Black Island Motor Boat

In June of 1892 John William Dorey was born in the community of Kyars Cove on Black Island, Notre Dame Bay. A fisherman all his life, John built boats as a means to supplement his income and constructed the motorboat featured here in the 1950's.

After twenty years and more of wear and tear the boat was bought by Henry Stride who undertook extensive repairs. Henry replaced the keel, gunwales, and switched the aging grown timbers with steam bent frames. With due consideration for the fine work of John Dorey, Henry carefully replaced the planks one at a time and in this manner managed to retain the boat’s original form and performance.