Baltic Yachts was founded 35 years ago when five men gathered together to build superyachts. Their company is now one of the leading names in custom made luxury yachts.
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The Baltic Yachts Ltd company is based in the United States of America at Rhode Island but the Baltic Yachts yard is located in a village Bosund on the West coast of Finland. Five friends came from well-known Nautor and they planned to make yachts with a lighter displacement than the competitors' boats, not only in order to increase performance, but also to make life more enjoyable, and they had the idea that utilizing more modern high-tech materials and methods could do that.
wanted to create something of their own and the years 1973 and 1974 were extremely busy for the new company. Not only did they develop and make moulds for the first model, but also parallel to this they built their factory from scratch.
The Baltic 46 had very positive reactions from the crowd and from the press. The business, however, was not as good as it could have been. The world experienced its first oil crisis in 1973 and this had a negative effect on most businesses Five friend then added the Baltic 33 in 1975 and they also built the first Custom in 1975. That was a 2-tonner, "Tina I-Punkt". All in all, the company delivered 15 yachts in 1975, followed by 28 yachts 1976. Very good, indeed.
At the end of 1977 Hollming Ltd., a large Finnish ship builder, purchased Baltic Yachts and at this time the company opened up the sales office in USA, and started a large marketing campaign. At the end of the 1980's the yachting market was at a down period and also the ship building was in a difficult position. This resulted in a situation where Hollming wanted to get out of the yachting business. In order to safeguard Baltic Yachts' activities friends got a group of people together and 34 new owner started the company again in 1991.
This was again a milestone for the company and marketing and production of Baltic sailing yachts could go on. In the beginning of the "take over" the market was bad and there was a strong need to make the company smaller in size and slimming the administrative side. However 34 friends had enough old customers and friends who believed in the company which managed to get through these difficult times.
From 1991 Baltic Yachts have had a substantial technology development and raised the quality level, plus increased the custom division activities substantially. In other words, the company have been doing well. Today Baltic Yachts is well-known in the business as one reaching the highest quality levels and using the highest technology.
Baltic Yachts Ltd is located in the village of Bosund on the west coast of Finland, and is building a new waterfront production factory in Pietarsaari/Jakobstad, which will be ready Autumn 2008. ■