In May 1968, Richard Boland and his partner Lenny Farrauto walked into the Pacific Bridge building at the Pacific Marina in Alameda, with plans to embark on a unique venture. They aimed to build floating homes, inspired by Richard’s own experience living on a floating home at Barnhills Marina. With only the funds for the first month’s rent and plans for 20 x 40′ pontoons, they began construction, ordering materials on credit.

Their first client, Ken Martin, traded a burned-out tugboat hull as a down payment and commissioned the “Lock Lomond Bait Shop” and living quarters. Over the next decade, more than 50 floating homes were delivered to Barnhills Marina in Alameda, Kappas Marina in Sausalito, and the Delta. The last floating home, for the Dawson family, was launched in 1978. The project was known under the trade name “Marina Homes.”

Afterward, Richard shifted his focus to power boats, establishing a 28′ Land N’ Sea Craft dealership and converting his shop into a mechanical and fiberglass repair center. He replaced over 40 rusted steel fuel tanks with aluminum ones and upgraded old copper propane lines to stainless steel aircraft fuel lines.

For more details on this chapter of Richard Boland’s journey, visit Richard Boland’s Floating Home Story.

Over the following 46 years, Richard delivered over 100 new motoryachts in Northern California, featuring brands like Viking Yachts, Ocean Yachts from New Jersey, Activa Yachts from China, and Riviera Yachts from Australia, along with selling hundreds of brokerage yachts from his Alameda office.

In 2019, Richard embarked on a new project to design a yacht suitable for the Bay and Delta area marinas, usable as a home, second home, or office. Collaborating with a graphic designer, the Marina Bay Yacht Home was conceived. Finding a builder was a challenge, but Richard eventually partnered with A & M Manufacturing in Alachua, Florida. The owner, John Hemken, agreed to incorporate the successful building standards from the original Marina Homes into the new yachts.

A & M Manufacturing, recent recipient of the “Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Award,” employs a retired Coast Guard inspector, ensuring each Marina Bay Yacht meets the USCG Certificate of Inspection standards. The fiberglass pontoon molds are under construction, featuring hand-laid fiberglass with nine watertight compartments and a crash bulkhead. The standard power setup includes twin Suzuki Outboards 250 HP engines, with options for a Cox 300 HP Diesel motor or Vision 180 HP electric outboards. Bow and stern thrusters, a gas generator, and a range of other standard equipment make each yacht ready for inland cruising or living aboard.

Each yacht will be shipped to Svendsen’s Boat Yard in Richmond, CA, or near the customer’s dock. The upper deck parts will be removed for shipping and reinstalled upon delivery. Sea trials with new owners will ensure proper functioning, and 15 hours of Captain training and yacht familiarization are included. A & M Manufacturing offers a 12-month warranty on components and a 5-year hull warranty for original owners.

For an artist’s concept and floor plans, visit Marina Bay Yachts. Contact Richard Boland directly at 510-610-6213 or [email protected] for more information.

Richard Boland Yacht Sales

• Marina Village: 1070 Marina Village Pkwy, Ste 107, Alameda
• Westpoint Harbor: 101 Westpoint Harbor Dr., Redwood City
• Svendsens Bay Marine: 310 West Cutting Blvd. Richmond