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I recently spent some time in New York City and decided I should head out to Martha Vineyard to get some air and space. We got off the ferry and started walking and came across the Legendary wooden boat builders Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway. The shop is tucked behind the local newspaper building, my other addiction.

My wife and I decided to drop in and see what was going on in this shop and we we got to meet some of the staff and see some of there ongoing projects.

Situated on Vineyard Sound in Vineyard Haven harbor is a small but flourishing boatyard whose mission--and passion--is designing, building, repairing, maintaining and sailing wooden boats.

Established in 1980 by Nat Benjamin and Ross Gannon, Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway has built over 30 substantial sailing vessels, mostly to Nat’s designs. With design inspiration from classic yachts and traditional boats, and built with the highest quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship, our boats are intended to take owners, family and friends sailing in a comfortable, safe and seamanlike fashion. Built in plank-on-frame construction (lapstrake or carvel, steam bent and sawn frames), our boats range in size from an 8 foot dinghy to a 65 foot schooner.

They oversee every step of the process from design to selection of wood, construction, rigging and outfitting so that construction moves forward in a harmonious, cost-effective, quality-controlled manner.

They had a writer live and work with them for a year and as a result the book called "Wooden Boat " by M. Ruhlman which is a great read and gives you some real insight into the lives and experiences of wooden boat building.

I hope you enjoy their site and go to their site and See some pictures of 60ft REBECCA, a 60' gaff schooner of Nat's design, was launched in 2001 and other fine projects they have completed.

"Ilona" is their first traditional wooden boat dominates this photo.