Marked only by a discreet sign and tucked away off Route 27 in Boothbay, B&D Boats is a small boatyard doing big things on its own terms. The company recently put the finishing touches on a 2016 South Shore 30 named Bonnie Lass for Boothbay Harbor resident Jim Oliphant. The craft is known as a lobster yacht; the term is somewhat of a misnomer but refers to using the hull of a lobster boat to create fast, reliable and seaworthy recreational vessels. B&D owner Robert Peters has been in business since 2000 and the Bonnie Lass is just the fifth boat they’ve finished. It’s not for lack of effort but rather the discerning eye of Peters.

“I have people walk in and offer me $150,000 to build a boat,” said Peters. “It tell them to come back with another $50,000.”

What makes B&D so in demand? According to Oliphant, it’s in the details.

“He cares a lot and is very much a perfectionist,” said Oliphant. “He knows song and verse about all the tiniest aspects. If a hose is supposed to hold a thousand pounds per square inch, Bob will make it 4,000. If you need a quarter-inch bolt to hold something secure, he’ll put in a half an inch. He overbuilds because he cares about the product.”

In the case of the Bonnie Lass, the hull and top were built by Flower's Boatyard in Walpole and all finish work was done by B&D Boats, whose crew includes Peters’ wife Debbie, son Adam and subcontractor Mike Doucette. The boat is powered by a 370 hp Yanmar diesel, an engine Peters prefers for its power, quiet ride and weight distribution. On a sea trial last week, the boat clipped along at 34 miles per hour with a four-foot sea, going against the tide. With a following sea, the boat reached 36 miles an hour, even against the wind.

“That’s a good pace in a lobster boat,” said Peters. “Similar boats are getting 22 miles per hour.”

The lobster yacht-style boat is a popular design because of stability; five or six people can sit on the washboards and the boat won’t move. The one problem he encounters is when people want to add too much, which makes the boat lose its efficiency, said Peters. 

The decision to finish the Bonnie Lass came after Peters introduced Oliphant to Ken Flowers.

“One thing led to another which led to ten more things,” said Oliphant. “I was able to customize the boat.”

In January, the boat was basically a shell with an engine attached to it. The decision for Peters to tackle a project was part personal, part professional. 

“Jim was a very nice owner and a good person,” said Peters. “I also wanted to work on a South Shore.”

Another reason was space. The B&D shop can only handle boats up to 32 feet and he wanted to work on a smaller boat. The company is a finisher of projects and it intentionally flies under the radar. Peters eschews traditional advertising and relies on word of mouth solely. In addition to the stray project, he works with the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club and Block Island Maritime in Newport, Rhode Island, a nonprofit organization which takes boats through donation. 

“Our advantage is we build one boat at a time,” said Peters. “If we’re building your boat, it’s just yours. We’re not building three at a time.”