The Manotick Classic Boat Club’s Spring Workshop Visitation – April 26, 2025
Spring has sprung and old boaters are looking forward to the start of a new boating season. This spring we are fortunate to have three shops on our tour – Mike Corrigan’s “The Wooden Boat Shop” in Gananoque, KenWykes’ “Wykes Boat Works” in Harlem and Jim and Diana Waldie’s “Waldie Works” shop near Merrickville.
#1 – The Wooden Boat Shop – Open to visitors from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM. 695 Stone Street, Gananoque. From Smiths Falls take highway #15 south then turn south on highway #32 just north of Seeley’s Bay. Continue south and cross highway #401 and after a few blocks look for Mike’s shop on your left. From Ottawa we suggest highway #416 to highway #401. Go west on #401 to the highway #32 exit at Gananoque. Mike’s shop is just south of the 401 on your left.
#2 – Wykes Boat Works – Open to visitors from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. 2351 Harlem Road. On County road #8 go north from Phillipsville or south from Toledo and turn on to Harlem road. From Highway #15 at the top of the hill in Portland turn onto the Harlem road. In Harlem turn right and find Wykes’ shop on your right.
#3 – Waldie Works – Open to visitors from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. 783 Rideau River Road. Merrickville.
Rideau River Road leads off Highway #43 a few kilometers east of Merrickville.
The Wooden Boat Shop has a number of interesting things to see. A 30 ft. Hacker is ready for launch with its new bottom and a complete refinishing. A 20 ft. Lyman is getting a new bottom. A 22 ft. Seabird is undergoing a complete interior redesign. A 22 ft. 1947 Gilbert is undergoing a complete restoration. The 36 ft. Hutchison sedan which has been in the shop for several years is not yet finished but has had much work done in the last year. There are several projects in the yard awaiting their turn in the shop and Mike reports that he has several boats for sale including a nice Lyman.
Wykes Boat Works has a number of projects in the shop. A 22 ft. Shepherd is gutted following a sinking and is being restored, A beautiful 22 ft. Wykes boat restoration is nearing completion as is a nice 24 ft. Hutchison. An 18 ft. Billy Johnson step hull is being varnished and several other boats are in various stages of work. Ken reports that he will have many boats on display – some currently in his huge storage barn and some previously completed works. There will also be some boats “for sale”.
Waldie Works – Jim reports that he has 3 Century boats, a 1947 aluminum boat and several other projects in various stages of the restoration process. Examples of Jim’s canoe and kayak building skills will also be on display as well as some customer boats from past processes.
Although Sirens Boat Works in Merrickville will not be on our tour this year they will be having their own open house on Saturday May 31 from 10 AM until 4 PM. Details can be found on their website which is www.sirensboatworks.com.
We all hope for good weather on April 26 and look forward to seeing many friends after many months without our boats in the water.
WHEN
Starting:
April 26
10:00am - 3:00pm