Although we’re on the cusp of 2017, blanketed by snow storms, there is always something going on in the boating world, even in our own backyard in Barrie, Ontario. This month, local wooden boat enthusiast Peter Moore, owner of Heritage Boat Shop, unveiled his latest addition, Heldena III, a 1921 J.J. Taylor race boat.
Heldena had disappeared for 75 years and was located in North Bay, Ontario and listed for sale online. Having been converted to a work boat, for a logging company in Algonquin Park she was unrecognizable and in poor shape. She had most of her deck removed and a cabin installed. However, her lines and small area of remaining deck had Peter convinced the boat was a J.J. Taylor. Metal lining the engine compartment also indicated she had been a race boat. The brass Taylor plaque found under a new dash confirmed her origins.
Peter bought the wreck and had it shipped to Curtis Hillman’s shop in Muskoka for restoration. In restoring Heldena III some changes were made, the most noticeable being the larger cockpit for comfort and entertaining and modern power. The results of Curt’s talents and 14 month’s work was shown for the first time recently. Hats off to Peter for saving a rare historic vessel and to Curtis Hillman for a magnificent restoration!
