Elva
Ed also needed a boat of his own which he built as a
passenger boat carrying up to 20 passenger. This was the
first of a long line of "Elva" so named after his
daughers middle name. This also created "Elva
Boat Tours" which during the summer trips were made to
Brockville, Kingston and Alexandria Bay NY with
"Captain Ed Andress" at the helm. Border
crossing was much more open then and special Saturday
evening trips were made to Alexandria Bay for shopping
and theatre goers alike returning to Rockport later in
the evenning.
The last of the "Elvas" was commissioned in 1956
and is still in use by the company. Its very unique
styling is recognizable throughout the islands.
With changes in regulations over the years restricting
the nurnber of passengers, these tours eventually evolved
into a water taxi service carrying a maximim of 12
passengers. Todays water taxi
carries up to 8 passengers.
Following World War 11, Ed's son Elmer joined the
business which for the next 3½ decades was notably
known as "W.E. Andress & Son". Boat building
was quite lucrative at that time with many boat shops set
up on both sides of the border. The Andress's employed as
many as 3 full time employees and as many as 6 to 8 part
time as the summer work also included cottage and dock
building and maintenance.
By 1980 at the tender age of 94 years, Ed decided it was
time to retire and handed over the reigns of the business
to Elmer. But Elmer in turn had turned 75 and thought it
time to follow suit.
In 1981 "W.E. Andress & Son" became
"Andress Boat Works" with the purchase of the
business by Ed's granddaughter and family who continue
to operate the business today.
Ed passed away in January 1981 followed by Elmer in the
1992, but with Eds grandson at the helm the name
Andress remains synonymous with wooden boats.
With the advent of fiberglass boats over the last few
years, demand for wooden boat building is not as it was.
However wooden boats of all makes and styles continue to
find their way back into the Andress shop for
restorations and refinishing work.
We at Andress Boat Works are striving to ensure the
"Andress" tradition carries on.
