Generations of knowledge

Why are so many members of the Nyfelt family skilled boat builders? And why do so many of them work at Baltic? We gathered a few of them to find out.

Kenneth, Roberth, Ralf. Amanda, Joel, and Ronny, along with the youngest summer workers, William and Arthur. We find them all over the place—the descendants of the company’s founder, Jan-Erik Nyfelt, and his siblings. Family ties at Baltic are strong, and in the Nyfelt family, both the knowledge and interest in boats have been passed down through generations. Kenneth Nyfelt’s earliest memories of his father are how he always walked around with a pencil, a worn-out tape measure, and a small red magnet in his chest pocket, always ready to check a detail or measure something.

“He used the magnet to check if the material was really stainless steel and not just plain iron. If the magnet stuck, someone had to redo it.”

One of the secrets behind the shipyard’s success is professional pride. When Janne and his colleagues founded the shipyard in the 1970s, they didn’t always have the right tools or materials, but they always made the best of the situation. Many employees have a personal connection to the history, which ensures that the strong craftsmanship endures. The mindset of always accepting a challenge also comes from Janne and his brothers.

“The best thing is when we get a real challenge and have to think things through thoroughly. At those times, you also see how important the interaction between management and those working in the factory is. By using our different backgrounds, we manage to solve most problems,” says Roberth Nyfelt.

Jan-Erik Nyfelt (right) oversees work on Baltic 147 Visione in 2002

He and Kenneth are twins. Their younger brother Ralf also works here, as do his wife Pia and Roberth’s wife Sinikka. Kenneth’s son Joel handles the electrical work on the boats, while his cousin Ronny works in the drawing office. The oldest in the group is Leif Gäddnäs, Janne’s nephew. The youngest are 17-year-olds Arthur Nyfelt and William Wargh, who are summer workers at the CNC lathe. Both William’s mother, Maria, and father, Marc, also work here, and William’s grandmother was Janne’s sister. Complicated? Take a look at the family tree featured in the Baltic Log.

You might easily think that work and boats are the only topics of conversation at the family dinner tables, but Pia Nyfelt assures that there’s more to discuss. However, since many of them practically grew up at the shipyard, they have a lot in common. They tell stories about how they spent evenings and weekends overseeing lamination projects and checking water pumps. How they started sweeping floors and performing simple tasks early on and then got summer jobs, often under the supervision of an uncle or older cousin. All this has left its mark, creating pride in the profession and the boats they build.

“Back then, work was even a bigger part of life and everyday routines than it is today. Dad and his colleagues invested both their free time and own money into the shipyard, which probably made their attachment to the products even stronger than ours. But there’s still a great pride in what we accomplish, and we’re still known for stepping up when needed,” says Kenneth Nyfelt.

Many in the Nyfelt family work at Baltic. Here are some of them: Sinikka Nyfelt, Pia Nyfelt, Kenneth Nyfelt, Roberth Nyfelt, Marc Wargh, William Wargh, Arthur Nyfelt, Leif Gäddnäs, Christian Wargh, Johan Björkskog, Ronny Nyfelt. Sitting: Ralf Nyleft, Joel Nyfelt, Maria Wargh.

There’s a story about an old villager in Bosund who noted that it’s easy to recognize Janne and his sons — none of them have ordinary boats. Ronny also nods in agreement:

“That’s exactly how it was with my dad, Alf. There was always something to fix, rebuild, or extend.”

Both at Janne’s and his younger brother Alf’s homes, there have been boat workshops where the boys have spent time for as long as they can remember. But there’s never been any coercion; they say they chose the profession on their own. Or that the profession chose them.

“Of course, it has influenced me that dad works here. I’ve heard the talk at home and always thought it seemed exciting. I chose to train as an electrician, but I always aimed to get a job here,” says Joel Nyfelt.

The previous generation of boat builders were often jacks-of-all-trades, while today’s tasks are more specialized. But one strength is still that many who work here can step in anywhere, or at least have an understanding of various stages of the work. Many have formal education, but some are born with the knack and have an eye for boat lines.

There’s a lot of talk about the Baltic spirit and family, and everyone admits that a big part of it was embedded in the old shipyard in Bosund. Now it’s up to the younger generations to create the same family atmosphere in Jakobstad. Several from the older generation are no longer with us, but thanks to the children and grandchildren, the knowledge and stories are preserved. And the future seems secure.

“I hope I’ll get a job here when I finish school,” says William Wargh.

This article was featured in the anniversary issue of Baltic Log. Read the full magazine here.