New Eco-Catamaran Classroom: Mamaroneck’s Derecktor Shipyards to Build 50-Foot Research Vessel for SoundWaters

MAMARONECK, NY (December 5, 2025) — Derecktor Shipyards is building a new 50-foot-by-23-foot aluminum research catamaran at its Mamaroneck yard for Stamford, Connecticut-based nonprofit SoundWaters in partnership with Chartwell Marine.

The vessel, named R/V Brewer in honor of Jack Brewer, founder of Brewers Marinas, will serve as a floating classroom and research platform on Long Island Sound.

R/V Brewer will carry 2 crew members and up to 35 passengers. It will be powered by Volvo Penta D8-700 IPS with IPS drives and secondary docking controls. Scientific equipment includes an A-frame with Okeanus trawl winches, a Pullmaster winch for buoy and mooring work, and a davit for Ponar grab sampling and CTD casts. The catamaran will feature a wet/dry laboratory designed for education, an integrated Garmin navigation package supplied by L&L Electronics, Imtra lighting, and a high-efficiency Termodinamica heat pump system.

“This project brings together craftsmanship, collaboration, and community,” said Erik Derecktor of new construction at Derecktor Shipyards. “SoundWaters’ educational mission aligns perfectly with our own vision of building vessels that make an impact in the community. This platform will serve our employees’ families, our neighbors’ children, our industry’s future craftspeople and mariners.”

The new vessel will allow SoundWaters to expand programming from New Rochelle to New London and Port Washington to Greenport, reaching an additional 10,000 students each year by traveling on the water instead of highways.

“R/V Brewer will use our waterways to bypass highway traffic, enabling our education team to reach 10,000 more students across the Long Island Sound region,” said Leigh Shemitz, president of SoundWaters. “We are very excited; Derecktor’s reputation for quality, smart innovations, and close proximity made them the ideal partner to bring this next chapter of our mission to life.”

Andy Page, managing director of Chartwell Marine, said the project reflects ongoing collaboration to streamline production using common structural modules and optimized aluminum extrusions.

Construction is underway at Derecktor’s Mamaroneck facility.

This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.