About Capt. Doug
Captain Doug Somers has a wide and varied exposure to the marine trades of New England. He has worked with boatyards and boat builders from Mamaroneck, N.Y. to the Canadian Maritimes, which is how he came to find and purchase the flagship vessel Brandaris, a historically significant vessel and a rare example of traditional Dutch Yacht design.
In 1987, Douglas Somers founded a Wickford, North Kingstown business that owns and operates several U.S. Coast Guard Certified subchapter T passenger vessels. The fleet includes the 63 ft. sailing flagship vessel Brandaris, along with 50 ft. motor vessel Sea Princess, 26 ft. Harbor Launch General, and a small fleet of 26 ft. training vessels. Doug holds a USCG Captain’s License, certified as a 100 Ton Master, with sailing, towing and salvage endorsements.
For over 18 years, Capt. Somers designed and implemented marine-based, experiential educational programs for area colleges, universities, elementary, middle and high schools, municipal recreation departments and many other community and civic groups. As a member of American Sail Training Association, Capt. Somers participated in numerous Tall Ship events with the historic yacht Brandaris. Educational trainings include curriculum links to match, science, language arts, history, and vocational aspects of marine and mechanics trades.
Doug became an expert in historic yacht restorations while living aboard the historic Dutch yacht Brandaris. Doug has served as the Lead Project Consultant in the restorations of Continental Sloop Providence, Schooner Soundwaters, Dutch Yacht Brandaris, Alden Malabar Schooner Tradewinds and other U.S. Coast Guard Certified Sub-Chapter T, passenger Vessels.
Prior to developing training programs, Doug Somers served as a Manufacturer’s Technical Field Support for the following product lines: Evinrude Outboard, Westerbeke Diesel Engines, Lugger Marine Diesel Engines, Detroit Diesel Engines, Northern Lights Marine Generators, Wagner Steering - Hydraulic Systems, Morse Controls and Cables, Parker-Racor Fuel Systems, Parker-Hannifin Fittings, Soundown Marine Noise/Vibration Control Systems, and Aquadrive Marine Drive Train Systems.
