Page 23 - PCYC 75th Anniversary Book

Birth of the Port Credit Boat Works

In the early 40s Port Credit Boat Works was started by Club Although storing boats was the reason for the Boat Works,
members Len Dawson and Art Coates on the west side of building boats was a frequent enterprise as well. In the
the river. The business was always tied quite closely to the 1950s members built Thunderbirds. There were 3 Corbans
Club and the members volunteered a lot of time during finished from basic hulls and decks in the late 70s and in the
launch and haul. early 80s, Paul and Sheryl Shard finished “Two Step” before
In the beginning the marine railway was the chief means leaving on a two year trip which has turned into a lifetime
for getting boats to and from the land. The car would take of cruising the world. The management of the Boat Works
the cradle into the water, the boat floated to its proper place was always quick to lend space and expertise to members
and the car would be pulled back up onto the land–reputedly for projects.
using an old Ford truck engine. Once the car with the For everyone working in the yard, the workshop was the
cradle and boat was lined up with the row of ways used to gathering place. The best part of a day working on the boat
move the boats into position in the yard for storage, a pot would be the stop for lunch. Flo Dawson had her home-
of warmed liquid fat would be brought out and the ways made meat pies, tarts, hot chocolate and coffee –
“buttered” to allow the cradle to slide along into its place for all wonderfully warm and delicious but the highlight was
the winter. This job was often assigned to a Junior member getting together to talk over the current project or problem
and there are several now Senior members who were or just visit with friends.
“butterers” in the Boat Works.
The addition of a “crane” created from a back-hoe gave
more flexibility and the ability to pack more boats into the
boat yard.

Sliding into Place
It took a whole team of volunteers to get
the boats in and out of the water.

Port Credit Yacht Club History 21