Boat building on Man-O-War Cay in Bahamas dates back to the 1880s. During the middle of the last century, numerous boat yards lined the harbor.
William H. Albury (“Uncle Will”) built some of the largest boat yards in Man-O-Way Cay. When a big boat was under construction, he might employ 15 or 20 men to work on her. Many of these men also had small yards where they built smaller boats – "Abaco Dinghies" which became the backbone of the fishing and commercial industry of the Bahamas.
In 1960, Edwin Albury started Edwin's Boat Yard. He, Keith Albury and Darvin Sands built boats of varying sizes during the 60s and were joined by Blake Albury in 1969. Edwin Albury expanded in 1976 when he bought out William H. Albury.
Joe Albury now builds Abaco Dinghies in his yard. And Willard's sons, Don and Jamie, of Albury Brothers Boats build modern center-console and runabout boats in their facility next to the water.
This page is intended to archive the names of the boat builders and boats built on Man-O-War Cay from the 1800s into the late 1900s.
Boats built on Man-O-War Cay in the 1900sPrimarily from research done by the students of Mary E. Albury High School, Man-O-War Cay, 2/2014. Also from information provided by Nevile Albury, Jay & Jan Manni, Rosie and Lon Munsey, Howard and Donna Ray, David Wright, Scott Weatherford, et al.
Boat name Length (LOD) Date Launched Boat Yard Additional information White Sound 65–75 ft. Basil Sands Built for Herman Ahrens who lived on MOW for some years. It was a freighter type power boat used to haul freight from Florida and as in private yacht etc. Yum Yum 40–50 ft. Basil Sands Sailboat built for Herman Ahrens. Teepee (re Double Eagle) 85 ft. 1947 Delbert Albury 2-masted Schooner, 110' LOA, 33' Beam, 15' Draft, 75' Main Mast Spinner 1956 Edwin's Boat Yard Malolo 40 ft. 1965 Edwin's Boat Yard Ketch, 13' Beam, 4'6" Draft, 20 ton Disp. Barbara W. 40 ft. 1965 Edwin's Boat Yard Abaco I Edwin's Boat Yard Wynne I 30 ft. Between 1918 and 1935 William H Albury Ship Yard Wynne II 30 ft. Between 1918 and 1935 William H Albury Ship Yard Man O'War 60 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Joyce Roberts 85 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Donald Roberts 60 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Used as a tug boat for the Bahamas Cuban co. Logging operation at Cornwall II and Cross Harbour. Captained by Milton Albury of Man-o-war cay. Sweet Heart 48 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Langasta 47 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Barge 130 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Lucaya 50 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Abaco Queen 35 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Several unnamed hulls 35 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Mary Eleanor 35 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Obeah 30 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Frigate Bird I 30 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Frigate Bird II 42 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Boat for Leach 42 ft. Between 1935 and 1947 William H Albury Ship Yard Safari (now Tribute) 40 ft. 1948 William H Albury Ship Yard Ketch, 48' LOA Lugger 35 ft. 1951 William H Albury Ship Yard McCoy 35 ft. 1952 William H Albury Ship Yard Bagatelle 35 ft. 1955 William H Albury Ship Yard Romarie (re Jaunty Jess, now Flying Circus) 45 ft. 1956 William H Albury Ship Yard 61' LOA, 45' LOD, 14' Beam, 5' Draft Challenge B. (now Tamar II) 35 ft. 1957 William H Albury Ship Yard Arawak 31 ft. 1959 William H Albury Ship Yard Dolphin 30 ft. 1963 William H Albury Ship Yard Esperanto (now William H Albury) 56 ft. 1963 William H Albury Ship Yard 2-masted schooner, 70' LOA, 25 ton Disp. Designed by Fred Whittier Baracuda 41 ft. 1964 William H Albury Ship Yard Chubbins 44 ft. 1967 William H Albury Ship Yard Frigata 1960s William H Albury Ship Yard Sea Fever 29 ft. 1969 William H Albury Ship Yard Rough Waters 30 ft. 1975 William H Albury Ship Yard LOA is same as LOD Abaco Rage 1980
Man-O-War Cay Boat Builders during the 1800sInterview with Ms Patricia Albury by Jeremy Sweeting, 2013 Edwin Albury Richard ‘Uncle Dick’ Albury Benjamin Thompson Henry Albury Thomas Albury Napoleon Thompson Jeremiah Albury William Albury William "Billy Bo" Thompson Joe Albury Winer Albury
Man-O-War Cay Boat Builders during the 1900sMainly from interviews with Ms Patricia Albury and Roland Albury, 2013–2014. With edits from the students of Mary E. Albury High School, Bill Albury, Hartley Albury, Jeremy Sweeting, Peter Sweeting, et al. Name Boat Yard Role Alma Albury Maurice Albury Benny Albury Albury Brothers Boats, also Maurice Albury Founder Blake Albury Edwin's Boat Yard Partner Cyril Albury William H Albury Ship Yard Dalbert Albury Dalbert Albury his yard Dalphone Albury Dalphone Albury his yard Eddie Albury Jr. William H Albury Ship Yard Captain Eddie Albury Sr. Captain Eddie Albury Sr. his yard Don Albury Albury Brothers Boats Edwin S. Albury Edwin's Boat Yard Founder Emanuel "Manny" Albury Emanuel "Manny" Albury his yard Emerson Albury Emerson Albury his yard Floyd Albury Dalphone Albury George Albury Emerson Albury Glenn Albury Albury Brothers Boats Harold Albury Harold Albury his yard Hartley Albury Lewis Albury Haziel Albury William H Albury Ship Yard Jamie Albury Albury Brothers Boats Joe U. Albury Lewis Albury, also his yard Keith Albury Edwin's Boat Yard Partner Lewis Albury Lewis Albury his yard Marcel Albury Edwin's Boat Yard Maurice Albury Maurice Albury his yard Mauricio Albury Albury Brothers Boats Nelson Albury William H Albury Ship Yard Norman Albury Norman Albury his yard Paul Albury Albury Brothers Boats Redith Albury William H Albury Ship Yard Richard Albury William H Albury Ship Yard Richie Albury Richie Albury (with Edwin Albury) his yard Roland Albury Lewis Albury Samuel "Sammie" Albury Samuel "Sammie" Albury his yard Victor Albury Captain Eddie Albury Sr. Walter Albury Maurice Albury Warren Albury Maurice Albury Willard Albury Albury Brothers Boats, also Maurice Albury Founder William H. Albury William H Albury Ship Yard, also Maurice Albury Founder Wilton Albury William H Albury Ship Yard Henry Fisher Dalbert Albury Derek Lee William H Albury Ship Yard Basil Sands Basil Sands his yard Charles Sands Charles Sands his yard Darvin Sands Edwin's Boat Yard Partner Harry Sands Treason Sands Lavern Sands Treason Sands Robbie Sands William H Albury Ship Yard Treason Sands Treason Sands his yard Wilson Sands Wilson Sands his yard Junior Sweeting William H Albury Ship Yard Pat Sweeting William H Albury Ship Yard Roger Sweeting William H Albury Ship Yard Tweedie Sweeting William H Albury Ship Yard Kenneth Thompson Kenneth Thompson his yard Lanard Thompson Thompsons (with Percy Thompson) his yard Percy Thompson Thompsons (with Lanard Thompson) his yard Scott Weatherford William H Albury Ship Yard Stanley Weatherford William H Albury Ship Yard
Man-O-War Cay Boatbuilding slide show videoBoatbuilding on Abaco Thesis Collection (M.A.), Sister Patricia Ann Finnerty, Ball State, 1973 The following table is an index of the video, Boatbuilding on Abaco Thesis Collection (M.A.). The video was made by Sister Patricia Ann Finnerty in 1973.
Time(into the video) Topic 0:00 Introduction to the Bahama Islands 1:06 Introduction to Man-O-War Cay - The boats in the harbour are almost all fiberglass now. The shoreline is a bit more built up. Golf carts now ply the narrow streets. Otherwise much is the same. 9:35 Mr. Basil Sands 10:00 Mr. Maurice Albury 12:27 Mr. James Jenkins Roberts (of Hope Town) 15:33 Mr. William H Albury 17:35 Mr. Clarence Sands, Mr. Norman Albury 18:10 Mr. Basil Sands 19:32 Mr. Maurice Albury 19:48 Mr. Charles Sands 20:10 Mr. Norman Albury and his Sail Loft 23:09 Abaco Dinghy 24:10 Abaco Fishing "Ketch" 24:43 Sponge Schooner 27:15 Woods used in boat building 28:03 Abaco Dinghy Construction (w/ Mr. Maurice Albury, Charles Sands & Willard Albury) 50:53 Charles Sands completed dinghy 51:07 Basil Sands completed 21 1/2' deep-well boat 52:32 Maurice Albury completed Abaco Sailing Dinghy 55:33 Leaving MOW 56:11 The End
References
External links Boatbuilding on Abaco Thesis Collection (M.A.).
External links Map of MOW Boat Yards in the 40s, 50s and 60s Man-O-War Heritage Archive Man-O'-War Cay, Abacos settled by Loyalists, Boat builders of the Bahamas (submission pending)