History

Spiller Marine Service is a family business with 40 years of history on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Alec Spiller, the father of “Bosun and Teak” spent his teen years fishing the Northwest Coast of B.C. and the Gulf of Alaska on Wooden salmon trollers, seiners and bottom draggers. After 4 years in the Navy he started an apprenticeship in the famous “Wahl” shipyard in Prince Rupert, building wooden fish boats and cutting lumber in the company sawmill.

The “Wahl” yard in its heyday built ten west coast gillnet boats at a time, finishing one a week and they were known for their perfect lines. Over 500 fish boats and yachts were built in the original yard in “Dodge Cove” in Prince Rupert harbor.

Alec eventually bought the shipyard and sawmill in 1970 and continued in the “Wahl” tradition building graceful “West Coast” fishing trollers, old style fishing sailboats and batten seam mahogany speed boats. A large part of his business was doing major renovations on the Northern fishing fleet including lengthening, wheelhouses, new sterns, recaulking etc... In addition some large sail training vessels were designed and completed out of wood using “East Coast” fishing schooner and sloop designs using lines from “Chapelle” and the “Smithsonian Institute”.

Alec’s sons, “Bosun” and “Teak” grew up in the shipyard and are now the principles in the company. “Bosun” the head shipwright and manager started plugging nail holes at the age of 4 years old and now at 36 heads up major projects on his own. He has recently completed major jobs including widening and lengthening of aluminum fishing vessels and also major rebuilds in wood of older northwest wooden tugs and fish boats. “Teak” has his father’s interest in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture, and is pursuing that end of the business. He handles the engine rebuilds, shaft allignments, exhaust systems etc. and is studying yacht design. He is working on some of his own designs.

“Spiller Marine Services” is presently building a new base within “Shelter Island Marina and Boatyard” in Richmond B.C., a suburb of Vancouver. The marina and yard have a 70 and a 150-ton travel lift and a large storage and work area. It is a full service yard with machine shops, sheds, paint facilities, fiberglass shops, steel and aluminum fabricators, marine supply stores, showers and Laundromat, a liquor outlet and most importantly a restaurant and pub.

Traditional designs of West Coast troller yachts are available and conversions of old yachts and tugs are an ongoing part of the business. The shipyard has intimate knowledge of available boats for sale on the coast and welcomes inquiries as to your needs. “Spiller Boat Building Ltd.” can build to plans or custom design any type of workboat or yacht. Spiller Boat Building Ltd. traditionally runs a crew of about 15 to 20 men and has recently hired some young ladies as detailers and painters. The “Spillers” are known for their work ethic and although firm contracts can be hard to come by in the repair business, a “not to exceed price” can be extracted from the yard.

They have boat stock from the “Queen Charlotte Islands” (Haida Gwaii) available and usually have approximately 100,000 fbm on hand. They can cut to order for a whole project or a small part of it. Traditional plans are available for your home or shipyard projects and kit wooden boats with complete materials and plans can be ordered.

Alec Spiller is available as a design consultant, project manager and marine surveyor anywhere in the world.