Thompson Piledriving Co Inc has been an industry leader in the piledriving and marine construction business for 45 years. Since 1971 we have provided a customer service oriented business serving all waterfront homeowners from the extreme reaches of the southern Puget Sound to the Canadian border including the San Juan Islands. This attentiveness is why our customers feel comfortable with us whether we are designing and building a new or replacement dock, replacing pilings, or repairing existing structure.

Our equipment, facility, and expertise includes residential or commercial dock construction and installation, dock repair or replacement, commercial marina repair and renovation, marine towing, tugboat and barge services, fireworks barge service, environmental beach cleanup, creosote removal, piling removal and replacement, derelict boat removal and disposal, onsite and offsite mitigation, boatlift installation, marine railway repair and installation, and many other waterfront construction services in and around Puget Sound. For a more comprehensive list and portfolio of our past work check out our services page!

Cliff Thompson started Thompson PileDriving Co Inc in 1971, after having worked as a tugboat captain for many years. Cliff's family worked in logging, rafting, towing, and marine construction for many years, and Cliff was raised on the water in the San Juan Islands. Cliff started Thompson Pile Driving with the purchase of a fixed lead piledriver called the SCOTER, and towed it all around Puget Sound and the San Juan islands with a small wood tug called the SCUFFY. Cliff built many docks all around the Puget Sound for many years. In about 1980, Cliff purchased the CAYOU, our current tug, and a couple small wood deck barges to better serve his customers. In 1984, the land was purchased where our current industrial dock is located in Port Orchard, and Cliff built the industrial dock and moorage that we use today.

In 1999, Paul Fritts, who had been a general contractor and plumber for 25 years, began working with Cliff with the idea of purchasing the business and property. Paul finalized the purchase in October of 2000. Cliff and Paul became great friends, and with training over the next several years, Paul took over the operations of the business. Cliff is now retired, and enjoys cruising in his yacht, spending the summers in Alaska.

In 2016, after 16 successful years at the helm, Paul made the decision to pass the torch to Eric Breske, who had been not only the Construction Management and Logistics Officer but also Paul's trusted right-hand man for 14 years. Throughout all the transitions at Thompson Pile Driving, one essential principle has remained constant: our commitment to customer service. Our customers are always at the forefront of our efforts, and we strive to deliver 100% of what they expect—if not more. Every team member at Thompson Pile Driving recognizes that the most rewarding aspect of their job is the relationships cultivated with our clients. We've established genuine friendships with incredible individuals, and we take immense pride in the fact that such outstanding people are drawn to our exceptional workmanship.

The CAYOU is a 50 foot single screw steel tug which was built in 1951 by Nichols in Hood River, Oregon. Nichols built many of these boats, mostly for harbor work. We have owned her for over 30 years now, and have found her to be the absolute best tug for our business.

In 2002, we replaced the Waukesha Diesel and Capitol 3:1 reduction gear with a Caterpillar diesel and Twin Disc 4.5:1 reduction gear. We have 400 HP with about 6 tons of bollard pull. We have make up winches and wires that we use for pushing barges ahead as well as towlines for towing barges astern. We normally tow 3 barges astern to our jobsites. The 110 foot crane barge, a 60 foot material barge, and the 50 foot piledriver. Sometimes, if the occasion requires, we will tow 5 barges in a line.

The CAYOU is named for Henry T Cayou, who was a well known political figure on Orcas island, a piledriver in his own right, and uncle to Cliff Thompson. Many references are still made on Orcas Island to the name Cayou.