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Sculling the boat in the harbour
2003
Winterton, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada


Credits:
photo by David A Taylor

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The boat built by Stephen Green, Andrew Green, Chad Ash, Chad Chislett, with their instructor Melvin Green, and the assistance of Fred Green and Alfred Green, was never launched or completed. It was decided that it would be displayed at the Winterton Boat Building Museum as an example of a boat under construction.

The Winterton Boat Building Museum strives to preserve the traditional craft of wooden boat building, which was such an integral part of life in Winterton. A number of factors led to the decline of traditional boat building. The concentration of the fishing effort, from inshore to offshore, led the way followed by increasing use of fiberglass hulls. Furthermore, the fisheries moratorium and the collapse of Northern Cod stocks reduced the demand for small wooden fishing boats. In recent years many of Winterton's boatbuilders have passed on, young people have been obliged to leave the community to find work, and many who remain are elderly. These factors all challenge the survival of this traditional craft.

Fortunately, David Taylor's documentation of Winterton's boat building tradition has created a level of awareness beyond any seen in recent years. Building on his work, the commitment of the people of the community will ensure the continuity of the boat building tradition.