Bluejacket Shipcrafters

Specialties

BlueJacket Shipcrafters is the oldest modeling company in the US, having been founded in 1905 as the official model maker for the US Navy.

BlueJacket does absolutely everything with regard to model ships and boats. We build custom models, design and manufacture ship model kits, repair or restore antique or damaged ship models, manufacture ship model fittings, and manufacture ship model cases.

All work is performed in Maine, by our very skilled Yankee shipcrafters, who are all US citizens.

History

Established in 1905.

BlueJacket Shipcrafters, Inc. is, by far, the oldest modeling company in the US, continuously in business for over 100 years.

We were founded In 1905 by Horace E. Boucher, a French-​born naval architect with the U.S. Navy and head of the Navy’s model shop in Washington.

Boucher’s models were prized by museums all over the country – more than 40 are in the Smithsonian alone. His innovative idea of mass producing cast fittings and selling kits to the general public started a new industry in the United States and helped turn what had been the art of a few craftsmen into a hobby enjoyed by thousands.

Meet the Business Owner

Jeff M.

Business Owner

I started sailing in 8′ prams when I was less than 5 years old. My earliest memories was wearing a large kapok life jacket, and trying to swamp the pram.

I started ocean racing, as foredeck crew, when I was 11years old, in the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit.

I have since participated in sailboat ocean races in many parts of the world, in many different kinds of boats, from 18′ local club dinghy’s to maxi ocean racers.

One of my particular passions is history. I am able to intermingle my love of boats and history at BlueJacket. One of the reasons that BlueJacket has remained viable for over 100 years is because our models are accurate, both historically and in scale.