“George Andress is doing a very large business in boat building…he has already built some 20 rowboats,
and has orders for a number more.”

— Daily British Whig, May 8, 1890

The Andress name is associated with generations of well-respected boat builders. George Andress moved to Gananoque from La Rue Mills in 1894, having learned carpentry in the family sleigh, buggy and boatmaking business. He set up his shop on the inside of the Gananoque swing bridge building skiffs using the treasured Andress skiff mould that was passed down through generations.

In the early 1900s he was joined by his son Ray, who also became a highly skilled carpenter under his father’s guidance. Ray is believed to have started the first Gananoque Thousand Islands commercial boat tour in 1904 at age 14.

Eventually Ray took over the boatbuilding shop, crafting half a dozen St. Lawrence skiffs every winter. In 1930 he built the 12 metre (40 foot) tour boat New Jean and operated the Andress Boat Service that advertised “Motorboats, Rowboats, Canoes, and Sightseeing Trips”. Ray ran the company with his fleet of Little Jean, New Jean and Other Jean tour boats, all named after his daughter.

Starting at a young age, Ray carved working duck decoys which were used not only for duck hunting but eventually became sought after works of art. Ray became a master carver, known for his modesty and high standards of perfectionism. He made hundreds of decoys with a distinctive style that are still prized by collectors today.

Boats built by the Gananoque Andress family in the Museum collection:

The Museum is hoping to add a Gananoque Andress skiff to the collection soon.