Wickford Shipyard

Wickford Shipyard, located in Wickford Harbor (North Kingstown, Rhode Island), is a historic boatyard with roots tracing back to the late 18th century, evolving from a bustling colonial shipbuilding center into a modern marina and service facility for recreational vessels. Originally part of the broader Wickford maritime economy that flourished after timber shortages depleted Newport's resources around 1790, the yard specialized in wooden sailing ships through the early 1800s, including schooners and brigs for coastal trade. By the mid-20th century, it had shifted focus to yacht services and small-scale production of fiberglass sailboats, notably serving as one of several builders for the enduring Sea Sprite 23 during the 1960s and 1970s. Acquired from earlier owners like Sea Sprite Inc. around 1971, the yard emphasized both daysailer and racer-cruiser variants, blending handcrafted woodwork with contracted fiberglass molding (often from C.E. Ryder). Though no longer a primary manufacturer—production molds moved on by the late 1970s—Wickford Shipyard today thrives as a full-service marina, offering docking, winter storage, repairs, and fuel in one of New England's most protected harbors, honoring its legacy of supporting Narragansett Bay's boating community.