Delta Marine co-founder, Ivor Jones, has died.
Ivor was born in Seattle in 1939, and from an early age enjoyed racing flat-bottom boats with his brother Jack on nearby Lake Sammamish, exceeding speeds of 100mph.
In 1967, the brothers changed direction and co-founded the American boatbuilder Delta Marine with the intention of building tough, modern, fibreglass fishing vessels engineered for the demanding conditions of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
Their goal was to replace aging wooden boats with durable, low-maintenance fibreglass hulls that were built to last and required less maintenance.
From the outset, the company invested in infrastructure, handpicked skilled craftsmen and established an environment where quality boatbuilding could thrive.
Ivor led with heart, grit and a deep sense of responsibility to his craft, his team and his family.
Michelle Jones
Within two years, the first hull in a series of 38-footers was launched and by 1970, the business had expanded to the point where new facilities were needed.
In its early years, Delta Marine produced more than 600 commercial vessels, and when commercial fishing took a hit in the late 1970s, the brothers decided to expand into the luxury yacht market, building on their commercial success.
Their first yacht was lauched in 1984, utilising the same hull design as the Delta 70 fishing vessel from 1980.
The shipyard launched its first megayacht in 1989, and in 2006, Delta Marine launched the 240ft (73.15m) Laurel, at the time the largest yacht constructed on American soil.
In 2009, Delta Marine opened its Delta North facility and began offering metal hulls to customers.
Ivor and Jack Jones handed over day-to-day operations to their children in recent years, with Ivor’s daughter, Michelle Jones, vice president.
Chris Jones, Jack’s son, oversees project management. Ivor also leaves behind another daughter.
Remaining family-owned, the boatbuilder’s operations now span 25 acres in Seattle, with more than 300,000sqft of manufacturing space.
“Ivor led with heart, grit and a deep sense of responsibility to his craft, his team and his family,” said Delta Marine vice president Michelle Jones.
“The culture he created at Delta is rooted in integrity, care and relentless dedication. We are committed to honouring that legacy in everything we do.”
