Northern Enterprises Boat yard Inc. was started in 1982 and has been expanding ever since. We are presently developing 4 acres of land adjoining the yard to the North. This land is to house all odds and ends that are not boats.
We have 3 marine travel lift machines for lifting and placing vessels. Two front end loaders with forks, two water tankers, one 18-ton crane, one 50-ton crane, several hydraulic boat trailers, small skid steer, small fork lift, one mobile man lift, two old crawlers and various other small equipment. Six pickups and light trucks.
There are two fire hydrants along Kachemak Dr. in the front of the yard, one hydrant in the middle of the yard and a hook up in back of the 200-foot-long building. We have a guard tower that is maned 8 hours a night 7 days a week. The night watchmen duty is to watch for fire, theft, and any other problems that may occur. Natural gas has replaced most of the many diesel tanks used to heat buildings and in the near future will replace all heating oil tanks.
We are on city water and sewer, however, have central bathrooms as not all buildings have water and sewer too them.
We are constantly on the lookout for pollution and over the years have been training our customers to keep pollutants off the ground. However, in a yard of several hundred boats, many doing repairs, it is impossible not to have some spots left on the ground. When we do find a small spot of diesel or oil, we treat it with Aquazyme and allow it to be open to sunlight.
Northern Enterprises Boat Yard History
Two acres on the bluff of Kachemak Bay were bought in 1967. In 1972 a house trailer was brought in and land was being cleared to build a house.
In 1975 the 11 acres across Kachemak Dr was purchased and a house was built on the two acres, on Kachemak Bay. On the left is what will be the entrance to Northern Enterprises boat yard.
Three 50 x 100 butler steel buildings were built to explore the market for building rentals in the Homer area and also serve as a lot to store crab pots and other fishing gear.
15 acres of land was purchased from Jim Calkins for much needed expansion.
5 acres of fabric, Electoral, and gravel fill have been added. For the first fill on the new property.
Another 5 acres of fabric, underground electrical, and gravel fill are added to the yard.
Several buildings have been added since 1991. This view is toward Homer at the corner of East end road and Kachemak Dr. The boat yard is on left center. There is now about 25 acres under gravel fill.
This aerial picture was taken in 2002. Several more buildings have been added and an acre or so of gravel fill in the back-right corner of the yard.
Buildings on the bluff above Kachemak Bay are (left to Right) boat repair shop rental. Owners home and Northern Enterprises Boat yard office. Property line is between office (lite colored roof and green roofed house facing the bay.
Northern Enterprises boat yard starts. By 1982, the decision had been made to make it a dry land marina. A 95-foot dock was built, electricity and fabric laid down and gravel covered most of the 11 acres. At that time a building 50 by 200 feet was built to better work with boat work and 3 mini storage buildings added.