Boat building on Man-O-War Cay in the Bahamas dates back to the 1880s. During the middle of the last century, numerous boat yards – large and small – lined the harbor.
William H. Albury (“Uncle Will”) built some of the largest in his yard where the hardware store and Edwins #2 now stand. 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 expanded in 1976 when he bought out legendary boat builder William H. Albury.
Joe Albury still 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 - thus continuing the tradition.
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
Man-O-War Cay Boat Builders during the 1800s
Man-O-War Cay Boat Builders during the 1900s
Man-O-War Cay Boatbuilding slide show video
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. She presents 35mm slides and recorded interviews from her project on boat building in the Abacos at that time. Several of the Man-O-War Cay boat builders are included.