Halifax wooden boat places - travel tips wanted

[jimmy]

I'm going to be in Halifax and Dartmouth at the beginning of March for work and can probably can arrange to stay for an extra day or two. I'm hoping I can get some tips on good wooden boat places to visit, especially chandleries and marine consignment stores, but also places to look at pretty wooden boats (mostly sailboats). I'm working on refitting my boat to make it easier to sail single handed and I'm looking for some traditional looking fittings for things like running my halyards back to the cockpit. Like many old wooden boat owners I've got a long list of things I'm looking for. Any advice would be appreciated.
James

[Woxbox]

Lunenburg is not far away -- by all means drive down there and visit the fisherman's museum. With any luck, Bluenose II will be at the dock.

[jimmy]

I didn't mention that I need to decide ASAP. It doesn't sound like Halifax has great weather in March and staying there will take time and money away from my spring haul-out, so I'm starting to think I will only stay for a day or so unless I get some more information. Again, mostly looking for places to by traditional wooden boat hardware. Thanks,
J

[S.V. Airlie]

If yas go to Lunenburg, there are a couple of builders ya should meet..
Bill Ludwick (sp) His card is on the boat.. has a shop on Indian Pt.
And there are a few here on the forum who have shops in that area as well.
pm mmd...jverl...reddog...

[mmd]

Most stuff for classic wooden boats around here is custom-made to order, so a chandlery stocked with off-the-shelf wares just doesn't exist. However, there are a few places worth visiting for either ambience or shopping. You'll need a day and a car, 'cause there is no pedestrian-friendly marine shopping district. I would reccommend going to Lunenburg, park your car in the Museum parking lot, and walking the length of the two streets parallel to the harbour. Have lunch at the Grand Banker. You'll be surprised at who you meet and what you find.

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (Halifax)
Lunenburg Foundry (Lunenburg)
Fisheries Museum (Lunenburg - limited winter hours)
Traditional Marine Outfitters (Annapolis Royal)
Arthur Dauphinee Blockmaker (Lunenburg - custom order only, up to 1 year waiting list)

[jimmy]

Is anything open on Sunday in Lunenberg or Halifax? I'm kind of looking at finishing work friday afternoon and then staying for the weekend. Sounds like a trip to Lunenburg is worthwhile on Saturday, but I kind of assume things would be close there on Sunday.

[DonMacL]

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/index.html

[mmd]

Retail stores are open on Sundays (NS recently allowed Sunday shopping, but it is slow to catch on), but you won't find much marine-related open on a Sunday in March. Lunenburg, hide-bound traditionalist to the core, will be buttoned up tighter that your spinster Aunt Minnie's knickers at a bible meeting. Saturdays are pretty dead in Lunenburg, too, 'cept for tourist stuff and it's a long way from tourist season. As I said before, most stuff that you are looking for is custom-order, not walk-by trade.

[jimmy]

I have almost resigned myself to the fact that I will have to make some or all of my own hardware. We have some great consigment stores here where you sometimes get lucky with old hardware, but it is hit and miss at best. I was hoping that the east coast might be better. There aren't any places where you can find used hardware? Hopefully I can at least see some boats with hardware I can copy.

[mmd]

Your best bet out here is Traditional Marine Outfitters in Annapolis Royal. http://www.traditionalmarine.com

[willmarsh3]

I went to Traditional Marine Outfitters both times I was in NS, the last being in July 2007. It's probably a 2 1/2 or 3 hour drive from Halifax. It has a room full of brass and bronze fittings of almost every sort. There are several other rooms with various things like old compasses and other fittings. You'll want to take a list of wanted items with you. They shipped what I bought carefully packed to my house via Canada Post and USPS for a modest fee.
I also went to a chandler in downtown Yarmouth. Most of the stuff there was more modern though. I would think there are several chandlers like it all along the coast.

[jimmy]

Ooooo, that sounds interesting, that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for.

[S.V. Airlie]

jimmy.. Tradtional is on line I think.
I've spent some money there.. located in Annapolis Valley. Some of the prices are a wee tad high...

[jimmy]

Thanks everyone.
James

[Brent Cummings]

Just got back from Halifax this past weekend. I always enjoy the walk on the waterfront. I always intend to go to the Maritime Museum but never seem to fit it in. Peeked in the windows this time around but it was closed on Sunday. I'd recommend it though. Not really boat related but the Halifax market is great. Its near the waterfront as well but only open Saturday morning.