Take one close look at the detail on a completed model ship, and you will likely be amazed at the time and commitment required to assemble such a masterpiece. Hundreds—sometimes thousands—of hours are invested in such replicas. Now try to fathom everything that goes into creating a model ship kit.

I didn't have to rely on my imagination, but rather had the opportunity to explore this process from start to finish on the latest Maine Features visit. It was a bit overwhelming, somewhat mind-boggling, and all-together fascinating.

Two things were clear: there are no shortcuts in this craft, and a tremendous amount of dedication is demanded to achieve the finished product.

The whirlwind introduction into this nautical world was provided to me by Nic and Trisha Damuck. They are the sixth owners of the BlueJacket Shipcrafters, a ship modeling company located in Searsport, Maine. Nic has been a modeler (that's the official term) since he was a young boy. But the title “educator” seems equally applicable, in my opinion. Throughout my tour, Nic was teaching. Afterward, I found even more educational components on the website, in the monthly newsletter, and even by reviewing the print catalog.

This business was founded in 1905 by Horace Boucher who was a model maker for the U.S. Navy. In case you're not familiar with the word, a "bluejacket" is an enlisted person in the U.S. or British Navy—a sailor. BlueJacket is the oldest model ship and model boat company in the United States. They take pride in making very accurate scale model kits.

Nearly every aspect of the work at BlueJacket is done onsite, including design, manufacturing, order fulfillment, shipping, and so much more. The 6,000 square foot facility is bursting at the seams with creativity.

Like so many of the location visits for Maine Features, this is one you need to see for yourself. Thankfully, you have the opportunity to do so as the company is open to the public year round and conveniently located on Route One. BlueJacket has a gallery with over one hundred assembled models on display. There are sailing vessels, work and utility boats (like a lobster boat), naval ships, and more.

Despite that large number of models, the company is still creating additional ones. Astonishingly, a new model can take between 1,000-1,400 hours to design! A wide variety of tools and machines are used to make all the items that will be placed into the box of a kit.

Those kits are ranked according to nine levels of difficulty that fall under three major categories: ensign, captain, and admiral. BlueJacket Shipcrafters has something for everyone, whether it be a child's first model or a more complex ship for an expert modeler. There are detailed instructions included with each kit, along with all the various pieces and parts.

The company makes a vast array of "fittings." My (very unprofessional) definition for these is "thousands of tiny things." Most of them are made from lead-free casting pewter which doesn't oxidize. In other words, you can build something early in your life, and by the time you show it off to your grandkids, those little parts will still look new.

BlueJacket doesn't only offer accessories and kits. They build cases for displaying and protecting your finished product. Restoration and repair work also falls into their area of expertise. For those who can't make it to Searsport, the company ships their products far and wide. About 5,000 packages go out the door every year. In 2020, due to you-know-what, business grew by 25%! This is a craft and hobby that remains popular.

If possible, I recommend you make the trip to beautiful Searsport. Though the BlueJacket Shipcrafters company hasn't always been located in Maine, it fits so well into this state with its long and rich history of shipbuilding and industries on and around the water. Located on Penobscot Bay, Searsport has an intriguing maritime legacy. Less than a mile from BlueJacket, the Penobscot Maritime Museum serves as a great resource. The museum's website includes the following amazing statistic:

Over 500 merchant captains came from this small coastal town in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Considering that Searsport’s population was only about 2,000 people at that time, it was remarkable that so many master mariners called it home.

Along this same stretch of Searsport, you will find the East Main Street Historic District and its collection of five properties with Italianate architectural influences. Each one was built by a local ship captain in the mid-19th century.

There are no merchant captains to be found amongst the employees back over at BlueJacket Shipcrafters, but you will discover individuals who possess a high degree of skill, creativity, and passion for all things related to wooden model ships and boats. As mentioned earlier, this company is clearly interested in far more than making and selling a good product that can be passed down through generations. They also care about educating those who are interested in learning more about this field. If you, or someone you know, would like to expand your knowledge, I encourage you to sign up for the BlueJacket’s free monthly newsletter. In the process, you will learn more about this aspect of Maine’s history and way of life.

The BlueJacket website is HERE.

I’m on a mission to visit every town in Maine. See if I’ve featured yours yet: All The Visits.