Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway

Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway Located on Martha's Vineyard, our mission and passion, is designing, building, repairing, maintaining and sailing wooden boats.
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Established in 1980 by Nat Benjamin and Ross Gannon, Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway has built over 50 substantial vessels, mostly to Nat’s designs. With design inspiration from classic yachts and traditional boats, and built with the highest quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship, our boats are intended to take owners, family and friends sailing in a comfortable, safe and seamanlike fa

shion. Built in plank-on-frame construction, our boats range in size from an 8-foot dinghy to a 65-foot schooner. Every step of the process, from design to selection of wood, construction, rigging and outfitting takes place in our shop, allowing the construction to move forward in a harmonious, cost-effective, quality-controlled manner. We have extensive experience with a wide variety of vessels, capable of building or repairing boats for a row around the pond, to a cruise around the world.

06/30/2026

After an extensive restoration, “Summer Dawn” has officially returned to the water.

Yesterday morning, we launched “Summer Dawn” from Mugwump to the Martha's Vineyard Shipyard travel lift, marking the completion of her restoration.

The project was led by Antonio, whose leadership, craftsmanship, and dedication guided it from start to finish. Harry and Ben were also an integral part of the restoration.

“Summer Dawn” is one of the last wooden fishing boats to have worked out of Martha’s Vineyard. Built by Fred Bates in Wakefield, Rhode Island, she was owned and fished commercially by Captain John Larsen for nearly 40 years, from 1982 to 2022.

She’s now heading home to Edgartown - ready for her next chapter. Her character as a hardworking fishing boat has been carefully preserved, ensuring she’ll remain a lasting part of the Vineyard’s maritime heritage for years to come.

06/25/2026

“Half Moon,” the 43’ 1926 John Alden-designed schooner, has spent the last three winters here at G&B. After completing extensive cosmetic and rigging refits, we tackled the final major project this winter: a full electrical system upgrade.

Led by Critch, the team replaced the previous electrical system with a complete Victron lithium iron phosphate battery package and integrated management system, reducing weight while increasing onboard power capacity and efficiency.

The installation is complete, the rig is back up, and “Half Moon” is ready for a summer of cruising.

06/18/2026

Built in 1929 and still turning heads!

We’re honored to be partnering with MV Fishermens Preservation Trust in the restoration of the Little Lady, one of New England’s most historic working fishing vessels. This project represents more than a rebuild - it’s an opportunity to preserve a piece of maritime history while ensuring she remains active for years to come.

Contact us to learn how to support the project.

06/15/2026

One of the highlights of each spring is seeing local boats return to our marine railway for their annual maintenance and care. This season, familiar vessels including “Malabar,” “Ishmael,” “Calabash,” and “Phra Luang” have hauled out for a variety of projects, from topside and bottom painting to refreshing their names and lettering.

Throughout the spring, summer, and autumn, our marine railway remains available for hauling boats for repairs, maintenance, and painting. To schedule a haul-out, please call 508-693-4658.

06/10/2026

After two consecutive off-seasons at Gannon & Benjamin, the 57-foot Sparkman & Stephens yawl “Impala” has completed an extensive program of refit work. The project included a complete engine overhaul, rig refit, structural repairs, brightwork restoration, and numerous mechanical and electrical upgrades. Launched this spring from Vineyard Haven, she wasted little time getting back to what she was built for and is headed back to her home port of Nantucket.

Spring commissioning is in full swing, and with it comes a familiar face on the waterfront. Each year, Melissa Patterson...
06/09/2026

Spring commissioning is in full swing, and with it comes a familiar face on the waterfront. Each year, Melissa Patterson returns to lend her talent and craftsmanship to boats preparing for the season ahead. Her custom design work and hand painted boat names can be found on vessels throughout our harbor and beyond. A longtime signmaker, artist, and creative force, Melissa has become a cherished part of the spring commissioning tradition, helping boats look their very best before they return to the water.

06/02/2026

We built the 26’ sloop “Marta” in 2023, marking an important milestone as our first boat with electric auxiliary power - a 48-volt Quiet Torque 10 motor that can be charged by solar panels or plugged into shore power.

A nimble daysailer with simple overnight accommodations for “pocket cruising,” “Marta” features a self-tending jib and mainsail that can be set and lowered from the spacious six-person cockpit. She’s also outfitted .

Today, after winter storage at Mugwump and spring commissioning that included fresh paint and varnish, we launched her for another season in Vineyard Haven Harbor with the help of ’s travel lift - and an excited new owner at the helm.

05/28/2026

“Mary C” is a classic Downeast lobster boat built by George Emory in Maine for offshore fishing. At the Mugwump shop, she received a new Iroko deck along with updated electronics and steering systems. Now that the structural and systems work is complete, she’s moved over to the Beachfront Shop for her final cosmetic work before relaunch - preserving her traditional character while making her more capable and comfortable for fishing today.

05/21/2026

As part of Gannon & Benjamin’s transportation services, we offer vessel delivery to and from the yard - moving boats by water to wherever they need to go.

Once work is completed in the shop, G&B can return a vessel to its home port, whether that’s nearby in Edgartown, up the coast to Maine, or beyond.

H12 “Thimble,” which undergoes annual storage, painting, and varnishing, is now making her way back to Edgartown.

After completing this winter’s hull repair, cosmetic overhaul, electric and mechanical refit, the 57-foot yawl “Impala”...
05/18/2026

After completing this winter’s hull repair, cosmetic overhaul, electric and mechanical refit, the 57-foot yawl “Impala” returns to the water via our marine railway.

Address

30 Beach Road, Apt A
Vineyard Haven, MA
02568

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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