SAIL’s Technical Editor Adam Cove and a team of colleagues announced that they had purchased the American marine manufacturer Edson. Here’s what they shared about the acquisition:
Edson will be starting 2026 with a fresh look at the future. The 167-year-old company has been in continuous operation since 1859 and is the third oldest marine equipment manufacturer in the country (right next to Ritchie Navigation and Shaw & Tenney). The pump division, sailboat steering products, marine accessories, electronics mounts, and custom fabrication capabilities have been sold to Adam Cove and Potentia Manufacturing Group partners David Slutz, Michael Trotta, Edward Schatz, and Michael Hullinger.
Cove served as Edson’s CEO from 2016 until the previous sale of the company in 2021. Potentia Manufacturing Group adds production capabilities with other shops in New England, including New England Foundry, which was previously owned by the Edson Corp. David Slutz comments: “Our access to Potentia’s manufacturing capabilities greatly expands our ability to deliver exceptional products—-we’ll remain dedicated to delivering top notch service and products.”
The company will be operating as Edson Pumps, LLC, with all non-pump products to be sold under the name of Jacob E. Marine, due to a partial sale of the Edson trademark in late 2025 to a different buyer that also included the line of PowerWheels, drink holders, and ComfortGrips. The name transition will be taking place over the coming months.
Edson was launched in Boston, Massachusetts with Jacob Edson’s invention of the diaphragm pump and expanded with the creation of products to serve the Gloucester fishing fleet. Edson Pumps LLC continues to manufacture a wide range of pumps, including diaphragm, double diaphragm, peristaltic, and vacuum pumps, offering leading solutions for marina pump-out systems and high-capacity manual bilge pumps.
Pumps are also sold in commercial, industrial, and military applications. Jacob E. Marine will maintain the tradition of manufacturing sailboat steering systems, electronics mounts, and marine accessories. Custom fabricated and cast components for boatbuilders and equipment suppliers will remain an important part of the portfolio.
“We will continue to build on Jacob Edson’s legacy,” says Cove. “Our core manufacturing team remains in place from my previous tenure and it’s great to be working together again. The support and encouragement from our domestic and international customer base has been heartening—thank you!”
Edson Pumps, LLC and Jacob E. Marine will continue operations at 146 Duchaine Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02745 and can be reached at +1 (508) 995-9711. EdsonPumps.com, and JacobEMarine.com.
