Our Story
Essential Shipyard Industries is run by husband and wife team Jason and Emily Knott. They began their marine repair business as a mobile service and store around the Port of Friday Harbor. In 2022 they established the Essential Sailing Outlet at the historic Jensen's Boatyard right outside of the town of Friday Harbor. In 2023 we expanded to a shipyard in Skyline and then moved to.
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Jason has a life long love for boating and for helping customers have a wonderful experience on the water. He started working on boats more than twenty years ago. He has worked on charter boats, managed a charter fleet, and has worked on crab and fishing boats.
In the early 2000s, Jason invented an electric sailboat motor (SolidNav) which he sold nationwide. Jason loves finding the best solution and technology for even the most complicated boat problems. This is the excitement he and Emily bring to every product they carry in the store and every service they provide.
Jason and Emily run their business with highly qualified employees who are available to paint boat bottoms, install zincs, diesel heaters, and more.
Read About ESI In The San Juan Islander
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Sunday night, Dena Royal's moored houseboat sank during a storm. Monday, generous islanders and friends donated more than $35,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to help her. Tuesday, A1 Marine with support from Essential Sailing Industries and the Port of Friday Harbor raised the vessel and placed it on A1 Marine's barge. Dena Royal wrote, "Thank you to the crew at A1 Marine for getting Macy out of the water and onto the barge ahead of tomorrow’s windstorm. She will be stored on the barge until the weather improves. I’ll then be able to--hopefully--salvage a few personal items before Macy is sent to the boat graveyard. All of your generous donations paid for this major recovery process. Thank you is not enough...but THANK YOU."
