For the first time in decades, there are schooners 'abuilding on the famed waterfront at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. Dawson Moreland & Associates are building not just one, but two 48' wooden schooners in the best of Maritime traditions. These 'twins' will be built simultaneously, frame for frame, plank for plank, alongside the historic Lunenburg Dory Shop at 175 Bluenose Drive. Follow their progress from keel laying to launch!

An artist's interpretation of the Twin Schooner Project

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Bob Cratchitt hard at work


I've been teasing poor Bub Dares, who's been in religiously this holiday season, comparing him to Ebenezer Scrooge's clerk from A Christmas Carol. Nearly every day over the holidays, Bub has come in to our rather chilly shops, stoked up the fires (at least, unlike Scrooge, we're generous with the fuel!), then sanded and varnished the dozens of hackmatack deck beams that are due to be placed in the twin schooners next week. No, Bub does not have a handicapped boy at home (only his dog Smoke) and Dave hasn't had visions of funky ghosts in the night (has he?).

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

The view from Montague

Here's a picture of the view from the backyards along Lunenburg's Montague Street these days as the gang continues fitting the deck beams on our twin schooners.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Like father, like son




It's a family affair at the Dory Shop Boatyard these days as master builder Dave Westergard's son, Kyle, lends a hand with the deck beams for these twin schooners. Not exactly a mirror image, but there's an intensity of purpose that nonetheless says 'outta my way.'

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Back at 'er

There's consensus on the Lunenburg waterfront these days, a sure sign of the Apocalypse I fear, but nonetheless everyone agrees it sure is great to see our gang back hard at work on these twin schooners.

In point of fact, the guys have been back at it for more than two weeks now; as Dave might say, "it's only the photographer who's been a slacker."

There's also been lots of discussion about things like deck layout as the gang work on sheer and bilge clamps and prepare to start making the deck beams.

Meanwhile, lobster fishing season has started too with catches being landed at the wharf alongside the boatyard and many more fishermen trucking their harvest to neighbouring Lunenburg Fish Company.

Sunshine, schooners and lobster too? Life is good in Lunenburg.