Herbert and Dexter Goodison building there first fish tug and launching it in Erie Beach decided to move their boat building business to Erieau after receiving favourable reports on their design. In 1940 they purchase the W.F. Kolbe Fish Company and in 1943 added a boat building business. Orders started coming in to have other boats built and over the years a number of vessels were built here.

In 1953 they sold their boat building business to McQueen Marine of Amherstburg.  In the latter part of 1967, contracts for new boats and repairs dwindled to the point where layoffs were inevitable and finally in February 1968, all equipment were sold off in an auction and the shipyard closed down for good. They sold the business to a John Munn of Blenheim. In 1979 Hartley Vidler purchased the shipyard and built a few boats over a few years.

The Erieau Shipbuilding and Drydock with the S.S. Alexander Leslie
Source: Vidler Private Collection

Timeline of the Erieau Shipbuilding Ltd.  

1940    Hubert and Dexter Goodisons, buys the W.F. Kolbe Fish Co.

1943    They add a shipbuilding business.

1943    They Launch the Erie-O, the first tug to slip down the ramps.

1956    They sell their boat building business to McQueen Marine of Amherstburg.

1968    In February the shipyard was closed and all stock sold off in an auction. The Erieau Dry-dock and shipyard was closed due to lack of work. During its peak time, the shipyard employed 25-30 men. Most were laid off in December 1967. 

1974    Hartley Vidler buys the Erieau Shipbuilding Ltd and leases railroad property for a marina.

1979    Omsteader is launched and is the first tug to be built at Shipyard in 11 years.

1980    Hartley adds a Marina and builds a new slip in the Coal Yard and turns the old round house into a restaurant and Slip Inn

1985    Hartley sells the Shipyard and Marina to Diane & Doug Barnier. They make improvements and add retail marine and boat business. Eventually adding the Beer and Liquor store and M & M meat products.

The Gaston coming in from Norway loading up dry and can goods destine to Newfoundland and Europe
Source: Vidler Private Collection

Ships Built at the Erieau Shipbuilding 

1943    Erie O

1943    Elgin E

1944    Cara G – for Jake Goodhue

1944    Kar Lou – for George Stass

1945    B & E

1945    John D’Eau – for George Crewe

1945    Elgo W – for Harold Parker. Renamed the DL Simmons owned by Mike Pilon

1945    Eau Clipper – for Charlie Pilon

1946    A.H. Hoover

1946    Lewis Lass – for Kennedy & MacIver of Port Stanley. Renamed Navegante for Presteve Foods of Wheatly

1946    Arlene

1946    Clarence Aulder

1946    The Coranet

1946    Elsie Mae II – for Clint Bowden

1946    Gordon F – for Gordon Foulis

1946    Jean Treleavan 

1946    Lowell D 

1947    The Dona Gay – for Kolbe Fish Company of Port Dover

1947    Dover Rose – for Kolbe Fish Company of Port Dover

1948    Briamich – a ferry that went to Wallaceburg

1948    Erieau – a tender

1949    Harry Purvis – for the Purvis Brothers Fishery of Gore Bay & Michipocoten Island

1950    G & A – for Omstead Fisheries

1950    Exceleau – for Omstead Fisheries

1950    Everett H – for Omstead Fisheries

1951    Daidean – a 75 foot, 100 ton Ferry for George Dunn of Wallaceburg and Morgan Dalgety of Sombra

1952    St Joseph Islander – a 130 ton ferry, renamed “Glenora” for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications

1953    West Pete – for the Consolidated West Petroleum

1953    Edith F – Omstead Fisheries

1954    Quinte Loyalist – a 140 ton ferry

1955    Eau J – for OJ Vidler

1955    PETCO – a 34 foot tender for the gas company

1956    Ellandee – for Omsteads

1956    M & J

1956    C. West Pete – a 56 foot gas service tug which now belongs to Nadro

1957    Buoy Tender – a 45 foot tug built for for their own use has now been renamed "Marvin O" and based out of Amherstburg, ON

1957    UNGAS – a 37 foot tug for the Underwater Gas Developers and is now stationed in Port Dover and under the ownership of Nomanda Charters INC

1958    Laurie E

1958    Ronnie D

1959    UNGAS III

1960    Sweep Scow 4 – for the Federal Ministry of Transportation

1960    Pelee Islander – a 137 foot 334 ton ferry boat for the Ministry of Transport.
This would be the largest boat ever built at the shipyard.

1961    Severn – a 32 foot tug for the Ministry of Transportation and is presently with Parks Canada Peterborough Agency

1961    William Rest – for the Toronto Harbour Authority

1961    A.PA. No.4 – a 53 foot pilot boat for the Atlantic Pilot Authority

1962    Iqaluppik – a 37 foot tug built for the Cross Arctic Transport at Hay River, NWT.

1962    MTM No.11 – a large scow for the city of Toronto

1962    Leamington – rebuilding of the ferry boat adding 20 feet to her length

1964    Kenoki – a 120 foot, 373 ton supply and buoy tender for the Federal Government

1965    Amherstburg – a 87 foot, 195 ton tug built for JD Irving of St. John, NB

1966    St. Mathias – a 50 foot dredge built for the Aluminium Company of Canada

1966    Ned Hanlan II – a 42 foot workboat for the City of Toronto

1967    Sweep Scow #4

1967    A.P.A #4 - a pilot boat for Halifax, NS

1979    The Omsteader – for Omsteads Food Limited

1979    Mike J – for Bill Jackson of Port Elgin

1979    Cindy Lou – for Gord McCormick

Source: Vidler Private Collection & St. John’s Shipbuilding