Hard Work in 60 Years Propels Shipyard Into Economic Engine, National Renown

TUCKAHOE – John Yank was a school boy of 13 in 1954 when his sister got him his first job at Troth Shipyard here. “She knew one of the Troth sons and set me up there, I was only allowed to sweep floors until I was 14 when they started to let me even get near a boat. I would hop off the school bus right in front of the yard and start in each day,” said Yank.
Yank Marine, the shipyard he has developed over the decades is recognized nationally for both the building and repair of vessels and Yank has become the only commercial boat builder in New Jersey. 
Getting Started
Troth Boat works was located near the Great Cedar Swamp in Greenfield, Upper Township. Yank’s after-school job there provided the impetus for a life-long passion, successful operation and busy occupation.
“I was making $1.45 an hour at Troth and then when I graduated from high school I moved to Egg Harbor Boat Company where I really started making big money,” Yank said with a chuckle.
“I was paid at Egg Harbor $2.75 an hour and actually then was able to start saving some since I was always working. That money allowed me to buy 40 acres of bean field in Tuckahoe that I then slowly turned into my own ship building operation. I started by building small boats for fishermen in my garage and I also was able to borrow against that property with loans from the Farmer’s Home Administration so I could expand,” Yank explained.
Customers Keep Growing
In the early days, Yank’s customers included Chris’ Boats in Ocean City and many Cape May fishermen. He has progressed to where he is the builder of choice for buyers from across the country from California to Maine to Florida. Examples of recent construction include an upscale cruise boat for a Brooklyn company complete with two kitchens, one being kosher, as well as two luxury ferries ordered by NY Waterway, the largest ferry and excursion fleet in the city’s harbor which will ply the Hudson River waters back and forth from New Jersey to Manhattan.
“In fact, we’re formally delivering this second ferry Aug. 18 although she ‘went home’ over July 4 weekend because the owner wanted to celebrate his 90th birthday on board,” said Yank.
That ferry is a state-of-the-art vessel, with railings heated through hot water piping, flat screen TVs, electronics galore in the captain’s bridge and a 1930s Art Deco color scheme, tiling and metal geometric accents.
Yank needed to do a “tank test” for the ferry based on modeling, a first for him, and to prove that his ship could maintain certain speeds even through the high wind and waves common at the mouth of the Hudson which the catamaran design proved more than able to meet.
Coast Guard inspectors from Philadelphia visit Yank’s shipyard about three times a week to inspect how all repairs and new construction are being done and Yank’s meticulous attention to detail ensures no problematic issues.
Yank’s Marine also builds vessels for the state including the Department of the Environmental Protection as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey State Police and does the repair work for U.S. Coast Guard and Army boats.
Local Economic Engine
Bette Jean, Yank’s wife of 20 years, is his office “rudder” and helps to keep the contracting and administration of the company flowing smoothly. ”
We’re most busy in the winter months when these boats are least used and can be repaired or when customers are placing orders for vessels to be used in the summer like the cruise boats, fishing boats and ferries,” she said.
“We’re a big employer in the county with 64 employees now and that number will go up when we head into our busy season. We have people streaming in here every day looking for work and we also have a lot of economic impact on local businesses since we buy and our employees buy as much as we can from neighboring establishments and restaurants.
“We also are pleased to host naval architect interns, at this time we have one from the Stevens Institute of Technology and another from Brazil, who are here to learn all that we can teach them,” Bette Jean explained with pride.
Officials’ Visits Scarce
While it seems that no official from Upper Township or the county is interested in the job creation and economic benefits Yank’s Marine has generated, since “They’ve never visited and a pat on the back would be nice,” U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) and Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) “have been really helpful and supportive, and have enabled us to get federal funding so we can continue to expand, ” said Yank.
Growing in Cumberland
Yank’s business that he started in 1967 has become so successful he’s invested in a new boatyard in Dorchester, Cumberland County.
“Here in Tuckahoe, we have lifts of 50, 75 and 300 tons which allow us to build some of the really large boats. They’re expensive and we’ve invested $3 million to get them with federal funding. In Dorchester where we bought an old yard of six acres similar in size to this one in Tuckahoe we’ll have a lift of 600 tons so that will really open up the weight of boats we can build and work on,” continued Yank.
Geographic Filmed
Inspiring another generation, Yank’s son, John III, is in the boat business too, building speed boats in Santa Clara, Calif. His expertise also is in great demand for the repair of old wood boats such as the 80-year-old-tall ship, the A. J. Meerwald, which was dry-docked at the yard over the winter.
“We’ve gone over the years from wood to fiberglass to aluminum and steel and not many have the knowledge, tools and materials to repair these old ships,” said Bette Jean.
And as the icing on the cake or more apt the topsail on the mast, National Geographic recently visited Yank’s Marine for several days filming everything from “stern to bow” per Yank of the building process.
That film will combine with footage taken at a few other yards around the country to form the basis for a series about shipbuilding in the U.S.  
“These are the same producers who’ve made the ‘Deadliest Catch’ and ‘Swords on the Line’ so we’re really excited to see what they put together when the program airs,” said Bette Jean.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.