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Recent Additions
12/6/18 - New Project Boat
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In 1981, Boyd Mefferd, then an internationally known sculptor
specializing in large outdoor works, began restoring runabouts to provide
variety in his work and to provide fill in projects between sculpture
commissions. The antique boat hobby consisted of a small, but highly enthusiastic
group, mainly amateur restorers, who were able to select their current
project from a wide range of available craft.
By the late 80s the hobby had become much more popular, more professional
restoration shops had opened, and Boyd had become “Boyd’s
Boatyard” with five people working on restorations. Boyd was purchasing
runabouts, often neglected and in poor shape, from locations all over
the U.S. and Canada, and at one point there were 100 boats of all descriptions
at the Canton, Connecticut location. During the 90s interest in antique
boats boomed and gradually there were fewer and fewer unrestored boats
still left to be “found.”
“Boyd’s Boatyard” evolved into a full service sales
and restoration facility providing maintenance for hobbyists not interested
in hands on involvement, and commissioned restorations for individuals
who had a special boat needing work, often something with a long family
history. Boat sales continued, featuring both restored and projects, with
the inventory reflecting the ever decreasing availability of unrestored
runabouts.
You will find no fiberglass boats in Canton, only wood, and because of
a combination of philosophical and practical objections, Boyd has never
traded in the recently manufactured reproductions runabouts. |
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