ABOUT

I was born in Long Beach, CA and started working on boats when I was 5 years old. With my family, we built our family yacht, a 1958 Ess & Ess 34’ wood cabin cruiser. My job was painting the bilge. As I got older my dad taught me how to rebuild engines, paint, varnish, and repair dry rot. Boating is and has always been a part of my family life.

To pay for my BA degree in business at LB State, I got jobs at Lancer Yachts, McGreggor, and Californian where I worked in fiber glass fabrication and Pacifica by Kipper, where I was the lead foreman on fiber glass componentry, arches, hatches, and design.

In 1978 I opened Buxton Boat Works. But an opportunity opened for me to work at Miller Marine in architectural design for Power Genie Diesel Gen Sets. After the buy-out and eventual closing I went to work for Lucky Stores in the store planning department where I was able to use the drafting skills I learned from LA Art School, which I attended when I was in high school. I drew floor plans and elevations for 100,000 sq. ft stores like Gemco and Home Depot.

When Gemco went out of business, Gerrard Metal, who supplied the shelving for Lucky Stores hired me as chief designer and I did in-store designs for multiple retail outlets. Eventually Gerrard Metal closed.

Since every business I worked for had gone out of business, and for the sake of job security, I decided to re-open Buxton Boat Works. For once I could be in control of my own future. I put my trust in myself and knew I could make it work.

29 years later I am still in business doing what I know and what I love.

Buxton Boat Works is the go-to for all boat design, construction, and installation needs. BBW is a mobile dockside service provider with an in-house yard facility to 35 feet, specializing in fiberglass repair, custom fabrication, gel coat repair, gel coat matching and will work with your insurance.