Paul Wilson, Mike Jellison and Bob (Lakeside) Smith are working on the 2018 project. Stop by and see the work in progress.

Also occurring in the boat shop is the on-going reconstruction of a 1927 Peterborough canoe donated to the Maritime Museum by Neil Williams on behalf of the Williams family.

Reconstruction of the 1927 canoe is a provision of the donation. New decks will be applied, canvas replaced, the interior stripped, new ribs installed, and varnish removed as needed.


Displays
Models of boats used to navigate the waters surrounding the Les Cheneaux Islands.
 
   

Maritime Museum


Model Boat Plans by Oliver Birge
Model                                                    Year     Length      Sheets     Cost
Ernest Birge’s Argentine Row Boat   1910   12'11''           3            $60
Norwegian Sprit Rig                            1989   13'3''             3            $60
Ernest Birge’s Argentine Outboard    1910   13'4''             3           $60
Chippewa, Hamel Brothers                 1905   13'11''          3           $60
Prof. Nipher’s Row Boat, Joe Kramen 1905 13'11''          4           $75
Depression Boat                                    1920   14'9''            1          $25
Bosley’s Row Boat                                 1900   15'4''            4          $75
Ernest Birge’s Argentine Row Boat     1908    15'5''           3          $60
Mackinaw for Tom Marshall                1988    18'              3         $60
Gaff Rigged Sloop Edna B                    1900    18'             10       $150
Mackinaw Boat Wasbesi                      1845    26'6''           4          $75 
     
     
   

The O.M. Reif Boathouse (circa 1920s) is home to displays of vintage boats, marine artifacts, antique outboard motors, historic photos of area boating, a boat building workshop, and a gift shop.






Annual Raffle
The 2019 raffle prize is a "14 Chester Yawl", being built in the museum boat shop during 2018-2019 seasons. Tickets are $5.00 each and can be purchased at both museums. The raffle will be held in late August, 2019 (TBD) at 2 p.m. at the Maritime Museum. You need not be present to win.

Shavings from the Boat shop 2017 by Paul Wilson

The summer of 2017 saw the unveiling of one of our most spectacular raffle boats.  The material used in the boat was cut from a tree donated to the museum by Dan Izzard and harvested by Dan and Conrad Izzard with the assistance of Mike Jellison and Bob Smith. The logs were cut into planks by Bob Smith and Dave St Onge on Dave’s band saw mill.  This lumber was made into strips that became a modified Wee Lassie 2 with diamond inserts on the side below the gunnel and tapered diamonds on the front and stern decks.  Finished with 12 coats of gleaming varnish by Bob Smith.   The craftsmanship was accomplished by Mike Jellison, Bob Smith, Lynn Wolters and Dave Meninga.  Stop by the museum to look at a beautiful book created by Bob Smith showing the construction of this boat.  It was well received by the public at the shows where it was displayed.  Hopefully it will be enjoyed by the winner in Arizona.

A new raffle boat followed in mid-summer.  It is a 12’ Wood Duck kayak. This will be raffled in 2018.  Special thanks go out to the loyal crew that works each summer.  You are appreciated.

We cannot overlook the Historical Board in these thanks.  It has been supportive of the Boat Shop since its inception.  The summer of 2017 saw the installation of two new air filters in the shop.  This will improve the air quality in the shop greatly, especially when we get to sanding on these raffle projects.

Additionally, special thanks to those of you that bought tickets on these projects.  Your loyalty keeps the shop open and supports the many other projects conducted by the Historical Association.  Keep up the great support; we need you now as always to help provide the area with its rich local maritime and family history.