Boatshop

Participation Welcome

The Bayles Boat Shop at Harborfront Park is open for business, every

Wednesday and Saturday

9:00 am to noon

and you are welcome to visit, even help.

The Long Island Seaport and Eco Center (LISEC)'s first project, already in progress, is to build a Bobcat for Roy Vitters. Vitters has provided the plans and materials for the boat, LISEC will offer help and experience.

The 12 foot boat will be constructed of marine plywood, fiberglass resin, and cloth. It will have pine or fir boards and a few pounds of fastenings and hardware. The construction uses plans supplied by Harold "Dynamite" Payson off the website: www.instantboats.com.

Working just two mornings a week means it may take up to six months to complete, so there is time to drop by and see how it is done. This is just the first of many projects that LISEC has coming up this Spring.

Recapture history in the Bayles Boat Shop Study and Learn the Joy of Wood

ACTIVITIES IN THE BOAT SHOP

BOATS FOR SALE

...all available boats have been sold...

All three classic wood boats, restored or constructed in the Bayles Boat Shop by LISEC members, have been sold. Their proceeds will go to support continuing boat building programs.

Should new boats be offered for purchase, their availability will be posted here. Thank you for your support.

In October 2006, within 10 days, the post and beam frame was shaped, assembled and raised with the help of the Timber Framers. Over 100 volunteers, organizations and businesses pitched in giving their time, money, services and equipment.

Since then, working through winter snow and summer heat, volunteers have completed the structure. Senator LaValle procured another grant for $25,000 and NYS Assemblyman Steve Engelbright obtained another one for $50,000. Over $40,000 was raised in cash from the community, donations which are commemorated with names carved into beams and rafters of the structure.

The project has also been supported by tremendous discounts on materials, and countless volunteer hours of work. LISEC especially recognizes Nassau Suffolk Lumber Company, which provided all our lumber needs at their cost, and most recently, Bright Side Electrical, which did all the interior wiring without cost - saving LISEC $15,000.

The Boat Shop truly is a team effort

to be enjoyed by all.

THE STORY OF THE BAYLES BOAT SHOP

The building and restoration of wooden boats was one of LISEC's early commitments. As the program expanded and captured the interest of the community, a permanent home for the activity was researched. Master carpenter, Bill Ramsden, who had already built the 39' Malabar Schooner TAO in his back yard, proposed building a post and beam structure using 1850's technology in keeping with the history of the original Bayles Boatyard once located at this site. LISEC's former director Guy Wulfing discovered the Timber Framers Guild from Beckett, Massachusetts, which assists not-for-profit organizations in creating timber frame structures for community use.

Jacques Garant came on board as the architect. LISEC's application was accepted by the Guild and LISEC went to work getting planning approval, preparing the site, and laying a foundation. Crucial to the project at this step was Phil Schiavone who had managed large construction projects for years with E.W. Howell and Company.

Donations of service came at many stages – tree clearing, cement pouring, bull dozing.
The real leap forward came with a NYS grant for $50,000 procured by NYS Senator LaValle to raise the frame. It was an exciting day when the lumber arrived.

The plans were drawn

Timbers scribed

The frames constructed