Dobbin's Seabird

DAVE & LEE DOBBIN'S
1951, 18 ft. Port Carling Boatworks
Seabird

The Story

One of Dave's favourite boats is the Seabird, a boat he recalls from his childhood. He was thrilled to find a 20 ft. Seabird a few years ago in the Muskoka area. A real project boat, Dave couldn't resist it, and brought the boat home to his garage on Clear Lake for a 'someday project.' When a member of the Trent-Severn Club saw an ad for a Seabird in nearby Lindsay, John called Dave and suggested they check it out - it might just be less of a project than Seabird # 1.

What a find it was! This Seabird had been owned by a local dentist, and had been kept in a boathouse for many years. After the owner passed away, the boat came up for sale. Yes, it will need a complete restoration, but it comes complete with all its hardware, and most of the original wood is reusable, unlike Seabird # 1.

Slated as the next job in the shop, it promises to be a great touring boat for the Dobbin family from their soon-to-be finished home under construction on Clear Lake. Dave hopes that he and his children and grandchildren will be the caretakers of this beautiful little vessel for many years to come, until it is ready to be passed on to a new caretaker.

Before: