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One of the last: St. Lewis boat builder to retire from trade at 71

One of the last: St. Lewis boat builder to retire from trade at 71

Melvin Curl, 71, figures he has one build left in him.

He's been making boats in St. Lewis, Labrador for more than five decades.

In that time, he's watched the tools of the trade change from wood-gathering dog teams to the electric saws used today.

"To build boats now is only a joke," Curl laughed.

It may be easier, but the trade has dwindled along Labrador's south coast.

"At one time, you could probably look at about 15 or 20 boats around the harbour [that] would be built in the spring of the year … that's all gone."

"Nobody builds boats here now," he said of his hometown, which has a population of 194, according to the 2016 census.

One final build

This summer, despite some protest from his wife, and some heart trouble, Curl intends to make one final motor boat.

"I just want to have it just to look at it," he said.

Curl has made and sold more than 30 boats over the years — ranging from rowboats to a 34 by 11-foot longliner he built for his son.

"I couldn't get one built for myself," he joked.

"Before I'd get it done, someone would come and say 'b'y, I want that.'"

Natural talent

Some of his tools have been upgraded since he stared at the trade at age 18, but he still goes into the woods to chop down his own timber.

He's built every project by eye or with a blueprint he'd make himself — his only training passed down by his father and brothers.

"If you had a boat down here to the wharf and I never seen it before and I go down and have a look at it, I can come home and put one up pretty well exactly the same thing," he said.

"It's there, you know," he said of his ability.

"I can't explain it no more than that."