Islander 'building boats hand over fist'.

• Author: Louiseize, Kelly
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: ELLIOT LAKE & NORTH SHORE - Henley Boat Manufacturing

David Ham confesses he has always wanted to learn the art of boat building, so when the opportunity came to purchase Henley Boat Manufacturing, he was eager to test the waters.

A former hardware store and Manitoulin Air Service Ltd. owner, Ham bought the business in 1996 from Collin Gourley of Picton, Ontario. He relocated it to Manitowaning on Manitoulin Island. The former proprietor followed. Gourley passed his knowledge on to Ham, who in turn is providing seven full-time staff members with the same expertise.

It's a good thing, as business is going full-steam ahead.

"We are building boats hand over fist," he says.

Workers have just completed building a 26-foot boat for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Since scientists will be using it in the high Arctic waters, government specifications were tight.

Amine A. Haider, technical inspector, likes what he sees.

"I can tell you these people are very open-minded, they want to learn a lot and that is a good sign," he says.

His company's flexibility could make the boat market Ham's oyster, he adds.

Currently, Ham is bidding on boat building contracts in Australia and for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He is currently constructing vessels for Nigeria.

Henley is known for lapstraked, or beveled, hulls. The feature is their signature mark.

"We are the only company in North America doing that," Ham happily points out.

Aluminum is used throughout the vessels, with stronger, more durable grades used for the hull and sides. A stress roller and presser form the boat sides into ridged panels, then workers weld the pieces to the frame...