Covey Island Boatworks reportedly burned

[mmd]

From the website of our local radio station:


(7:15am Tuesday) An eyewitness says Covey Island Boatworks in Petite Riviere was flattened by fire this morning. Darryl Wentzell says he went over to see what was going on around three o'clock this morning. He says there were lots of firetrucks and the fire was well underway when he went by. Crews have been on the scene since they were called out just after two this morning. They are currently mopping up at the scene. Petite firefighters along with volunteers from Lahave, United Communities, Hebbville, Bridgewater, Pleasantville and Italy Cross were called in. No word on any injuries or a possible cause at this point. Covey Island boatworks builds custom yachts at their facility in Petite Riviere and according to their website, most of the employees have a financial interest in the company. The boat-building company has recently discussed moving it's operations to Lunenburg.

[TomF]

How dreadful! Please keep us posted, mmd.

t

[Concordia...41]

That's awful! :(

I'll keep checking back here for updates...

[Gary Bergman]

Jeesh! Hope everyone's o.k.

[bamamick]

Oh my goodness! I love the boats that those guys build. What a horrible tragedy. I pray that no one was hurt?

Mickey Lake

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Oh my goodness! I love the boats that those guys build. What a horrible tragedy. I pray that no one was hurt?

Mickey Lake

Agreed, I love their boats and I also hope no one was hurt .

[TomF]

Drove past their yard a few weeks back, while toodling 'round on holiday with the family - felt like I'd stumbled onto Mecca by accident when I saw the sign.

Any updates mmd?

[mmd]

I cannot post any further information on this subject. Apparently someone felt that it was wrong for me to post information about a fellow boatyard while in the employ of a non-competing shipyard and contacted my employer and others to complain.

For further developments, I would suggest following the news reports by the source I initially recieved information, our local radio station, CKBW www.ckbw.com

My sympathies go out to my friends and colleagues at Covey Island Boatworks.

[Rum_Pirate]

From the website of our local radio station:(7:15am Tuesday) An eyewitness says Covey Island Boatworks in Petite Riviere was flattened by fire this morning. . . . . and according to their website, most of the employees have a financial interest in the company.
The boat-building company has recently discussed moving it's operations to Lunenburg Could it be arson?

Spurred by potential job loss if company moves?

Not all employees have a financial interest in the company.

[Tar Devil]

I cannot post any further information on this subject. Apparently someone felt that it was wrong for me to post information about a fellow boatyard while in the employ of a non-competing shipyard and contacted my employer and others to complain.

Moron.

The majority of us realize your post was out of concern. We can do nothing about the mindless.

[TomF]

Sorry for the trouble you've been stuck with, mmd. Ridiculous to have someone think that a genuine expression of concern was anything else.

Here's what the news at the local radio station's website says at the moment:

(10:15am Tuesday) Business partners involved in Covey Island Boatworks are still contacting each other and assessing what's next after an early morning fire. A woman identifying herself as the daughter of company founder John Steele says he hasn't been to the site yet. And she says they are still trying to figure out what's next now that the Lunenburg county boatshop is gone. Seven fire departments were called to the blaze just after two o'clock this morning but were unable to save the building. Covey Island Boatworks was founded in 1979 and builds and repairs custom wood and epoxy yachts. There had been recent talk of the company moving operations to Lunenburg's waterfront at some point in the future. Route 331 through Petite Riviere in Lunenburg County is closed until further notice to allow for clean up and investigation of the overnight fire at Covey Island Boatworks.

[htom]

I cannot post any further information on this subject. Apparently someone felt that it was wrong for me to post information about a fellow boatyard while in the employ of a non-competing shipyard and contacted my employer and others to complain.


I'm all in favor of freedom of speech, but such speaking (that of the person who complained) deserves laughter, not obedience. I quite understand your acquiescence, however.

[paladin]

I have a lotta respect for John Steele and the fellows there and their work......but someone is obviously a friggin' idiot......

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I cannot post any further information on this subject. Apparently someone felt that it was wrong for me to post information about a fellow boatyard while in the employ of a non-competing shipyard and contacted my employer and others to complain.

For further developments, I would suggest following the news reports by the source I initially recieved information, our local radio station, CKBW www.ckbw.com (http://www.ckbw.com)

My sympathies go out to my friends and colleagues at Covey Island Boatworks.

I hope the berk that did that reads this and realises what a twat he is.

[JimD]

I hope the berk that did that reads this and realises what a twat he is.

ACB, he or she is one, of course, but I'll assume that word carries a somewhat different value across the pond. ;)

[TomF]

CBC Nova Scotia's got a brief update to this:

A fire early Tuesday destroyed a boatyard in Lunenburg County.
Covey Island Boatworks in Petite Rivière was fully engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived around 2 a.m. The blaze gutted the building and the schooner Maggie B., a Covey Island-built ship that was in for a refit after circumnavigating the globe.

There are no reports of injuries. Firefighters were still putting out hot spots at noon Tuesday.

BTW, here's the Maggie B:

http://www.coveyisland.com/maggielnbg.jpg

[Maritimer]

I'm the communications manager for Covey Island (and coincidentally a firefighter with one of the seven departments that responded to the fire).

Thank you very much for the interest, reporting and condolences expressed re: the destruction of our yard. It is a shock and a blow, and while expressing relief that no one was injured, I'm aware that loss of a boat is like a loss in the family. Our sincere condolences to the owner of the Maggie B.

The company itself has survived with its most valuable asset -- the skills and experience of the workforce. There is every hope the yard can, as our General Manager has said, pick up the pieces and move on.

The reporting has been accurate to date. (And I appreciate Michael Mason's early reports and his condolences.)

I will post a statement/ release on our website in a few minutes. We will soon solicit anything in the way of images, articles, plans, etc. that we have sent out over the years -- and now would like to have sent back in our direction for obvious reason. We are still checking email, so once we have made the official call, please contact us to let us know what you have. The Covey Island email is on the website.

[Bob Cleek]

Best of luck to you guys. Glad nobody was hurt. "If it don't kill ya, it'll only make ya stronger!"

BTW, if I ever win the lottery, I'll be calling you for a Dyarchy!

[Jay Greer]

Having been in contact with Covey Island Boat Works during the construction of their version of a LFH Bounty Class Ketch, I feel more than average regret over their loss! I am relieved to hear that no one was injured, but, what of the tools that had been passed down from father to son. There in lays a loss indeed!
Jay Greer

[Rob Stokes, N. Vancouver]

I cannot post any further information on this subject. Apparently someone felt that it was wrong for me to post information about a fellow boatyard while in the employ of a non-competing shipyard and contacted my employer and others to complain.

Somebody needs to get a life.

thanks for posting MMD - it's appreciated.

Rob

[Concordia...41]

Yes Michael, thank you for your post. I didn't see it as anything other than an alert - to the wooden boat community - that there was a potential tragedy.

Here's the update from their website:


BULLETIN (August 12, 2008) - We are shocked and saddened to report that our plant at Petite Riviere, Nova Scotia, burned to the ground in the early morning hours today.
Yard president and founder John Steele said that he, the two other managing partners, and all other employees are still in the early stages of reacting to the news.
Thankfully no one was hurt in the blaze.
However, we are devastated to report that 62' schooner Maggie B was lost. Our sincere condolences to her American owner, Mr. Frank Blair, who has been contacted. His yacht was in the yard for a cosmetic refit after circling the globe over the last two years.
General Manager Al Hutchinson said, the loss of the yard was a blow to the community. "It's a tragic loss of a boat and many non-replaceable artifacts." He said the company will pick up the pieces and move on.

A small sailboat in the yard for minor repairs had left the yard earlier this month, and a months-long refit of a 38' commercial boat into a pleasure boats for Irish customers had been completed last month. Lumber was about to be ordered for a new project, a schooner for a Nova Scotia customer. John Steele said he was hopeful the company would find a way to fill the order.
Discussions are well underway for a move to the Smith and Rhuland property on the Lunenburg waterfront.
It will likely be some time before a cause of the fire is established, according to a Covey Island employee who was one of the firefighters who responded to the fire from seven neighbouring fire departments. The Nova Scotia Fire Marshal was on the scene early this afternoon.
The work force at the yard is fifteen to thirty employees depending depending on the work at hand.
Most employees who have been with the yard at least a year have shares in the company.
The boatbuilding plant was about 8,000 square feet and included two boat building bays.
The building was insured.




And the Maggie B (from their site):

http://www.coveyisland.com/maggieb069.jpg

Now that is a loss... :(

[Hwyl]

I hope the berk that did that reads this and realises what a twat he is.


ACB, he or she is one, of course, but I'll assume that word carries a somewhat different value across the pond. ;)

I agree and I speak both English and American.

Good luck to all concerned.

[John B]

Terrible. I stood on the dock for ages looking over maggie while she was here, trying to pick up all the details.
So sorry to hear of it.

[py]

Isn't language a funny thing. I'm pretty sure twat in english refers to the same part of anatomy as it does in american. But in english it can be used in a relatively good humoured, you silly fool, sort of way. In the context of the fire the C word may be more appropriate. Oddly enough I have the impression that Fanny has a slightly different meaning in the US than it does in the UK and here in Oz. Certainly its used far more freely than I would expect if the meaning was the same.

[htom]

I'm torn between rejoicing that there were no people killed, and sorrow over the history and vessel lost.

[Concordia...41]

I asked mmd if there was any news on the fire, and he sent a link to this article:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1073024.html

The synopsis of the story is that, although the investigation is not over, and the actual cause of the fire is still undetermined, the Deputy Fire Marshall in charge of the investigation has ruled out arson as the cause of the fire. That will be good news to the yard, friends of the yard, and those of us who try to see the best in people. It will, no doubt, fall on deaf ears of the cynics and conspiracy theorists who immediately yelled, "insurance scam!"

Since a very little (I think that word has the same meaning in all languages) person used this thread to complain about mmd's initial post, I thought I'd pass this information on as I know many people, both Canadian and US, and around the world care about the yard, the people involved, and the boats.

- Margo

[wdnbt]

This is such sad news! However, as the General Manager pointed out, "The company itself has survived with its most valuable asset -- the skills and experience of the workforce. There is every hope the yard can pick up the pieces and move on. "
let's hope they can rise from the ashes even stronger than before.....

Margo- thanks for passing on the link from mmd. WE ALL KNOW his report was motivated from nothing more than genuine concern and respect for his colleagues at Covey Island Boatworks
-Rick

[Captain Blight]

This would bring a tear to a glass eye.

So damned sorry for the folks who lost boats and tools. I strongly hope Covey Island can pick up and go on again.

[Thad]

So sorry. Best wishes to all there at Covey Island!

[reddog]

On a positive note the loss of the building in Petite may provide the impetus for Covey Island to agressively pursue the acquisition of the Smith & Rhuland property in the Town of Lunenburg.It has been reported that talks between Covey Island and the Waterfront Development Corp. have been ongoing for a couple of years now.It would be a fitting use for the birthplace of the Bluenose and countless other fine boats and would provide Covey Island with a good chunk of property with direct access to deep water for hauling and launching.In addition the local Community College is running a heritage carpentry course in one of the buildings with persistant rumour of restarting the boatbuilding/shipwright course they had shut down in the 90's.In the past Covey Island had provided employment to many of the graduates of this excellent course.Think of it,a training programme with a working boat yard next door in the centre of a town renowned for its boatbuilding and seafaring heritage.Hopefully this cloud will indeed have a silver lining.

Earl

[Captain Blight]

On a positive note the loss of the building in Petite may provide the impetus for Covey Island to agressively pursue the acquisition of the Smith & Rhuland property in the Town of Lunenburg.It has been reported that talks between Covey Island and the Waterfront Development Corp. have been ongoing for a couple of years now.It would be a fitting use for the birthplace of the Bluenose and countless other fine boats and would provide Covey Island with a good chunk of property with direct access to deep water for hauling and launching.In addition the local Community College is running a heritage carpentry course in one of the buildings with persistant rumour of restarting the boatbuilding/shipwright course they had shut down in the 90's.In the past Covey Island had provided employment to many of the graduates of this excellent course.Think of it,a training programme with a working boat yard next door in the centre of a town renowned for its boatbuilding and seafaring heritage.Hopefully this cloud will indeed have a silver lining.

Earl

That is just great news. I literally got goosebumps reading that.

[reddog]

We can only hope the planets will align and the fates intervene to make this happen.Regardless,I'm sure Covey Island Boatworks will continue and prosper.

Earl

[Frank Blair]

Hello all. This is Frank Blair, Captain of the Schooner Maggie B. I hope that people visit our web site at www.SchoonerMaggieB.net to see that great product of Covey going around the world - 38,400 NM in two years and a month. She was this brilliant result of the coming together of the skills at Covey, Nigel Irens' design and my compelling urge to sail a fast and able wooden schooner around the Great Capes.

A story on her is in the current (September 2008) edition of Boat International and another is scheduled for one of this winter's Wooden Boat issues. Being destroyed doesn't make her any less a great boat. It should not make people feel any the less that anything is possible and whatever you might want to do, it probably can be done better, faster, safer and more fun in a wooden schooner.

[reddog]

Hi Frank;
Thanks for the link,I'll have a good look.My condolonces for the Maggie B.,she was a fine looking boat.I realise it's a bit early and really none of my business, but do you have any plans for another boat?

Earl

[Frank Blair]

Dear Earl: It is sort of like asking a guy at his wife's funeral --- when are you going to remarry? Frank

[Paul Pless]

Frank, my condolences on the loss of your beautiful schooner.


It should not make people feel any the less that anything is possible and whatever you might want to do, it probably can be done better, faster, safer and more fun in a wooden schooner.Thank you for sharing that bit of philosophy here.

[Vince Brennan]

Frank, sincere condolences on the loss of Maggie B.

She will sail forever in the hearts of all who saw and admired her.

[paladin]

Condolences on the loss of a fine vessel....

[reddog]

Frank,you're quite right,I apologise.

Earl

[Frank Blair]

No problem, Earl. Still in shock.
The latest thinking is that we got caught in a fight between Hephaestus (God of fire for those of you who slept through that class) and Posidon. We would, at the start and end of each leg, give a toast for safe passage, including the first drop to Posidon and Grey-eyed Athena, but never a drop for Hephaestus. Too late now.

[SaltyD from BC]

I just hope that good things rise up of out of the ashes for all concerned here. Best wishes Frank, and the Covey Island crew.

[reddog]

Amen to that Salty.

Earl

[htom]

My condolences, too, Frank. The loss of such a work of art is to be morned.

[T.A.R.]

My Sympathies to all involved, I hope it turns out well.