| "I have recently purchased a 32 Extended Top Express birth date July 1, 1995 originally named Fred Wade Jones IV owned by W.H. Krome George, these names all seem strange to me but this is what I got from the Vessel Documentation Query from the present name ECHO. She has a Cummins 315h.p. with only 520hrs on her.I am told she was built for the CEO of Cummins who lived in Chatham, Ma and somebody died and she went into storage on the Ellis property untill the family decided to sell her. I am the 3rd proud owner of this fantastic vessel. I have only owned her for a little over a week and have shown her off atleast 20 times to people on my dock. I must say I am very honored to own such a high quality boat as a Ellis, those who know what she is are very impressed. "
"Jim, Please post my letter on your website I think this boat is awesome, David D'Amore, Dedham, Ma" David D'Amore
Dedham, Ma
"Now that summer seems far too long gone and ORCA is safely tucked away in your shop, I wanted  to take the time to thank all of you for your kindness and professionalism in building a somewhat redesigned 24. From my initial discussions with Noelle, meetings with Don and numerous phone calls with many of the staff, I can’t tell you how pleased we were with every step of the process. From design to delivery, the process was as smooth as any project with which I have been involved.
Having spent 40 or so hours “breaking her in” there was nothing I could find that I would change in her overall design or function. I think you have a winner in the outboard design with the open seating with comfort for six or more.
You proved that even in the land of the Picnic Boat, a little Ellis 24 can turn a few heads.
Delivered On Time, On Budget, by the most polite group of crafts men and women one could hope for.
Thanks to all. July ‘08 can’t come soon enough. "
Bob Esty
Greening Island, ME
"Several years ago, I began a search to replace my 32-foot trawler with a high quality, single engine, express cruiser capable of cruising 20 knots. From a previous trip to Maine, I was aware of [Ellis] boats and attended the first Maine Boats and Harbors Boat Show in an effort to locate the boat that fit my needs. I recall cross-examining [Don] for several days during the show, and the more we talked, and the more I looked, I became increasingly impressed with the superior quality of Ellis boats. My partner, Rayford Lloyd, then visited with you in the fall and was likewise impressed with the quality of the Ellis 36.
 We are pleased to have taken delivery of our Ellis 36 this spring in Southwest Harbor, Maine, and, after sea trials and training, began the 1500 nautical mile trip to Jacksonville, Florida. It was a fascinating journey, and JUBILEE performed perfectly in all respects. The large swells in the North Atlantic were handled with ease, the currents through the Cape Cod Canal were impressive but nothing compared to the currents of Hell's Gate as we approached Manhattan. Again JUBILEE handled all conditions well, including difficult maneuvering into our slip on the Hudson River. The bow thruster is a tremendous asset.
After departing New York City, we ran approximately 70 miles to Atlantic City. During this run, we experienced following seas of at least 5 feet and, again, were totally impressed with the handling characteristics of your Ellis 36. During this run we averaged over 18 knots and over 1.3 nautical miles per gallon.
The next day was a similar run to Annapolis, Maryland, with rough seas experienced in Delaware Bay. Upon our arrival in Annapolis, we calculated mileage of 1.3/1.4 nautical miles per gallon. On our next leg, we traveled from Annapolis to Irvington, Virginia, and experienced a squall with winds in excess of 40 knots. Your Ellis, at reduced speed, handled these difficult conditions well.
Don, I cannot adequately express to you our complete satisfaction with our Ellis 36 Express Cruiser. The fit and finish are excellent; the systems operated as intended; and on the waterway and in each marina, compliments were received. I will never forget the admiration on the faces of some old salts who, in yellow slickers, were working their crab traps as we navigated difficult conditions on the Chesapeake.
Don, please express our thanks to your entire crew for all of the hard work, thought, attention to detail, and pure quality that went into the production of JUBILEE. We could not be more satisfied. It was a pleasure getting to know you, and when you make that cruise to Florida, we have space available at our dock."
Sincerely,
Jim Fensom
Panama City, FL
 "...We've been in the most difficult seas I have ever encountered in all the years I've been on boats, and several times this summer. The Manasquan Inlet, the Little Egg Inlet, the Jersey Atlantic Ocean, and the Delaware Bay (the worst mess I ever worked through), were all a test of the boat and of me. The boat did just fine - never failed me, and always ran true and steady, even though I've buried the bow deep three times so far, once in the Little Egg Harbor inlet, and twice in Delaware Bay!...
...She is the best looking boat anyone has ever seen, even some of the 'old timers' around the docks in the Chesapeake made a 'fuss' about her.
So, thanks, for building me such a wonderful and beautiful boat, Don.
My hat is off to you and all of the men and women who created her."
Robert Stevens
Beach Haven, NJ
"Maudy and I are absolutely thrilled with our Ellis 36. ENCHANTED is truly a remarkable vessel and we look forward to many years of enjoyment on her.
 To you and the entire crew at Ellis Boat Company, I wish to extend our profound thanks and gratitude for producing the boat of our dreams. She is everything that we wanted and then some. The craftsmanship throughout is unbelievable. The joiner work and the mechanical work are by far and away the best that I have ever seen. You are at the top of the heap and all of you at Ellis should be very proud of it.
Our very best wishes to you and all the crew."
Sincerely,
Randolph P. Barton
Manchester, MA
 “...I want you to know how deeply I appreciate, and am thankful for, the quality of the restoration of Fancy, all of which you created and managed. She is, to me, simply perfect.
There is nothing about her I don’t love. Her original lines were in your genes, and all the new that was crafted and assembled - which have become, now, her - is a reflection of Donnie Ellis, all as fine as could be. The integrity of your workmanship is, in my
experience, unsurpassed.
Thanks for making a dream come true."
Robert Stevens
Beach Haven, NJ
"After our very brief visit to your beautiful Mount Desert Island, Mary Jane and I rushed back to North Carolina to find out what hurricane Fran had done to us.
On September 9, residents were permitted to enter the area and assess damages. Mary Jane and I immediately drove over. Our first glance at the area was pretty sad. Parts of docks, sailboats, powerboats and debris of all sorts littering the streets, parking lots, front yards and back yards! A hell of a mess! We slowly drove toward the marina, avoiding wreckage and household items still on sidewalks and there was Seapath Marina damaged, wrecked, bruised, dislocated, some parts floating well, others simply torn, broken up or sunk! Our dock 'B' was mostly walkable, so with lots of apprehension, we proceeded toward our slip B-35.
 Rowdy, our 32 ft Ellis boat was there floating! Totally intact! Not a scratch (I do attribute this to my diligence in securing Rowdy solidly prior to the hurricane) but the most amazing thing was that there was not a drop of water inside the cabin! Ellis Boat is responsible for that! Most boat owners had some sort of aggravation, from torn canvas, crushed equipment, holes in their hull, flooding and so many other miseries. . . my Ellis boat stood proud, looking good without a trace of struggle! What a boat!
Mary Jane and I want you to know that the quality and care put in the construction of Rowdy contribute to her solid resistance to Fran! Raymond Bunker and Ralph Ellis would have been proud of Donald Ellis. We certainly are!"
Jean Souweine
Pinehurst, NC
 “I am not in the habit of writing many letters since my retirement in 1997, but I felt compelled to let you know of my uniquely positive experience with you and your company. First and foremost, I love the new 28-foot bass boat. It looks and handles like a dream! Equally important however, is that you have demonstrated unparalleled integrity during my last two boat purchases. Every time line was met, every dollar was accounted for and I
even
received $6,000 that I did not know I was
owed. My experience with Ellis was and is excellent.
Thank you for being such a man of your word. I respect you greatly."
Bob Levine
Portsmouth, NH
 “...This boat has exceeded my expectations, and I am a particular fellow! Even though we had her for only four weeks, she gave us a memorable summer. We had all sorts of weather, from ‘pulpit-under’ Woods Hole passages to ‘glass smooth’ Massachusetts Bay afternoons to 'pea soup' Gloucester mornings. Throughout it all, there was never an instance where we weren't happy to be in an Ellis! At anchor, the ingenious table and cockpit layout combined to create lots of space for children and grilling ‘smores after dinner.
Night Sky is anchored in Cotuit Bay, across from Oyster Harbors. This is a Bay thick with Hinckley Picnic Boats and our Ellis is the one turning heads! She’s an honest Maine-built, lobster yacht which tracks cleanly in four foot seas while offering lots of dry, family space, in a 28-foot package.
If this sounds like an ad, it is! Well Done..”
Rory Cowan
Waltham, MA
“Now that we have had her for a season, I thought you’d like a report. Here it is.
Louisiana, our Ellis 36 hardtop, has been everything we could hope for. I appreciate her lines even more than when I first saw her. She stands out wherever she goes and we are constantly complimented on what a beauty she is.
While I appreciate a boat that looks good, my first requirement all along was a great sea boat. She'll cruise over 20 knots upwind and downwind through almost anything. We run the boat up and down Long Island Sound to Montauk and she’ll go through 4-foot chop without a blip. It’s really hard to get her to pound into anything. The Montauk tide rips were extreme this summer from the hurricanes, yet the Ellis was a wonderfully stable platform as we pulled in the stripers and blues.
We’ve cruised her with friends and family, put on tubing parties for our kids and the folks gravitate to her large cockpit and bridge deck at the raft ups.
 There are a million details that go into making a solid, trouble free boat, from the hatch weep holes to the windshield windows, to the installation of the engine. The years of experience at the Ellis Boat Company of putting these boats together right has enormous benefits. The hardware, engine, electronics and construction are superb.
Thanks again to the people at Ellis. And thanks for building the boat I wanted, at a price dead on with your estimate, which represents an extraordinary value compared with the crop of so-called 'Downeast' production boats on the market today…
…I visited w/ a friend this weekend that just took delivery of a new xxxxxxx. She’s obviously a gorgeous boat, but at a million bucks she better be. Her owner was very impressed w/ your creation. His comments were: 'gorgeous lines, incredible cockpit space and top flight construction'. He can’t figure out what to do w/ his dinghy and he has to strap the outboard down on top of the cockpit deck. (On Louisiana, we can set up a crib, store the mountain bikes in the fish wells, take a dozen folks fishing, and carry dinghies on top of the deckhouse.) My impression of his boat is long and lean and very cool, but not very practical…”
Sincerely yours,
Douglas McKeige
Bronxville, New York
 "At 7:35 a.m. one rod went off 51 miles outside the Golden
Gate aboard Mike Tucci's 36 Express Cruiser— "Rebel".
Having been the first to grab a screaming reel, I dug in and
after a long 30 minute fight and a double gaff, we boated an
incredible blue backed gorilla. We thought the Blue Fin was
an easy
100-125 pounds. John at Caruso's stayed open late
to give us the official, certified 82 pounds. I'm gonna have
a replica made, even if it wasn't the 125 pounder it looks like.
For all I know it might be my first and last Blue Fin Tuna.
A bit lumpy coming home.. I was really glad to be in a nice
seaworthy
36 footer!"
Sushi time! Fish on,
Ted Glenwright |
