden boat restoration market with a comparable semi-custom/semi-series model.
• Rockport Marine: Custom boatbuilder and repair yard in Rockport, Maine specializing in wooden yacht construction, restoration, and storage. Highly comparable to French & Webb in target market, craft heritage focus, and service offering.

Emerging players

• W-Class Yachts: Boutique builder producing modern Spirit of Tradition wooden sailing yachts inspired by classic lines. Comparable in design philosophy (Herreshoff-influenced), HNW clientele, and small-series production approach.

Broad incumbents

• Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding: Thomaston, Maine full-service boatyard building custom power and sailing yachts at larger scale than French & Webb. Comparable in target market but operates as a broader incumbent with multiple service lines including brokerage and yacht management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.frenchwebb.com

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about French & Webb