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Historically remaining under the radar where publicity is concerned, Georgia Tindale goes behind the scenes with Delta Marine’s Vice President, Michelle Jones, as the US shipyard enters its open era.
Founded by brothers Ivor and Jack Jones on Seattle’s Duwamish River in 1967, Delta Marine started its life building commercial fishing boats capable of surviving the turbulent waters of the Pacific Northwest. Developing on its success in the fishing sector, Delta Marine shifted tack and began building hardy, luxury expedition yachts capable of taking owners all around the world, with a particular focus on custom builds from the mid 1980s onwards.
Fast forward to 2025, and the yard continues to be owned and operated by the Jones family, with over 600 vessels across the commercial and private sectors delivered to date, including 52 yachts. Delta Marine is particularly well-known for its expertise in composite construction, having delivered numerous notable all-composite yachts. This includes the first over 100’, the 32-metre John Schubert-designed Princess Gloria in 1990, now known as Penelope, which underwent an extensive refit at the yard in 2008 to boost her exterior spaces, as well as extending her to 35.6 metres.
Delta Marine’s Vice President, Michelle Jones, explains more: “The composite construction techniques pioneered for our early fishing fleet have evolved considerably over the last 50 years. We are currently producing yachts using an advanced composite process called vacuum resin infusion that rivals the aerospace industry’s latest techniques for building structures with ultra-high strength-to-weight ratios.
She continues: “This enables greater performance, whether through higher speeds, longer range, or increased efficiency. This is particularly prevalent in our latest custom 110’ yacht series, where building lightweight is paramount to performance.”
The first in this custom yacht series touched water in May, the 110’ (33.53 metre) motor yacht Vagabond. Built entirely in-house, Vagabond’s brand new hull platform is Delta’s first to be wholly designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and is optimised for long-range efficiency and high performance.
Created in response to what Jones describes as a “growing demand for fully custom yachts in the 110-125 foot range”, although Vagabond was designed as custom yacht for a specific owner – a family of experienced boaters looking to explore the Pacific Northwest and beyond with minimal crew – its flexible platform will be used as foundation for future Delta builds. This can be tailored to suit a wide range of performance goals and lifestyles. To name just one example: “We’ve been working with an Italian studio on a Delta 125’ longtail – a striking design that’s sure to turn heads when we unveil her in the coming months,” explains Jones.
Indeed, despite being proud of its formidable in-house design team, increasing its collaborations with external designers fits Delta’s broader effort to integrate new ideas and voices into its future design process.“We believe there’s a real opportunity to blend Delta’s American craftsmanship with European design,” Jones highlights.
On the subject of global reach, although Delta markets itself globally, the majority of its clients hail from the US. “Many of our clients are based in the US, and we’ve found that the American market aligns well with our approach”, says Jones. Tackling the inevitable topic of import tariffs, Jones remains upbeat: “We always keep a close eye on tariffs, but the value of American craftsmanship and our custom capabilities continue to speak for themselves.”
With five projects currently in-build at Delta, this includes the unique exploration vessel, Project Zembra, slated for delivery in 2026. Commissioned by owners with a passion for adventure and exploration – and who are also licensed pilots and certified submarine operators to boot – Delta Marine was tasked with creating a yacht capable of supporting aerial and underwater exploration, alongside the more typical wellness and entertainment requirements. All of this is packed into just 148 feet (45 metres).
Task accepted, Delta rose to the challenge and managed to accommodate a helipad, a U-Boat Worx submersible and an ICON A5 amphibious aircraft into the composite Project Zembra. This will be built on Delta’s full-displacement hull platform and used both privately and for charter.
Historically, Delta Marine has captured the industry’s attention with many milestone builds, including the completion of larger steel and composite projects such as the 73.2-metre Laurel (2006) and the 79.2-metre Albatross (originally launched in 2016 and now known as Moonstone), and can take on projects up to 100 metres.
While Delta has had some large notable deliveries, including Laurel and Albatross, it has continued to expand its fleet of all-composite builds similar to Triton (2004, 49.7 metres), Rochade (2011, 47.55 metres) and the 50-metre Arianna (2012). Jones explains further: “This range of yachts represents a highly active segment of our market and remains a central focus for us. We continue to consider projects over 200 feet depending on our production schedule.”
Uniquely positioned on the USA West Coast since its foundation almost 60 years ago, Jones explains that the Pacific Northwest continues to play a major role in Delta Marine’s identity today.
“It’s a region known for outdoor adventure, innovation, and natural beauty—all of which show up in the types of yachts we build and the clients we attract. Many of our owners are explorers at heart. They want vessels that are seaworthy, capable, and built to perform in a variety of conditions.”
Notably, all of these qualities are brought to life in Delta Marine’s latest launch, Vagabond, which touched water in May 2025. Featuring a flush-mounted anchor system and walk-around side decks, alongside an articulating swim platform and swim garage, every detail has been carefully considered to support both adventure and ease of use. It is also the first Delta project to meet full IMO III and EPA Tier 4 requirements.
Despite strict requirements to keep the majority of its projects out of the spotlight before today, Delta Marine anticipates a more open approach to its builds going forward. This is excellent news for those of us curious about what goes on behind the shed doors of its sizable 25-acre shipbuilding facility.
“While many of our past projects have remained under wraps due to client confidentiality, we’re now entering a period where more of our owners are open to sharing their yachts with the industry. This is a truly exciting chapter for us as we open our doors wider than ever before!” says Jones.
meet the team
We’re inspired by diverse design perspectives, innovation, technology, art, and the world around us. We live for the chance to create and disperse powerful, genuine messages that resonate.
tessa franchini
principal
tessa@paxsonfay.com
Tessa graduated from Fordham University in New York with a dual bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science. During her time at Fordham, she worked for an interior designer and at NBC News where she developed her love for both design and communications. After graduating, Tessa managed marketing at 3form, a pioneer in the sustainable building products industry. During her tenure, 3form was repeatedly named one of the most recognized manufacturers in the design industry among architects and designers, and the company won multiple awards for its innovative product launches. After 3form, Tessa consulted on marketing efforts with leading product manufacturers in architecture and design before starting Paxson Fay with Amy.
amy golden
principal
amy@paxsonfay.com
Originally from Seattle, Amy left her home in the Pacific Northwest to attend Fordham University, fulfilling her dream of living in New York City. After graduating with a BS in business administration, specializing in marketing and minoring in economics, Amy began her career in advertising sales at CNN and the Hallmark Channel in New York and LA. However, Amy’s love of writing, design, and connection with people ultimately led her to PR. While finishing her MBA back home at Seattle University, in 2015, Amy cofounded Paxson Fay with her friend and business partner, Tessa, driven by a shared vision to build a PR agency that reflected their values and passions. At Paxson Fay, Amy thrives in media relations and pitch development, enjoying the process of diving deep into each client’s story to craft compelling narratives that resonate with editors and journalists. Amy has a particular passion for architecture-focused projects, and securing SHED’s feature in The New York Times was an especially rewarding moment, as they were her first client. Another major career milestone was helping build out Paxson Fay’s talented team, fostering an environment where young professionals can grow their skills and pursue their passions. Outside of work, Amy loves spending time with her family, chasing after her two little boys, exploring Seattle’s restaurant scene, traveling with friends, and reading.
colby wood
senior account executive
colby@paxsonfay.com
After graduating from Fordham University in New York City with a major in Communications and Media Studies and a handful of marketing and PR internships, Colby moved to Boston to manage marketing for a small, women-owned, creative consulting agency. While in that role, Colby managed public relations and marketing efforts for some of Boston's most prominent events and public art initiatives, including the Boston Pickle Fair and The Bulfinch Crossing Projections in downtown Boston. Colby gained experience crafting brand stories and identities through social media marketing and creative copywriting, seen through the successful launch of a premier Massachusetts adult-use dispensary and the revamp of her agency's own website. After two years, Colby decided it was time to figure out what the West Coast was all about. Looking to blend her marketing experience with her passion for design and architecture, Colby found Paxson Fay, where she focuses on social media strategy and management and public relations.
paige childs
account executive
paige@paxsonfay.com
As a child, Paige wanted to be an architect; but after falling in love with storytelling, the power of words, and yes, the show West Wing, she decided to pursue journalism at The George Washington University in the nation’s capital. Following graduation, Paige crafted communications for the beauty and banking industries. Craving space for creativity, she joined the small team that would reopen the congressionally designated National Children’s Museum. There, she played an integral role in establishing the museum’s brand, bringing it to life across digital channels, including social media, email, and advertising. After nearly eight years in DC, she decided it was time for a change of scenery. Having grown fond of the title Washingtonian, she made the cross-country move to Washington State. She landed in Seattle at Paxson Fay, where in true full circle fashion she is the architect of social media and public relations strategies for our architecture and design clients.
martina povolo
account coordinator
martina@paxsonfay.com
Martina joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern when she was a senior at the University of Washington. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Interest Communications, Martina is now continuing with the team as a Communications Assistant. During her time at UW, Martina worked as the Special Sections Editor at the university’s newspapers where she won multiple awards for her front page spreads. Looking to blend her minors in real estate and environmental science with her focus in communications, Martina is passionate and excited to join the Paxson Fay team.
tara lyons
account coordinator
tara@paxsonfay.com
With roots in Napa and Denver, Tara ventured to the Pacific Northwest to pursue her academic journey at the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Education. Tara's love for writing began when she delved into songwriting, building on her pre-existing passion for singing and playing the piano. Following her undergraduate years, she returned to Paxson Fay, where she had previously interned, transitioning into the role of Communications Assistant. With a keen interest in PR and social media, Tara seamlessly integrates her creative flair into the professional realm. Outside of work, you'll find Tara passionately supporting the Kraken, embodying her love for both storytelling and sports.
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what we do
We are a communications firm founded in our passion for good design. Our unique approach to marketing and public relations in the architecture and design community has elevated our clients work to the next level. We’re backed by a talented community of creatives. From copywriters to social media experts, we provide a complete package of customized services. We strive to create a personal experience with each client, integrating teams and tackling your biggest marketing and public relations challenges from a high level. Then we help execute those plans ensuring lots of reporting along the way, with lots of coffee breaks in between because we’re from Seattle and that’s what we do.
marketing
marketing strategy
brand strategy
project management
partnerships acquisition and management
e-mail blasts
public relations
media strategy
content production
media communications and outreach
awards: strategy, content development and submissions
social
platform strategy and management
content production
targeted campaigns
results + reporting
advertising
advertising strategy
budget strategy + negotiation
calendar management
creative coordination
content
storytelling
copywriting
website and e-mail marketing
video: sourcing, storyboarding and scheduling
photography acquisition + curation
events
event management
sponsorships + partnerships
tradeshow coordination
press tours
clients
Here is a little taste of who we love to work with and what we love to do.