About Us
Robert Barnes - Operations Manager
"In 2008 I enrolled the Fabschool in California where I developed skills in welding and fabrication.
In 2009 my wife was transferred to the Big Island of Hawaii. When we arrived there, I started searching for work in the field of welding and fabrication. I also became involved with the community, coaching AYSO (youth soccer) and in 2010 I was assistant coach of varsity soccer team for Kealakehe high school.
I worked for a company on the Big Island for a year where we were awarded a month long job repairing a boat, which is where I met Ermin Fergerstrom who was also contracted to work on this project .
After we finished this job, Ermin contacted me and asked if I wanted to work with him. He offered me the position of Operations Manager. When I asked him why, he told me that he liked the way I performed in the last dry dock. My commitment to getting the job done, working by my self without supervision, being the first one there and the last one to leave .
I decided that joining with Ermin was a great opportunity so I took the job. I am glad I did because I truly enjoy what I do."
Ermin Fergerstrom - CEO, Owner
Baseyard Marine CEO Ermin Fergerstrom has spent his entire life involved in the Marine industry in Hawaii.
"My story in a nutshell, started in the 5th grade'. At 10 years old, I was already a prolific fisherman of the Waimalu stream, near the shores of Pearl Harbor on Oahu's south shore. I had already (in my own mind) accomplished everything possible on foot in the area and decided that I needed a boat to extend my fishing capabilities. I tried in vain to convince my father to let me borrow the boat so that I could go farther from home, on my own, than I had already been going. He couldn't see the reason in my arguments and denied my constant requests. That was it, I thought, I need to build my own boat. Over the next 6 months I went about masterminding on how to accomplish this. Tin canoes were common around Hawaii at the time and were fairly simple to build. I just needed to get my hands on all the resources needed. One long sheet of corrugated steel roofing, one decent sheet of plywood, a 4x4 post for the Ama, some 2x4's and some hot, fresh roofing tar. I spent the next 6 months scoping potential sources for my project supplies. I had noticed a nice long sheet of corrugated roofing sitting up against a wall behind the Waimalu Chop Suey for a long time, along with a whole pile of junks and trash. After watching it sit unused for so long, I made the assumption that it would serve a far more noble purpose as the hull for my canoe. Early one morning, even before the old Chinese man showed up for work, I showed up on a mission. I rode my bicycle up behind the building and drug the sheet away from the building carefully. I then tied it to the back of my bicycle with some cord and took off! There I went, tearing down the streets of my neighborhood at 5:30 in the morning with a sheet of steel roofing dragging behind me. I tried not to be too conspicuous, riding on the grass curb when possible but across the asphalt when there were parked cars on the grass. The faster I went, the louder it was, but there was no turning back now. If I slowed down, it would have given the local citizens time to come out of their home and positively I.D. me! Well I eventually got my canoe built by the 6th grade and had many good years of service out of it. The first draft was a little wobbly but after a quick rebuild it was solid as a rock. I have been learning and improving on my boat building skills ever since. Thanks for visiting our site and i hope to be of service to you in the future."
Aloha Ermin