Man-O-War Cay Boat Building


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 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
Boat NameLength Date LaunchedBoat YardAdditional information
White Sound65–75 ft. Basil SandsBuilt for Mr. Herman Ahrens who lived on MOW for some years. She was a freighter type power boat that was used to haul freight from Florida and as in private yacht etc.
Yum Yum40–50 ft. Basil SandsSailboat built for Mr. Herman Ahrens.
85 ft.1947Delbert Albury2-masted Schooner, 110' LOA, 33' Beam, 15' Draft, 75' Main Mast
Spinner 1956Edwin's Boat Yard
40 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 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 45 ft.1956William H Albury Ship Yard61' LOA, 45' LOD, 14' Beam, 5' Draft
Challenge B. 35 ft.1957William H Albury Ship Yard
Arawak31 ft.1959William H Albury Ship Yard
Dolphin30 ft.1963William H Albury Ship Yard
Esperanto 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
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
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 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 his yard
Percy ThompsonThompsons his yard
Scott WeatherfordWilliam H Albury Ship Yard
Stanley WeatherfordWilliam H Albury Ship Yard

Man-O-War Cay Boatbuilding slide show video
The following table is an index of the video, . 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.
Time
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
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
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