In the late 1970s and early 1980s American folklorist, David Taylor conducted a series of interviews while researching for his PhD and MA theses. These interviews were conducted in the Trinity Bay area of Newfoundland and focused on several boatbuilders from the vicinity. The boatbuilders shared information about skill acquisition, tools, techniques, as well as customs and traditions related to their craft.

Also included within Mr. Taylor’s body of research is an interview conducted with Roger Pearson, Head of the Department of Naval Architecture and Ship Building, at the Fisheries College of Navigation and Engineering in St. John's. Roger Pearson discusses his involvement in various educational programs that were aimed at teaching newer generations of outport fishers, the classic principles of Newfoundland boat-building. His teachings focussed on protecting a set of skills that had become increasingly endangered as wide-spread cultural change impacted outport Newfoundland.

These recordings are an interesting representation of the intangible cultural heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. They give us an appreciation for the knowledge, skills, hard work, and way of life for many twentieth century out-port Newfoundlanders.

 

• Herbert Harnum describes a good boat
• Lionel Pearcey discusses boat types
• Marcus French describes his tools
• David Taylor's thesis: Boatbuilding in Winterton

 

Browse/Search the entire Boat Building DAI collection

 

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