Motorboat built by Ray Boone

p20140808_summerford_ray-boone-18
WBMNL Folklorist Crystal Braye interviewing Ray Boone at his home in Summerford.

“Well, ever since I was a boy, I see a crooked stick I’d cut it,” answered Ray Boone when asked about getting into boat building. He was around fourteen years old when he built his first boat with his brother, Ron, who was just a year older. “It was a big challenge to take on that… the first one,” Ray noted. The boat, a rodney, was built by the boys for their father to use fishing for lobster.

Read more

Boyd Coleridge

P20140718_Trinity_Boyd Coleridge (13)
Boyd Coleridge

Robert Boyd Coleridge was born February 28, 1928 in Trinity, Newfoundland. He learned how to build boats from his grandfather, George Henry Christian, who repaired schooners for Ryan Brothers Limited. Boyd built at least seven boats over his lifetime, including row boats, motor boats, and speed boats. “You’d have to look for special trees for timber,” said Boyd, “with all different crooks in them.”

Read more

Vernon Petten: Longliners

P_Port_de_Grave_Vernon_Petten_12_
Vernon Petten, Port de Grave

C.B: “How did you learn how to build boats?”

V.P: “I’ll tell ya now… you just never had to be afraid to start.”

“Ill tell ya now…”


When the Pettens needed a new larger fishing boat, Henry Petten began to consider who they would hire to build her. “We’ll do it ourselves,” said his son Vernon.

Read more

Lance Short

Lance Short
Lance Short

“You see, to we, a boat is only a boat. That’s all. It’s just nuttin’” Lance Short told us over tea and desserts served by his wife Pat. It was a chilly, damp October day and the crackle of the fire in the kitchen stove can be heard on the interview recording.

I first met Lance during boat documentation research in Trinity Bight in summer of 2014. We arrived at his home in New Bonaventure and explained our interest in speaking to him about boat building. Though he denied being a boat builder, he eventually admitted to building about twenty boats.

Read more