Our Boats

We're building a powerboat? We're building a powerboat!

This summer’s big boat project is astounding! Not just because it's our first ever powerboat (which is super awesome) and not just because we are making this boat for our friends at Little Cranberry Yacht Club/ LCYC (which is extremely exciting!). It's because we know that this new boat will truly make it easier for folks to enjoy getting out on the water. Using this boat as a support boat, LCYC can provide safe rowing, sailing and on-water exploration activities for all ages. This boat will enable our community to continue to build and deepen its connection with the extraordinary natural world that surrounds our island.

Learn more!

"B" & Beloved Seafox

The School program was back in action in 2022 after our COVID hiatus! The team picked up right where we left off, recreating a historic island boat, the Victor White skiff. As with all of our projects,this program was much more than just building a boat, but was also about getting a better understanding of the island’s history. Students in the school program not only worked on the skiff, but they also researched Victor White to understand his life, his role, and impact on the community through the lens of this boat.

The boat was finished during the summer session along with a restoration of 2013's Seafox. Seafox has always been a crowd favorite, and now in it's rejeuvinated state it has been renamed, Beloved Seafox.

Emmett N’ Owen

We were delighted to launch the 20’ dory built for Rick Alley, bringing an end to our most ambitious, largest project ever. We started building this dory in 2019 and with COVID interruptions and the sheer size of this boat, it took us some time! What really makes this project special, however, is that this was our first boat that will be part of the working waterfront. Rick plans to use this boat to store and set his fish trap, which is more than a way of providing bait for his traps, as it preserves this traditional method of catching fish.

Oso Oloroso

Our final finboat, Oso Oloroso (spanish for stinky bear), was a great boat to bring this series to an end. It was the first boat build in our new home, the Blue Duck.

Bridge

A 4-person racing row boat built by our inaugural school program kids, along with help from the community. Its design, called a St Ayles skiff, is specially made for coastal communities to build and create crew teams. Ours is used for recreation, to race, and even to row to school (hence the school bus paintwork)

Tied

Our third finboat, Tied, gots its name when the vote to choose the name was too close to call. It was starting to cause some arguments among the kids ( and some adults too!) Island elder Ashley Bryan stepping in to settle the dispute and said “it’s Tied!”. Everyone agreed and the name stuck.

Sea-Salad

Our second finboat, so named for the seaweed inspired designs in the deck hatches, created from crushed sea glass inlays.

Tubby Legs

Taking two summers to complete, this was the most technically challenging project we have built so far. But, boy was it worth it! This small sailing canoe, driven by a pedal powered fish fin, is as fun to sail as it was to build.

Seafox

A modified version of Harry Bryan’s Fiddlehead, this 14′ decked canoe is perfect for paddling around the island. The kids had a blast building this unique boat, and everybody involved got to add their initials to the boat in nautical letter.

Starfish

In 2012 we once again built another of Harry Bryan‘s designs when we took on the construction of his Ladybug, a wheelbarrow boat designed to make launching a snap. Named “Starfish” by the students, this little boat was a fun project that the kids loved, and that turned out quite wonderfully. The boat rows well and is a breeze to bring up the shore.

Cora

In 2011 we took on our biggest challenge yet when we built a Chummy Spurling rowing skiff. The Cora as she came to be called, was built to the lines of the famous boatbuilder Arthur “Chummy” Spurling a local boatbuilding legend that was Islesford’s last full time boatbuilder who lived to the ripe old age of 102. He died on his birthday after mowing his lawn! Chummy’s skiffs continue to be used to this day and one of his boats was used for the mold of the great rowing Jarvis Newman 12.5′ skiffs. The Cora was named after Chummy’s wife, and was by far our most complicated boat, taking many hours of volunteer labor to finish her in time for the Pirate Launch.

Dew Drop

In 2010 we took on the challenge to make a beautiful plywood skiff. The Bevin’s Skiff is a classic teaching skiff with a moderate rocker and a handsome sheer, coming in at just under 12′, the Bevin’s was a joy to build and for the first time, the students named her and chose her colors.

All My People

In 2009 we couldn’t help ourselves but to build another Geodesic Airolite, this time in a more traditional shape, the Classic 10 is inspired by the Whitehall and weighs in at 40lbs.

Evelyn

In 2008 we ventured into the wild world of Geodesic Airolite boats with the Snowshoe 14, a 30lb beauty of an open kayak complete with handmade paddles.

Bees Work

We followed up with another Daisy 12½’ in 2007. It was a fun and challenging build, which we celebrated with a wonderful launch day.

The Class Work

We started our first summer with a very ambitious boat design, the Daisy 12 ½’ by Harry Bryan, which we completed in 9 fun-filled weeks.