A century ago hundreds of lumber schooners sailed the West Coast, hauling lumber from northern ports to supply the great demand for lumber around San Francisco Bay. These vessels were built in small shipyards along the coast using methods developed and refined over millennia and material that grew in abundance close to the launch ways.

One of only two of these vessels still in existence, the CA Thayer, has been in the collection of the San Francisco National Maritime Historical Park for many years, maintained afloat, but waiting for the restoration that would return her to the masterpiece of West Coast shipbuilding that she was, carrying over half a million board feet of lumber down the coast, under sail, at the turn of the century. Now in 2004, 109 years after her launching, that day has come....... (read full story)

Traditional Shipbuilding & Restoration

PHOTO GALLERIES

Bay Crossings Article
Alameda Sun Article
Contra Costa Times Article

Other C.A. Thayer Links
& Maritime History Web Sites

 
Photography in this section:
©Susan & Neil Silverman

and by various
Bay Ship & Yacht Co. employees
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