Brightside Marine offers an array of services including classic boat restorations, mechanical / electrical repair, winterization services, indoor and outdoor storage, and brokerage services. Brightside is an authorized dealer of Elco Electric Motors and we are the only Aloha Pontoons dealer in the state of Maine.
About Us
Meet the Crew
Shawn Grant, Owner
For his entire life, Shawn Grant, a resident of Belgrade Lakes for nearly 30 years, has recalled a love and appreciation of classic wooden boats.
From their vintage design, the low bellowing sound they make when piercing the water, and their harmonious feel as they glide along.
But it wasn’t until 2007 that Grant decided to turn his passion into a full time endeavor. He wrote his own business plan and sold some of his prized possessions in order to acquire the necessary tools, equipment and rental boats to get the business started.
It wasn’t long before Grant attached a single-bay workshop to his house; a two-bay, two story workshop on the other side of the driveway; and acquired direct shorefront on Mill Stream, which runs along Hulin Road in the Belgrade Lakes village.
Jon "JT" Stevens II
Partner
JT here – born and raised in the beautiful town of Fayette, Maine. I found my love of boats and the craft of building them while studying alongside close friends at The Boat School in Eastport, ME. We were excited to be carrying on a tradition of Maine’s heritage. There I learned the ways of blending new technology with the old in a location where skilled craftsmen had been doing the same work for hundreds of years.
After graduating with many invaluabl
“If you find yourself on the wrong side, look on the Brightside.”
Oh yeah, where are my sunglasses?
Max Curry
Internal Systems Coordinator
My name is Max Curry. I’m from Rhode Island and have always loved to come to Maine. I have lived here for the past 4 years and from day one, it has always felt like home. Boats are part of my DNA, my great (times 5 or 6) grandfather on my mother’s side rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1896 and held the time record for over 100 years. I prefer boats with sails or engines and used plenty of both while growing up on Narragansett Bay. I have taught sailing, sold nautical repair materials, and now help bring old boats back to their former glory. This year, I am expanding my boat IQ and getting certified in marine electronics. I look forward to working on your boat and seeing you on the lake.
Remember, always look on the Brightside!
Stephen Cole Arsenault
Hello, my name is Cole Arsenault. I was born in Monmouth, but raised in and on the waters of Central Maine. I fell in love with the Belgrade lakes area early in life by taking frequent boating trips with my family in our 16ft Corson. My Great-Grandfather built our boat himself after-hours at the Corson Boat Company which he worked at in Madison. These trips provided an introduction to boat maintenance and operation while sparking a passion for mechanical and electrical systems. After more than five years of combined classroom and practical training I have brought that passion to Brightside. Using these skills, I hope to provide to you the same opportunities I’ve had to create cherished memories on the Belgrade lakes!
Let us be your boating guide at Brightside!
Bob Heath
Bob Heath comes to Brightside Marine after a long career in higher education. During those years he mused about taking a sabbatical to learn boatbuilding, alas. In 2019 he built his first boat a 20 foot surf dory. In 2020 he bought a little trawler and lived aboard her the summer of 2021. His experience with building his own boat opened the door for him at Brightside. Bob says, “One thing I value highly about my employment is the variety of tasks Brightside allows me to do. Varnish, carpentry, painting, and fiberglass repairs all in a day and on Whalers, ChrisCraft, Old Towns, for example.”
Brightside Wooden Boat was born
“The sides of a wooden boat are considered the brightsides,” Shawn says. “It’s a play on words and has a number of different meanings.”
Grant said he knew that he wanted three strokes of a paint brush in his logo and a transom, which is the back part of a boat or ship.
Whether the customer was looking for a boat rental for a weekend getaway, or had a snow-covered 1956 Chris Craft that required restoration – word of Brightside was beginning to spread amongst the local community, although for many outside of the Belgrade Lakes region, it still remains one of the state’s, or perhaps country’s best kept secrets. Grant admits:
“There’s only a few of us in the country
who rent out classic wooden boats.”
Belgrade Lake’s flock of Summer tourists make up much of Brightside’s business, many whom are looking for the “On Golden Pond experience” – the Academy Award winning ’81 film based on pristine Great Pond.
While classic wooden boat restorations may be the foundation of Brightside, over the years, the business has found themselves spending more time in other areas – such as modern boat repair and electrical services, indoor / outdoor storage, canvas and upholstery services, and winterization services.
Brightside offers various
services in addition to
classic boat restorations.
“We will always have a close connection to wooden boats. Heck, look at our logo! But at the end of the day, we need to give our customers what they want. Not everyone wants to rent a ’47 Chris Craft, so we need to keep up with the demand of what our customers are asking us for”.
Grant currently employs several experienced woodworkers and boat builders to keep up with the demand on the restoration side of the business.
