Smith & Rhuland

Smith & Rhuland was a shipyard located in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. The yard was originally opened in 1900 and was the builder of the esteemed Bluenose.[1] The shipyard prided itself in creating quality vessels of all shapes and sizes.

Smith and Rhuland
IndustryShipbuilding
Founded1900
Defunct2005
SuccessorScotia Trawler Equipment Limited
Headquarters280 Montague Street, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
Key people
George. A Rhuland, Richard W. Smith, Fred Rhuland, John Rhuland

History

Smith & Rhuland was founded in 1900 by George A. Rhuland (1867–1950) and Richard W. Smith (1871–1954) in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada.[2] Smith and Rhuland, over its 105 years in operation completed many famous vessels including Bluenose (1921), Flora Alberta (1941), Sherman Zwicker (1942), Bluenose II (1963), Bounty (1961), and HMS Surprise (1970).[3][4] The current shipyard was home to the company from 1905.[5] The Smith & Rhuland Yard is located on Lunenburg's historic waterfront adjacent to the Lunenburg Marine Railway.

Fred and John Rhuland took over Smith & Rhuland after their father, George Rhuland died in 1950.[6] In September 1955 Smith & Rhuland started to manufacture pleasure craft. Some of the first pleasure craft built by Smith & Rhuland were named "Bluenose 26", a play on their most famous vessel Bluenose.[7]

In 1963 the shipyard launched the Bluenose II, a replica of the original using some of the same workers.

Fate
Smith & Rhuland, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, 2013.

After many years of fine shipbuilding Smith & Rhuland closed its doors in 1967.[8] During the shipyard's history it constructed over 270 vessels.[9] The yard today is operated by Scotia Trawler Limited. Scotia Trawler, established 1962, has performed many refits and repairs of original Smith & Rhuland vessels including Theresa E. Connor and Bluenose II.[10]

In March 2005 March Clearwater Seafoods, the then owner of the yard, announced its closure.[11]

In 2012 the shipyard site was chosen for the rebuild of Bluenose II.[12]

References
  1. The Seagull- Lunenburg Senior High School Yearbook. Lunenburg Nova Scotia: Lunenburg Senior High School. 1979. p. 209.
  2. Seagull-Lunenburg Senior High School Yearbook (1979). Seagull-Lunenburg Senior High School Yearbook. Lunenburg, NS: Lunenburg Senior High School. p. 209.
  3. All wood and skill and pride- Smith and Rhuland Brochure. Lunenburg Nova Scotia: Smith and Rhuland. 1961.
  4. Seagull-Lunenburg Senior High School Yearbook. Lunenburg, NS: Lunenburg Senior High School. 1979. p. 209.
  5. "Smith and Rhuland (1900-1967)". March 25, 2013.
  6. Seagull-Lunenburg Senior High School Yeartbook. Lunenburg, NS: Lunenburg Senior High School. 1960. p. 78.
  7. "In the Tradition of Nova Scotia". The Chronicle Herald. July 25, 1956.
  8. "Smith and Rhuland, Lunenburg NS". Canadian Shipbuilders and Boatbuilders. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved Feb 4, 2013.
  9. Placard at Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. Lunenburg, Nova Scotia: Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.
  10. "Scotia Trawlers Correspondance". March 16, 1983.
  11. Gustafson, Bob (1 May 2005). "Famed Nova Scotia Shipyard to close". The Wiorking Waterfront archives. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  12. "Five Years Moving Forward". lunenburgwaterfront.ca. Lunenburg Waterfront Association. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
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