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From the Door County Advocate
Seacraft Design carrying on TGMD reputation

Ship design team settling in at new quarters
By Kurt Rentmeester
Advocate correspondent

Posted February 21, 2007

As president and head naval architect at the newly established Seacraft Design LLC, Mark Pudlo knows from experience that excellence and attention to detail are paramount in building a company’s reputation.

Pudlo will oversee the design, production and engineering of small- to medium-sized commercial vessels for the new Sturgeon Bay firm, which operates at 61 Michigan St.

Pudlo acquired the design assets of Timothy Graul Marine Design effective Jan. 1. Through Seacraft Design, Pudlo, 42, and his five-member staff will build on several niche areas of ship construction: passenger vessels, car ferries and offshore support vessels; boats that range in length from 130 to 180 feet and that can travel as fast as 30 knots.

The company provides several services, including conceptual, contract-level and detail designs; regulatory compliance; hull form development and structural analysis; and stability tests and analyses.

Seacraft Design also will provide speed and propulsion estimates, propeller and systems designs, vessel modifications and conversions, provide shipyard support and owner representation and calculate tonnages.

Joining Pudlo are naval architects Craig Pomeroy and Nathan Smith, designer Charlie Balestrieri, administrator Jean Clark and controller Chesla Anschutz.

Pomeroy brings 24 years of commercial vessel and custom yacht design experience and most recently worked for Burger Boat Co. in Manitowoc.

Smith moved to Sturgeon Bay in 2005, bringing a diverse background in the maritime industry, including his experience in building and sailing traditional wooden boats.

Balestrieri has been working in ship construction and design for 33 years and specializes in drafting and system design.

Pudlo, Pomeroy and Smith all graduated from Webb Institute, a highly regarded school of naval architecture that accepts only 25 students each year.

Before graduating from Webb Institute in 1987, Pudlo interned at Timothy Graul Marine Design. After graduation, he continued his career with TGMD, eventually becoming chief naval architect there.

Last year, Graul approached Pudlo about acquiring the business. Pudlo then formed Seacraft Design, and purchased most of TGMD. Graul will continue to do consulting and conduct ship surveys.

The acquisition by Pudlo ensures the continuity of a marine design business linked to the maritime history of Sturgeon Bay.

“We enjoy what we’re doing,” Pudlo said. “We’re excited about building our reputation and serving our clients. Our clients include owners, operators and builders all over the country.”

As part of the transition, Seacraft established a new headquarters in the Great Lakes Yacht Services building adjacent to the Michigan Street Bridge. Pudlo said the business will be a good fit along Sturgeon Bay’s waterfront.

The purchase gives the new company a firm foundation, and enables Seacraft to build on the TGMD reputation.

In January and February alone, Seacraft has design work for three crew boats and two passenger boats, and will prepare vessel modifications and a concept design for a car ferry. A solid booking of projects is expected during the rest of the year.

“Good work — that’s our whole philosophy,” Pudlo said. “That’s how Tim (Graul) has always gotten business. You can advertise. But its people knowing who to go to. It’s really a niche industry we’re in. Word of mouth carries a lot of weight.

“We’re carrying on more than 25 years of history, established by Tim Graul,” Pudlo said. “We’re building on the legacy we inherited serving the same clients and building a new history of our own.”