Hi

My name is Mike Corrigan and this is the blog for my shop- The Wolfe Island Boatshop-  where we build and restore wooden boats. I’m going to (try to) update the progress of the  projects we’re working on. I’ve tried this before on my previous site but the technology eluded me and I think I got one update done in three years. This new site is supposed to allow someone like me who works in one of the oldest professions - (not the oldest)- to be a bit of a techie.

We are currently working on three major projects, and we have a few smaller ones under way in various nooks and crannys throughout the facilities. The facilities being a large former dairy barn where the 30′+ boats go, the former horse stalls which were converted into the main (heated) shop, and an out building which houses the woodworking machines in one side and room for a 20 or less foot boat in another. In other words, a donation of a beautifully spacious, climate controlled, state of the art kind of building would probably be accepted

Anyway, we have some cool projects going on right now. One of my favorites is a 24 foot day cruiser that was built here on the Island some 50 years ago by a guy named Gordon Roney. I don’t know much about him other than what the old timers tell me- a bit of a curmudgeon I guess, but he built some good solid boats that were used by the local fishing guides and plied the local waters admirably- not easy at this end of Lake Ontario.

This boat, MISS MARION was inherited by the grandson of the original owner and he has determined to get her back in the water after 25 years in his Grandfather’s shed.

We also have a Morecambe Bay Prawner, built in England in the 1890’s and restored there in the early 1980’s by the late Jonathan Watson who brought her over to this area where he set up office as a marine surveyor of some renown. The current owner bought JANET from Jonathan’s estate and brought her here to gain another lease on life.

A modern cold molded sloop is in getting the bottom area under and  around the ballast rebuilt. I haven’t done much cold molded work before, but I’m quite familliar with West System epoxy having done the “West System Bottom” on a number of Chris Crafts, fiberglassed decks, hulls of cedar strips and so on. SHAWNAWDITHIT poses an interesting challenge, and the work is moving ahead nicely.

We are just finishing up a 20′ Duke utility which has recieved many new ribs, engine stringers, keel, and a whole new bottom. It’s my brother in law’s boat and he sure would be happy to finally have it in the water. This might be the year!

On my next posts, I’ll talk about each project- where we started, where they’re at now and have some pictures to prove it.

Well, this was fun- talk to you soon.