47' Converted Salmon Carrier (1945) - ISLAND MAID II

Island Maid II is a converted 1947 Pacific Northwest salmon carrier. She fished commercially from launch into the ’90s before being converted to a live aboard cruiser. From the late ’90s until 2011 she served as a cruiser, wilderness support vessel and sport fisher on the West Coast. In 2011 she was purchased by Brad Pease of Pease Brothers Boatbuilder in Chatham MA and moved over land to the East Coast. Pease and his family lived aboard and cruised New England until 2020, when she was purchased by Will Sturdy, head designer at Brooklin Boat Yard. I purchased her from Will last fall and she is currently hauled at Atlantic Boat in Brooklin.

All her owners have diligently maintained her and I hope to continue as a good steward. She was leaking at the stem near the waterline last summer and I have removed some concrete ballast in the area that was full of iron. This was presumably to increase weight, but the iron-concrete block had swollen, pushing out some planks. I’ve removed the planks and plan to remove the forward end of the port garboard, which is a bit soft. This spring I plan to sister a few frames, scarf in new cedar planks and recaulk the garboard and broad on the starboard side. I’m contemplating bitting the bullet and replanking below the waterline the next time she’s hauled. This is a 70 plus year old iron fastened work boat and should keep me busy!

She will be moored in the Benjamin River near our S&S Gulfstream 30 Loon, serving as our summer home, with some occasional island hopping.