MONMOUTH BEACH, NJ - Navesink Maritime Heritage Association presents Public presentation with Exhibits on The Sixty Year History of Olsen Boat Works of Keyport presented by John Olsen at 7:45 pm at Monmouth Beach Cultural Center (Old Coastal Lifesaving Station) on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 

Olav Olsen emigrated to New Jersey from Norway in the early 1920's and joined the active boatbuilding industry on the Bayshore.   During the late 1930's and 1940's he worked with ELCO marine then Fair Haven Marine Marine that built patrol boats for the US Navy during the World War.  He helped build the "Crystal Spray" with Bahrs at Highlands, an ocean-going sailing vessel owned by Burl Ives, until he formed his own company. 

Olsen formed Olsen Boat Works in 1947 and built over 220 sea skiffs for inshore and offshore fishing during his career. Many of his boats are still prized and maintained by fishermren from Long Island to New Jersey.  This presentation will illustrate the history of Olsen boats from the 1920's to the present, the types of craft designed and built by Olav Olsen and sons throughout the 20th century. John Olsen will illustrate his presentation with archival photographs, boat plans, and ship models built by Olav Olsen during his career.  

This is the first of a series on the history of boatbuilding along the Bayshore from Keyport, to Highlands, to Seabright and the Navesink River during the heyday of commercial fishing and clamming on the Jersey Shore.  

For more information, contact NMHA at 732 291 9446, or 732 530 2035, or the website www.navesinkmaritime.org