Bay of Fundy workhorse has a new lease on life

Last month the vintage sardine carrier Andrew & Deane slipped down the ways at the Grand Manan Boatworks facility in Ingalls Head to begin plying the waters of the Bay of Fundy.

The vessel was built in 1961 by A. F. Theriault for the late Rupert Griffin. Captain Rupert delivered sardines from the weirs to various sardine canneries in Maine over his long and distinguished career.

The Andrew & Deane became part of the Connors Bros. fleet of carriers soon after their purchase of the Stinson canneries in 2000. By then, the vessel was still seaworthy and sound, but in need of extensive repairs.

Sardine carriers have a very unique design and were built for the one purpose that they are best suited for – delivering prime sardines from the many weirs located in the Bay of Fundy to the canneries.

Connors fleet manager Tony Hooper states that the sad, but evident erosion of wooden boat building expertise in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia led to the decision to refurbish their fleet with fiberglass.

“As a wooden boat aficionado, I opposed anything but wood for repairing our fleet, but it became apparent in the late 1990s when our own boat shop crew dwindled to only two experienced men, I realized we had to re-evaluate that strategy and find a way to renew our aging fleet.”

Connors decided to go with a method whereby the vessel’s hull is sandblasted, dried and then totally clad in numerous coats of fiberglass. This process retains the shape and appearance, but effectively lengthens the working life by 30 years or more. It also significantly reduces major annual repairs.

The company had another vessel, the “Michael Eileen” fiberglassed in 2003 at the A.F. Theriault yard in Metegan, N.S. and two others at that location in subsequent years. The recent renewal of the Andrew & Deane is the fourth vessel out of a nine-vessel fleet to be completed.

“The Andrew & Deane was completed throughout the winter of 2008 at the Grand Manan Boat shop and we are extremely pleased and impressed with the workmanship the local shop illustrated,” says Hooper.

These vessels are a part of New Brunswick heritage and are essential to not only the weir fishery, but the entire sardine industry as well he notes.