Restoration Projects
Mar 20, 2017
While new builds are few these days several local yards are doing a busy trade in restoration and repair. The large inventory of old fibreglass boats, many of classic design and sturdy build, make great candidates for restoration.
At Tern Boatworks, located in Gold River on Mahone Bay, they continue to work on building the 48 ft. Laurie McGowan designed motorsailer we profiled in earlier 
CY OnBoards. Owner Bruce Thompson and his crew are also deep into some extensive restoration work, including refurbishing a wooden 1967 Grand Banks trawler yacht which will be a cracker when she’s done. Work will be spread out over the next three winters. Up coming work will be wooden topsides and bottom, re-caulking hull, interior upgrades, system up grades, new fuel tanks, engine refit, etc. The idea is when the owners retire the boat will be ready for extended cruising.
There is no shortage of work, but as always there is a limited supply of skilled labour. The NSBA is working with yards all over the province to increase the number of skilled workers with their apprenticeship program. Learn more about this at www.nsboats.com.
Bras d’Or Boatworks
Jim Patterson at Bras d’Or Boatworks is enthusiastic about an extensive top to bottom restoration of a 1967 vintage Webbers Cove trawler yacht. A classic “downeast” design, she will turn heads when finished this summer and we’ll get pictures to 
prove it. They also recently completed work on a 1964 Alberg 35 which now looks a good as new.
