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Recent Additions
6/15/23 - New Rowboat
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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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