Jim Palmer

Jim Palmer

(360) 904-7525
[email protected]

My love for the sea began as a teenager aboard my dad’s many boats. Every summer vacation was eagerly anticipated—it meant boating season had arrived. What started as family adventures quickly grew into a lifelong passion as I learned to fish tuna, salmon, and everything the ocean had to offer alongside my father.

After high school, I worked in the family’s logging and cedar-mill business until a trip to Seattle changed my course. There I met the head of Pan Alaska Fisheries, was offered a job at their Ballard shipyard, and began my career in marine electrical, mechanical, and welding—servicing King Crab fishing boats bound for the Bering Sea.

Two years later I joined Lanphere & Son Marine in Westport, Washington, as lead electrician and plumbing foreman for custom yacht builds. During that time I met Dave Christensen, whose ambition to build the finest fiberglass motor yachts led me, by the end of 1980, to join Christensen Motor Yachts in Vancouver, Washington, handling electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems on their vessels.

Between 1980 and 2000 I contributed to the construction of more than 30 motor yachts—ranging from 65’ to 155’. I was instrumental in river testing, sea trials, and delivering yachts up and down the West Coast (and several through the Panama Canal to Miami and Fort Lauderdale). These experiences honed my skills in vessel operation and systems and allowed me to build lasting relationships with owners—many of whom remain valued contacts.

In 2000, I launched my own marine-repair and refit company, which I continue to own and operate. For over two decades, I’ve dedicated myself to helping clients maintain, upgrade, and enjoy their vessels while pursuing their boating dreams.

Since 2001, I’ve been a proud member and water-owner at the Columbia River Yacht Club in Portland, where my wife Shauna and I keep our 11-meter Trojan. Boating remains a central part of our lives, and we seize every opportunity to explore our local waterways with friends and family.

My goal is simple: to bring my experience, passion, and lifelong knowledge of boating to help you achieve your dream of boat ownership.