PORT ANGELES — The presence of yacht builders and repairers at Westport Shipyard and Platypus Marine is seen as a “tremendous asset” to creating a megayacht marina on Ediz Hook.
That’s the assessment of Tim Smith, Port Angeles city economic development director, in discussing the proposed $7 million Elwha Landing Cultural Center and Yacht Marina.
Platypus Marine and its 330-ton travel lift off of Cedar Street on the waterfront are attractive to yacht owners looking for repairs, Smith said.
Westport Shipyard is available for yacht owners who, like some car owners, are looking to “move up” to the next, better model, he said.
Westport’s new plant on Marine Drive is building 164-foot yachts costing upwards of $30 million each.
“What we saw was a unique opportunity to support our existing yacht companies such as Westport and Platypus,” Smith said.
“They are wonderful employers who pay family wages and help support jobs through suppliers and subcontractors.”
The result is what Smith calls a “three-legged stool”: yacht builder, yacht maintenance and repair, and yacht marina storage.
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