East End: Goldsmith's Boat Shop

Goldsmith’s Boat Shop began in the 1920s when Alvah Goldsmith wrote a letter to Evinrude, the company that created the first outboard motor.

News 12 Staff

Jul 17, 2023, 12:12 PM

Updated 505 days ago

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Goldsmith’s Boat Shop is a family-owned business that has been selling and servicing boats for over 100 years.
It began in the 1920s when Alvah Goldsmith wrote a letter to Evinrude, the company that created the first outboard motor. After complimenting the company on the motor he had just purchased, they replied to thank him and asked if he would like to be a dealer.
“My dad was selling outboard motors off the front porch of the farmhouse. Nobody was really jumping at the idea of buying them at that particular time,” said Skip Goldsmith.
Following World War II, Goldsmith’s father was able to capitalize on an explosive demand for military boats.
“He wound up building 138 boats for the Navy,” said Goldsmith.
After the war, recreational boating became increasingly popular, along with Goldsmith's Boat Shop. Today it is the oldest continuously run marine dealership in the country.