Man-O-War Cay Boat Building

26°35′15″N 77°00′25″W

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 1900s[1]

Boat Name Length (LOD) Date Launched Boat Yard Additional information
White Sound65–75 ft. Basil SandsBuilt 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 Yum40–50 ft. Basil SandsSailboat built for Herman Ahrens.
Teepee (re Double Eagle)85 ft.1947Delbert Albury2-masted Schooner, 110' LOA, 33' Beam, 15' Draft, 75' Main Mast
Spinner 1956Edwin's Boat Yard
Malolo40 ft.1965Edwin's Boat YardKetch, 13' Beam, 4'6" Draft, 20 ton Disp.
Barbara W.40 ft.1965Edwin's Boat Yard
Abaco I  Edwin's Boat Yard
Wynne I30 ft.Between 1918 and 1935William H Albury Ship Yard
Wynne II30 ft.Between 1918 and 1935William H Albury Ship Yard
Man O'War60 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Joyce Roberts85 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Donald Roberts60 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Sweet Heart48 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Langasta47 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Barge130 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Lucaya50 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Abaco Queen35 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Several unnamed hulls35 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Mary Eleanor35 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Obeah30 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Frigate Bird I30 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Frigate Bird II42 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Boat for Leach42 ft.Between 1935 and 1947William H Albury Ship Yard
Safari (now Tribute)40 ft.1948William H Albury Ship YardKetch, 48' LOA
Lugger35 ft.1951William H Albury Ship Yard
McCoy35 ft.1952William H Albury Ship Yard
Bagatelle35 ft.1955William H Albury Ship Yard
Romarie (re Jaunty Jess, now Flying Circus)45 ft.1956William H Albury Ship Yard61' LOA, 45' LOD, 14' Beam, 5' Draft
Challenge B. (now Tamar II)35 ft.1957William H Albury Ship Yard
Arawak31 ft.1959William H Albury Ship Yard
Dolphin30 ft.1963William H Albury Ship Yard
Esperanto (now William H Albury)56 ft.1963William H Albury Ship Yard2-masted schooner, 70' LOA, 25 ton Disp. Designed by Fred Whittier
Baracuda41 ft.1964William H Albury Ship Yard
Chubbins44 ft.1967William H Albury Ship Yard
Frigata 1960sWilliam H Albury Ship Yard
Sea Fever29 ft.1969William H Albury Ship Yard
Rough Waters30 ft.1975William H Albury Ship YardLOA is same as LOD
Abaco Rage 1980 


Man-O-War Cay Boat Builders during the 1800s[2]

Edwin AlburyRichard ‘Uncle Dick’ AlburyBenjamin Thompson
Henry AlburyThomas AlburyNapoleon Thompson
Jeremiah AlburyWilliam AlburyWilliam "Billy Bo" Thompson
Joe AlburyWiner Albury


Man-O-War Cay Boat Builders during the 1900s[3]

NameBoat YardRole
Alma AlburyMaurice Albury 
Benny AlburyAlbury Brothers Boats, also Maurice AlburyFounder
Blake AlburyEdwin's Boat YardPartner
Cyril AlburyWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Dalbert AlburyDalbert Alburyhis yard
Dalphone AlburyDalphone Alburyhis yard
Eddie Albury Jr.William H Albury Ship Yard 
Captain Eddie Albury Sr.Captain Eddie Albury Sr.his yard
Don AlburyAlbury Brothers Boats 
Edwin S. AlburyEdwin's Boat YardFounder
Emanuel "Manny" AlburyEmanuel "Manny" Alburyhis yard
Emerson AlburyEmerson Alburyhis yard
Floyd AlburyDalphone Albury 
George AlburyEmerson Albury 
Glenn AlburyAlbury Brothers Boats 
Harold AlburyHarold Alburyhis yard
Hartley AlburyLewis Albury 
Haziel AlburyWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Jamie AlburyAlbury Brothers Boats 
Joe U. AlburyLewis Albury, also his yard 
Keith AlburyEdwin's Boat YardPartner
Lewis AlburyLewis Alburyhis yard
Marcel AlburyEdwin's Boat Yard 
Maurice AlburyMaurice Alburyhis yard
Mauricio AlburyAlbury Brothers Boats 
Nelson AlburyWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Norman AlburyNorman Alburyhis yard
Paul AlburyAlbury Brothers Boats 
Redith AlburyWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Richard AlburyWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Richie AlburyRichie Albury (with Edwin Albury)his yard
Roland AlburyLewis Albury 
Samuel "Sammie" AlburySamuel "Sammie" Alburyhis yard
Victor AlburyCaptain Eddie Albury Sr. 
Walter AlburyMaurice Albury 
Warren AlburyMaurice Albury 
Willard AlburyAlbury Brothers Boats, also Maurice AlburyFounder
William H. AlburyWilliam H Albury Ship Yard, also Maurice AlburyFounder
Wilton AlburyWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Henry FisherDalbert Albury 
Derek LeeWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Basil SandsBasil Sandshis yard
Charles SandsCharles Sandshis yard
Darvin SandsEdwin's Boat YardPartner
Harry SandsTreason Sands 
Lavern SandsTreason Sands 
Robbie SandsWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Treason SandsTreason Sandshis yard
Wilson SandsWilson Sandshis yard
Junior SweetingWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Pat SweetingWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Roger SweetingWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Tweedie SweetingWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Kenneth ThompsonKenneth Thompsonhis yard
Lanard ThompsonThompsons (with Percy Thompson)his yard
Percy ThompsonThompsons (with Lanard Thompson)his yard
Scott WeatherfordWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 
Stanley WeatherfordWilliam H Albury Ship Yard 


Man-O-War Cay Boatbuilding slide show video[4]
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
0:00Introduction to the Bahama Islands
1:06Introduction 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.
9:35Mr. Basil Sands
10:00Mr. Maurice Albury
12:27Mr. James Jenkins Roberts (of Hope Town)
15:33Mr. William H Albury
17:35Mr. Clarence Sands, Mr. Norman Albury
18:10Mr. Basil Sands
19:32Mr. Maurice Albury
19:48Mr. Charles Sands
20:10Mr. Norman Albury and his Sail Loft
23:09Abaco Dinghy
24:10Abaco Fishing "Ketch"
24:43Sponge Schooner
27:15Woods used in boat building
28:03Abaco Dinghy Construction (w/ Mr. Maurice Albury, Charles Sands & Willard Albury)
50:53Charles Sands completed dinghy
51:07Basil Sands completed 21 1/2' deep-well boat
52:32Maurice Albury completed Abaco Sailing Dinghy
55:33Leaving MOW
56:11The End

References
  1. Primarily 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.
  2. Interview with Ms Patricia Albury by Jeremy Sweeting, 2013
  3. Mainly 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.
  4. Boatbuilding on Abaco Thesis Collection (M.A.), Sister Patricia Ann Finnerty, Ball State, 1973
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