The Bellingham Business Journal

Bellingham boatbuilder Norstar Boats finalized a lease with the Port of Bellingham on Dec. 15 to move into the Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park, located at 819 Harris Ave.

The company will be consolidating its custom power boat and sailboat operations in the 12,000-square-foot space, said owner Gary Nordtvedt.

“I am very excited about moving to the Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park,” Nordtvedt said. “It opens up a broad range of new opportunities for Norstar.”

After more than 20 years in the boating industry as a designer, engineer, and owner/captain of a commercial fishing vessel, Gary Nordtvedt founded Norstar Boats, Inc. in 1995. The business currently employs six people and anticipates expanding to 25 employees over the next several years.

“The Port is very pleased to see another marine trades business with a long history expand and add essential new jobs to our economy,” said Commission President Scott Walker. “I believe Norstar Boats will be a great addition to our Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park.”

A second-generation yacht designer and builder, Nordtvedt said he is excited to carry on the family tradition on the Fairhaven waterfront.

“It was exactly 51 years ago this month that my father, Art Nordtvedt, moved the Uniflite boat building operation to a large wood frame building in Fairhaven that was leased from the Port of Bellingham,” Nordtvedt said. “That  production facility was a key element contributing to the rapid growth of Uniflite as a national leader in the manufacture of fiberglass boats during the 1960s.  During its heyday Uniflite employed more than 500 people. We are very pleased to make a new contribution to that legacy.”

For more information, call Norstar Boats at (360) 671-3669 or visit www.norstaryachts.com