Building the Schooner

Follow along as Schooner Huron Jewel is built by Captain Hugh and the boat crew. She is being built in Schooner House, a 32′ x 70′ building located at 38988 S Mackenzie Point Road, Drummond Island, Building. Watch her progress here online or stop by to see in person as piles of boards and parts are transformed into the gem of the Great Lakes.

Inspired to learn more? Contact us to find out how you can have a hand in building and sailing her.

Schooner House – every schooner needs a house.

A full size mock up needs to be built prior to lofting.

The mock up of the bow.

The cabin tops are added to the mock up.

Full size mock up further along before lofting.

The ship’s wheel in the process of being restored.

To help determine proper height of different lines of the ship the wheel is put in its approximate position in relation to the full sized mock.

The Christmas Eve storm brought down a tall spruce, which a spar might be made from.

Yes there is something on that truck – ballast.

Receiving delivery of 300 lead bricks, each weighing forty pounds. Delivered on two pallets.

Ballast delivery

One of two pallets of 40 pound lead bricks for ballast.

The fuel tanks are delivered.

One of two 175 gallon fuel tanks arriving at Schooner House.

Over 200 2″ x 6″ sixteen foot boards of Douglas fir acclimate and wait to be used for planking.

The Douglas fir for planking and one of the hatches.

Hatches!

The full scale model with the ship’s wheel in place.

Full scale mock- up with ship’s wheel.

Building crew member, Bob Bonte, helps to start disassembly of the full scale model so lofting of the design can be completed.

Disassembling the full scale model so lofting of the design can be completed.

Almost all down. Taking down the last bits of the model.

Beginning to loft the design on the floor, next to the strong back.

Lofting the design.