Gannon & Benjamin specializes in traditional designs and construction methods and has built and/or rebuilt boats ranging in size from an 8 foot row boat to a 65 foot schooner, including yacht tenders, canoes, Beetle cats, Alden schooners, Rhodes sloops, Concordia yawls, bass boats, Herreshoff designs, Lawleys, etc.
Nat's designs are known for their speed, seaworthiness, practicality and simplicity. "In my few years of 'messing about on boats’," says Nat, "I have tried to include the basic ingredients for safety, speed, and comfort, with a strong emphasis on good looks. I am not concerned with any rating system; I prefer to see men, women and children sailing with a smile. I feel it's very important to keep an eye on current trends, but not to be influenced by the glitter, only the grace."
Click here to see our Gallery of G&B Boat Designs.
MATERIALS & LUMBER
Although we prefer to buy locally, we are always looking for high quality, sensibly designed, reasonably priced, attractive gear. In order to maintain our quality standards, and style requirements, we source wood and gear from all over the world.
We import various South American hardwoods from Suriname: silver balli, angelique, purpleheart, and Spanish cedar. We can also arrange to import teak from the Far East. Our supplier specializes in working with the indigenous populations in each country to make sure that wood is harvested in a sustainable fashion; he then has it milled to the required size. We purchase white oak, black locust, and cedar planking (for smaller boats) in New England or the Mid Atlantic States.
We use American made bronze fastenings or copper rivets. We work in collaboration with a professional caulker and two traditional riggers, a local cabinetmaker and other local specialty craftsmen. We have numerous patterns for custom casting bronze hardware (mast hardware, chocks, deck hardware, rudder and stern post hardware, life line stanchions and bases, etc.), and can advise and arrange for additional designs, styles and sizes.
We specialize in sailing vessels or smaller oar/sail powered dinghies and tenders, but we have also built and repaired other types of boats and would be pleased to talk to you about your needs and wishes.
We also can offer:
Custom cast bronze hardware from our patterns, and bronze fabrication
We have numerous patterns for custom casting bronze hardware (mast hardware, chocks, deck hardware, rudder and stern post hardware, life line stanchions and bases, etc ) We can advise and arrange for additional designs, styles and sizes.
- Building and repair of wooden spars.
- Spliced traditional rigging.
- Sail Loft on the premises: contact Sarah Smith at "The Loft"- (508) 693-3312
- Moorings and launch service provided in Vineyard Haven harbor by the Vineyard Haven Launch Service. Please contact them at (508) 693-4658, or on VHF Channels 72 or 9.
