About Us
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Owner and Craftsman
Bill Hayward has lived on the coast of Massachusetts all his life, spending as many hours on the water as possible. A lover of beautiful boats and all types of hand crafted wood, he is both an historian and a craftsman. A graduate of St Michaels College and Harvard, he realized early on that his banking career did not bring the satisfaction of his wood working. His passion has led him to become a master carpenter and artisan - from building unique homes to creating finely crafted, and historically accurate small boat models.
Company Name Meaning
The name Boats143 comes from Minot Light, off the coast of Cohasset, Massachusetts, where Bill spent many hours on the water growing up lobstering and sailing. The light warns mariners from the rocks of Minot Ledge by flashing 1-4-3. Local lore says that it is flashing, “I L-O-V-E Y-O-U.”
About our Dories
We build these dories by hand in Marshfield, Massachusetts of mahogany, northern white cedar, marine plywood, and stainless steel fasteners.
They are heirloom quality and look great in any setting. The materials and finishes are all non toxic. They come in many colors and combinations.
They're built to order, so contact us for more information.
History of the Dory
Banks dories were originally used for cod and halibut fishing on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. Schooners hailing from ports in the New England and the Canadian Maritimes carried a dozen or so of these dories on deck to fishing grounds. The dories, crewed by one or two fisherman, were set over the side every morning and brought back on board every afternoon or evening.
These dories developed a reputation as very seaworthy boats. They fished summer and winter on the Grand Banks, and faced severe weather on a regular basis. Despite the seaworthiness of their boats, many fisherman were lost when they were separated from their schooners by storms or fog. The famous Winslow Homer painting “The Fog Warning” shows a doryman rowing towards a schooner in the distance. He is trying to reach the schooner before a fog bank behind the ship rolls in and blots it out.
Perhaps the most famous doryman was Howard Blackburn of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Separated from his schooner in a blizzard, he rowed for several days, hands frozen on the oars, until he reached the coast of Newfoundland where he was taken in by a local who nursed him back to health. He lost all his fingers to frostbite. Blackburn’s tavern, which he opened upon his return home, still stands in Gloucester.
