25' Chris-Craft Constellation: The Hendren's first wooden boat (1991) was this Chris-Craft. After 4 years of (off & on) restoration, and with a young family requiring frequent attention, the boat was sold - with the intention that "someday soon" we'd go looking for another boat. John had completed all of the wood work, including some plank and rib replacement, and a new transom and deck, as well as a mahogany insert along the top of the hull.  Hopefully her new owner will complete the project and will be able to enjoy this fine little cruiser for years to come.
   

Checking her out at Mars Marina in 1991

Work begins at old shop ... from late 1991 to 1995

Sold - with wood work complete - Summer of 1995...

Summer of 2007 - The Chris comes back - to the new shop on Meadowview - in the identical condition as when she left, except - she had her engine rebuilt during those twelve years. ....

Displayed as a work in progress at the Trent-Severn Antique Boat Club's "Guys in Their Garages" tour:
September 22nd, 2007

Sold June 2009 to an eager buyer who intends to complete the project and have her back in the water!

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    17' OMC Deluxe: Hopefully time will allow this stable, awesome, litte 1963 "Fibre-classic" to be totally restored at some point. Anticipated as being 'the' boat to get lots of family usage around the cottage and the Kawartha Lakes. Its style,      design and speed will lend itself perfectly for watersports.

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    22' Shepherd: John's "dream boat" - a late 40's/ early 50's 22ft. Shepherd. When spotted at a nearby boat restorer's,     John just couldn't resist making a deal by swapping a rare Peterborough Seafarer. Certainly in need of TLC ++, but not impossible,     this Shepherd now sits in John's personal "field of dreams."

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   14' Custom Craft Manta Ray: A funky little fibre-classic, we hope to restore this in the not too distant future, Check out the original 1961 Brochure:

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   17' Shepherd: Purchased in the late summer of 2005, this little beauty will "take a number" to be completely restored.     

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     19' Grew Comet: In the late 1920's a local craftsman from Penetanguishine named Arthur Grew took over Gidley Boat Works (founded in 1882) and was instrumental in forming a company producing a wide range of (vintage) watercraft. Grew Mfg., now relocated to Owen Sound, is still in operation today, continuing to provide the boating community with high quality vessels.

This funky little utility was acquired in the fall of 2007. The original 2 toned painted hull, with its mahogany decks will make this a great head turner someday! We would love to get more pictures of this model, but unfortunately we only have one from the original owner of her launching in 1951.

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18' Lyman: Retrieved from a cottage on Stony Lake, John couldn't bear to see its pending fate of becoming firewood; thus another project boat becomes part of the Hendren's boat yard storage.

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28' Askew Launch: This rare vintage launch was found in a boathouse near Big Chute, and for her age, is in surprisingly good shape. Built by Askew's Boat Works, Hamilton, Ontario. Together with brother-in-law, George Crossman, we are trying to research more information from the family on this beautiful boat, and we also are trying to obtain more information on the Askew Boat Company. This boat may very well have to 'bump' some of her sister project boats for a faster restoration spot in the shop!

A picture of this boat from the '20's?

The trip to her new home - Jan. 28/06...

The seller / the buyers...

Loading her up -

perfect fit for the trailer

back to Peterborough ...

A few more pictures of the Askew's Boat Works

On display at the Guys in Their Garages tour - Sept. '07:

12ft. Hydrostream Tunnel Hull: Purchased in the fall of 2008, as soon as the girls saw it, it was christened "The  Shark". These hydrostreams, built in the 60's and 70's in nearby Hastings produced a number of boats which can still be found in  the area. This model, however, is rather unique, having the tunnel hull. Apparently the Hydrostream guys would try different things now and again. In this case, they put a pair of tubes in the mold as an insert and made a tunnel. Not yet tried out, but we suspect that it would turn real good, but because the displaced water would spray and drag in the tunnel cavity, probably making it no faster than the original hull version. Very rare boat.

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John's Little Boat Shop
1195 Meadowview Rd.   R. R. # 2
Omemee, Ont.       K0L 2W0
705.799.2222
toll free 1.877.750.2189
email: antiqueboats@hughes.net

Maintained by The Hendrens