Graham McKay
Lowell’s Boat Shop
Boat builder
Amesbury, MA, USA
Recommended by Craft in America
Sailing from the past to the present
- Graham runs the oldest boat shop in the USA
- He pursued studies in maritime history and archaeology
- His practice encompasses boat building, and preserving and passing on the craft
“Boat building is a connection to our past, to our ancestors,” says Graham McKay, master boat builder and director of Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Having grown up along the Merrimack River, just half a kilometre from the workshop, he was drawn to boats and the water early on, building small models as a child with the ambition of one day making a real one. Before returning to boat building, Graham explored many facets of maritime life, working as a fisherman, professional sailor and sea captain, while also studying maritime history and archaeology. Largely self-taught, he gradually found his way to the craft. Today, Graham leads Lowell’s Boat Shop, also a living museum, where he works to keep this unique tradition alive for future generations.
INTERVIEW
One of my favourite moments is when groups of children come into the shop after school and see a boat being built. They get genuinely excited, then go downstairs and try building a small model themselves. I love that energy. Their excitement reminds me of how I felt at that age.
It begins with a conversation with the customer about how they plan to use the boat and what they are looking for. From there, we shape the project collaboratively, from the size to the design and wood. Throughout the build, I stay in touch and share progress. These boats often become heirlooms, so there is a strong sense of ownership. The more involved people are in the building process, the more attached they become to the final boat.
Yes, I teach many classes and also travel to teach adults and younger students. The type of boat building I practice is quite unique, and part of my mission is to pass it on and ensure it continues. I strongly believe in what I call 'preservation through replication'. The more people you teach, the better chance the craft has of surviving.
Absolutely. To be honest, when I first started, I did not necessarily plan to stay long term. But when the other boat builder of the workshop left, I felt a strong sense of responsibility to remain, otherwise the tradition would have ended there. I grew up here and this place is a big part of who I am.
