BOAT BUILDERS

.J. Mears & Son Boat Builders was founded in 1945 by Harold Mears. Harold was to be found around boats from an early age and prior to World War II he worked for H. Lavis & Son at Camperdown Terrace, Exmouth, and then moved on to work for Dixon & Son at Exmouth Dock. With the onset of War and his boatbuilding experience Harold then started as a Chief Shipwright building 65 foot carvel MFV's (Motor Fishing Vessels) at Topsham, used for both minesweeping and fishing. With the desperate need for such vessels he continued doing this valuable work throughout the War. Then in 1945 experience and opportunity came together and Harold started building fishing boats in a disused grain store at the back of Pioneer Haulage, Causeway Road, Beer. In the days before TV there would always be plenty of people about but with Harold around they wouldn't get a chance to be idle; "Don't you stand around there; come here and hold on to this dolly!" Unfortunately not many photos survive of the boats built in..

Primary location: Seaton United Kingdom