Van Dam’s 87 kW Solar Installation Supporting Environment and Community

Van Dam’s relationship with the environment isn’t philosophical. It’s practical.

The lakes, rivers, and shorelines that their boats are built to explore are also the reason the business exists. Clean water is not a values statement at Van Dam — it’s the foundation of everything the company does. You can’t build the world’s finest wooden boats for a degraded environment.

In 2024, Van Dam formalized that commitment with the most significant infrastructure investment in the company’s environmental history.

87kW of Solar on the 16-Acres

Van Dam Custom Boats and Boyne Boat Yard — the two family businesses sharing a 16-acre campus in Boyne City, Michigan — applied jointly for a federal grant to fund a large solar energy installation. The installation was approved and completed in 2024.

The 87kW system is now reducing the campus’s carbon footprint by approximately 75 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. To put that in context: it’s the equivalent of recycling 26.3 tons of waste instead of sending it to a landfill.

Beyond the environmental math, the solar installation lowers operating costs — which matters for a business that competes on craftsmanship rather than volume, where overhead efficiency directly supports the quality of the work.

Profit Sharing for the Planet

The solar installation is the most visible element of Van Dam’s environmental commitment, but it’s not the only one.

The company’s Profit Sharing for the Planet program directs a portion of earnings to environmental organizations working to protect natural habitats, advocate for clean water, and maintain the vibrant shorelines that boaters depend on. It’s not a one-time donation — it’s built into how the business distributes its success.

Sustainable by Design

Wood composite construction — Van Dam’s building method — has always had an inherent sustainability advantage over fiberglass production building. No single-use molds discarded after production. No plastic hull shells. Renewable materials, managed carefully, producing boats designed to last generations rather than decades.

Steve Van Dam, co-founder of the company, has planted an estimated 15,000 trees in his lifetime. That’s enough wood to build a lot of boats.

Community on the 16-Acres

Environmental stewardship is one of Van Dam’s 37 Cultural Fundamentals — a documented set of values that guides how the company operates. Community investment is another.

In 2024, Van Dam deepened its community involvement by partnering with McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation to host their annual fundraising dinner, which raises funds for healthcare advancements in the region. The company also regularly hosts school field trips and welcomes leadership and business groups to tour the facility — connecting students and educators to the trades and the craft of boatbuilding.

Building more than boats. That’s the phrase the company uses. It’s not just a slogan.