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The "S" Class Sloop Valkyrie
photo credit: Brian Adams
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PLEASE NOTE!!
We are pleased to announce that Valkyrie will be relaunched on Saturday, August 5, 2006 from the beach at Second Peninsula
near the site of David Stevens' boatshop. This will be a traditional tidal launch so please meet at the beach at 4 pm for a few words of welcome before the tide is just right.
History of the “S” Class sloop
In October, 1945, six Lunenburg businessmen approached then turnip farmer David Stevens of Second Peninsula, Lunenburg Co.,
to ask if he could build six day-sailers and have them ready for the season the following July. With the help
of two cousins, Stevens set up shop in his father’s sail loft and went to work creating six 29' boats based on a half-model he’d whittled. By March, all six hulls were sitting in a pasture nearby looking a little like, as his wife Evelyn said, “they’d been put out to pasture.” His father made the sails, his brother-in-law made the blocks, and on June 25, five days ahead of schedule, six completed boats sailed out of the harbour. Dubbed “S” (for Stevens) Class, these six pleasure craft were the first of more than 70 boats built by David Stevens. Among his boats were some of the swiftest schooners on the Atlantic coast and the schooner Atlantica, featured in the Maritime Provinces pavilion at Expo ‘67.
Valkyrie
LENGTH OVERALL 8.8 m (28'9")
BEAM 1.8 m (6')
DRAFT 1.2 m (4')
BALLAST 1.4 tonnes (1.5 tons)
LENGTH OF MAST 11.4 m (38')
RIG Marconi-rigged with spinnaker & club footed jib
CONSTRUCTION Caravel planked white pine over steam bent oak frames, oak backbone, stem & keel
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In the boatshed, Nov. 16/04
As you can see, the work involved will be quite comprehensive, given the current condition of the sloop.
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In the boatshed, Nov. 16/04
Valkyrie, in our main boatshed, awaiting the restoration of her beautiful and graceful lines.
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In the boatshed, Nov. 16/04
A nice side view showing the amount of restoration needed to the hull and deck work.
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In the boatshed, Nov. 16/04
Another photo demonstrating the sloop's graceful lines in need of a good deal of work.
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In the boatshed, Nov. 16/04
A nice view of the deck of the sloop, illustrating the overall work that must be accomplished.
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In the boatshed, Nov. 16/04
A detailed section of the main hatch, awaiting restoration as part of the current project.
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In the boatshed, Nov. 21/04
A view forward from the transom, showing various deck fittings and the forward hatch.
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In the boatshed, Nov. 21/04
Looking down through the main hatch into the below decks area, which needs serious work.
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In the boatshed, Nov. 21/04
The removal of the garboard planking revealed the tubing from the sloop's bilge pumps.
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In the boatshed, Nov. 21/04
At the end of her career, no fewer than three pumps were required to keep Valkyrie afloat.
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In the boatshed, Jan. 13/05
A terrific view of the serious condition that the sloop had fallen into, with pump tubing hanging out.
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In the boatshed, Jan. 13/05
The long and difficult process of separating the existing keel from the hull begins.
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In the boatshed, Jan. 13/05
After an impressive effort, the main hull of the vessel is now separated from the keel.
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In the boatshed, Jan. 13/05
An excellent floor level photo, showing the interior damage that needs to be attended to.
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In the boatshed, Jan. 13/05
The rest of the hull raised on high, with the newly restored keel waiting beneath it.
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In the boatshed, Jan. 13/05
An extreme closeup of the forward part of the new keel, waiting to have the hull lowered on to it.
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In the boatshed, April/05
With new frames in place, restoration can finally begin on the stripped main deck.
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In the boatshed, April/05
A great view from inside the sloop, showing the newly fitted oak frames and the open deck above.
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In the boatshed, April/05
This look towards the bow gives a good idea of the restoration needed on the main deck.
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In the boatshed, April/05
A nice view aft towards the courtyard, including the space required for the mast step.
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In the boatshed, April/05
A really nice shot of the gunwhales as they await restoration with the rest of the deck.
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In the boatshed, April/05
Resting comfortably on her new keel, the reconnection process will go ahead as planned.
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In the boatshed, July/05
A terrific shot of the restored and reframed main deck area during restoration.
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In the boatshed, July/05
Another nice shot of the restored deck area, with planes and assorted tools on the deck.
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In the boatshed, July/05
Boatbuilder Eamonn Doorly at work recanvassing the vessel's carriage house.
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In the boatshed, July/05
Eamonn Doorly applying a new coat of varnish to the restored carriage house.
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In the boatshed, July/05
Boatbuilder Eamonn Doorly at work on the vessel's carriage house.
Time for some varnish.
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In the boatshed, July/05
Eamonn Doorly applying a new coat of varnish to the restored carriage house.
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In the boatshed, July/05
Boatbuilder Eamonn Doorly at work on the vessel's carriage house.
Time for some varnish.
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In the boatshed, July/05
The lovely sloop Valkyrie's carriage house, recanvassed and restored to its former glory.
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In the boatshed, August/05
The replanking of the sloop begins in earnest this month. This will be the lengthiest component of the work.
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In the boatshed, August/05
A great shot of the restored carriage house sitting atop the sloop during the early replanking process.
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In the boatshed, August/05
A tremendous view of the interior ribbing of the sloop, with an excellent use of light and shadow.
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In the boatshed, August/05
Another good shot of the interior of the sloop, with curls of pine shavings along the line of the keel.
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In the boatshed, August/05
A nice of the upper deck as the replanking work continues aboard Valkyrie.
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In the boatshed, August/05
A great shot, indicating just how much work still needs to be done in replanking the sloop.
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In the boatshed, October/05
The bow of the sloop, showing the current state of the replanking process.
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In the boatshed, October/05
Boatbuilder Eamonn Doorly attending to his work by attaching clamps to a new section of planking.
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In the boatshed, October/05
All new sections of planking are clamped prior to being secured in place so they take the sloop's line.
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In the boatshed, October/05
A great shot looking through the outer hull to the restored ribbing within the sloop's interior.
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In the boatshed, October/05
The restored interior of the sloop. The work on Valkyrie will continue throughout the fall.
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In the boatshed, October/05
Museum Boatbuilder Eamonn Doorly taking care of planking issues the old fashioned way.
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In the boatshed, October/05
Eamonn Doorly checks on the fit of a new plank prior to clamping and securing.
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In the boatshed, October/05
A great shot, indicating the continuing work of replanking this beautiful little sloop.
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In the boatshed, October/05
A nice shot, giving you the chance to compare the current state of the sloop to the start of the project.
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In the boatshed, October/05
Eamoon Doorly gets busy preparing some white pine planking as the restoration continues.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
A terrific shot of the foredeck area and the carriage house awaiting final touches.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
Valkyrie, with the last plank
awaiting replacement, always a much-anticipated event.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
The lovely sloop Valkyrie, patiently awaiting the arrival of the last plank. Won't be long now.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
A nice tight shot of the bow of the sloop, showing the amount of work put into the restoration.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
Museum General Manager John Hennigar-Shuh addresses everyone who stopped by for the ceremony.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
John Hennigar-Shuh thanks our boatbuilder Eamonn Doorly for his impressive work on the project.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
Senior Museum Technician Mark Scott, preparing to apply the modern day caulking to the plank seam.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
Preparator Stephen Gillis and Mark Scott, carefully fitting the last plank into place.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
Eamonn Doorly begins the process of securing the final plank into place on the sloop.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
Museum Curator Lynn-Marie Richard lends a hand in the planking process as Eamonn looks on.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
John Hennigar-Shuh leads the assembled throng in the ceremonial toast to the last plank.
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In the boatshed, October 28/05
Thank you to everyone who came by and to Kelly Bertoncini for her terrific photos.
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In the boatshed, February 2006
Eamonn Doorly applying canvas lagging coating to the deck of Valkyrie.
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In the boatshed, February 2006
The coating creates a perfect seal between the white pine planking and the canvas.
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In the boatshed, February 2006
Another section of the sloop's main deck having the coating applied.
A messy but necessary process.
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In the boatshed, February 2006
The canvas decking must be placed with the utmost care to provide a nice, tight seal to the deck.
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In the boatshed, February 2006
Securing and trimming excess canvas is the final part of this important step in the restoration.
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In the boatshed, February 2006
After the canvas is laid, two coats of off-white oil-based paint will be applied.
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Launch Day - August 5, 2006
Standing proud and tall, Valkyrie waits for the moment of her official return.
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Launch Day - August 5, 2006
A number of small craft of various types began to amass as the moment arrived. A beautiful day!
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Launch Day - August 5, 2006
Museum boatbuilder Eamonn Doorly and Evelyn Stevens have the champagne in hand.
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Launch Day - August 5, 2006
Eamonn Doorly makes all of the final preparations needed to return the sloop to the sea.
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Launch Day - August 5, 2006
A picture which gives a good idea of the large crowd that gathered for the big day.
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Launch Day - August 5, 2006
Valkyrie creates a splash as she returns to the waters of Lunenburg Harbour.
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Contact webmaster with questions
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Last Updated 13 September, 2006- RSM.
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