HISTORY

Boat building and the Butson name dates back to 1839 when the family was involved with building boats in Fowey Harbour, in Cornwall, Englnd.

In 1905 Cecil Butson came to Kenora, Ontario, Canada to build pleasure crafts. At the start of World War I, Cecil, being a Government Indentured Shipwright, went to Collingwood to build war boats. After the war he travelled to Penetanguishene, Ontario to once again build pleasure craft for two major yards. The Butson family grew by 7 (5 boys and 2 girls). Three of Cecil’s five boys, Ron, Lloyd and Harold, continued the wooden boat building heritage working for companies such as Gidley, Ditchburn, Grew, Greavette and Duke Boats.

Ron Butson, and Ron’s son Tim Butson followed the family tradition and grew up building boats. Among other shops they worked at Duke’s and Greavette’s before 1981, when they started Butson Boats Ltd. in a portion of the old Greavette boat shop. This shop was used until they opened their own first location in Port Carling, Ontario.

With the passing of Doreen Butson, and Ron stepping back, it was a struggle to continue business as usual without the skill and organization that Ron and Doreen were known for. In 2009, the business found new opportunity with Jeremy Fowler and Kathy McCarthy stepping in and forming Butson’s Boat Shop Ltd., in order to allow the boat building to continue. Under this new management, Tim and Sharon came on board to help to pass the business on to this new generation.

With Tim retiring in August 2011, the Butson’s team, led by Jeremy Fowler and Kathy McCarthy are growing again. Our senior boat builders have over 35 years of wood working and varnishing experience, originally learning from Ron Butson. With a new operations manager in place, and our team of junior and senior boat builders and mechanics, we ensure that our quality is reminiscent of days gone by, and that our customers are well informed with the care of their boats throughout the process.