The Restoration Shop

This is where the magic happens. Owning and maintaining wooden vessels is a huge undertaking and this is where we do it. From the restoration of classic vessels to the creation of new pieces for one of our own-The boat shop is a critical part of our ability to maintain and sail our fleet. Are you Interested in working on wooden vessels? We welcome you to stop in any Tuesday or Thursday from 9am to noon to see what is on the current project list and get involved!

Scroll through the gallery below to view a sampling of projects from recent years!

Inside Building 1: Photos courtesy of Glen Rauth
Inside Building 1: Images courtesy of Glen Rauth
Inside Building 1: Images Courtesy of Glen Rauth
Inside Building 1: images courtesy of Glen Rauth
Inside Building 1: Images Courtesy of Glen Rauth
Madeline's new deck installation-prepared in the restoration shop
Installing the deck-prepared in the restoration shop
Artifacts in building 2
Creating the Bateaux
Champion tucked into the shops for the winter for routine maintenance.
A look beneath "Good News"
Creating a new bowsprit for Madeline from Scratch
Man working on restoring an old boat inside a workshop, with several people observing.
Three men working on a boat inside a workshop, working together on a project.
An indoor boat workshop with a partially built boat, a worker, and woodworking tools.
Zen and the art of Restoration
Learning the basics in building 1
Learning the basics
A boat inside a workshop with people working on it, two men sitting and one on top of the boat, and bamboo poles in the foreground.
Workshop with boats under repair and a blue banner that reads 'Maritime Heritage Alliance'
A person working on the hull of a boat, applying or cleaning a reddish-brown finish, while kneeling on the ground and wearing gloves.
A boat on a boat stand inside a workshop with white brick walls and fluorescent lighting.
The shop is also used for social events! A shanty sing with special guest Tom Kastle!
Tom Kastle in the restoration shop-Witchcraft in the background before her restoration was complete.
Wooden furniture being restored in a workshop, with parts of a headboard and shelves visible.
Partially assembled wooden boat frame, showing the interior and supports for the hull.
An indoor woodworking workshop with various tools, chairs, and materials, illuminated by overhead lights.
A small wooden boat on a trailer inside a garage, with another boat partially visible above.
Rear view of a vintage wooden boat inside a garage, showing the steering wheel and interior seating.
Small white boat on a trailer inside a storage building, with various tools and other boats in the background.
View of a wooden boat's interior dashboard with steering wheel and gauge, stored indoors with chairs and equipment in background.
An elderly man with a white beard, wearing a light blue shirt and a white hat, is working on a wooden boat inside a workshop. The boat appears to be in the process of being built or restored, with the man inspecting or working on its interior. The wo

A brief history of the Restoration Shop

MHA built the tall ship Madeline with volunteer labor and community donations, launching her in 1990.  With the remodel of Clinch Park Marina in 2002, MHA, needing alternative dock space, was given use of the “coal dock” harbor and shore-side parcel. 

An MHA Board member wrote Mike Dow requesting a donation of his 50’ of frontage at the harbor.  He sweetened the deal, offering his property on the west side of M-22; his conditions were that the property serve the public, and MHA had to come up with a business plan. 

When MHA couldn’t do this alone, a group of non-profits, MHA, TACS, Inland Seas, Children’s Museum, and Watershed Center came together to manage the property as Discovery Center Great Lakes; Rotary Camps got involved to accept the property donation.

For nearly 2 decades, the non-profits have had a home.  MHA spent thousands of dollars on leasehold improvements to customize the workshops and office space to meet our needs.  This was a permanent location where we could expand our programs to preserve maritime history, perform maintenance and repairs on our fleet of wooden boats, offer workshops, education, and sailing experiences to the community, at no cost or a nominal fee. 

Since that time, plans on the shore side of the street have evolved, and we found a new home at 3820 Cass Road. Open Shop is Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings from 9 am-12 noon. Join us!