Feature Project

DME Decor has been fortune enough to work with one of Atlantic Canada’s premier boat building companies. A.F. Theriault & Sons Shipyard, Ltd, a family owned business located in Metaghen River on the south shore of Nova Scotia. Since 1938, AF Theriault has crafted commercial and recreational vessels with lengths up to 130 feet using both traditional and state of the art technology where almost any design can be achieved.

Their latest challenge, the Hayfu II, an 80 foot catamaran which features a beam width of 31 feet, two carbon fiber hulls, and the latest technology in instrument navigational equipment. Powered by 670 hp twin Cummins, the Hayfu II can cruise between 17 and 20 knots.

Marine Design, Inc. of Gulf Breeze Florida, designed this spectacular vessel with many luxurious features including two large state rooms with private baths and showers, two smaller state rooms with private bathrooms, a smaller guest/extra crew stateroom and a Captain's stateroom with private bath and shower.

Although A.F.Theriault is the builder of this vessel, Captain Brian Waters, his wife and first mate/chef/stew Lynn, are the ultimate project managers for this build. Moving all the way from Pensacola Florida, to Metaghan Nova Scotia, the two have been overseeing the construction on a day to day basis as the owner's representatives for the past two and a half years. A.F. Theriault had also built the original Hayfu, a smaller version of the current vessel, which the owner and family outgrew.

DME Decor supplied the external railings on the original vessel as well as the current one. Quality craftsmanship was a must for the owner and owner's representatives.

For DME Decor the original Hayfu project was, in comparison, easier than the second. With its straight flat runs for the hand rails, and a smaller bow, the design team never had to leave the shop but worked from supplied dimensions for all the railing components which were built in Charlottetown and shipped to NS for installation.

The Hayfu II presented greater challenges with contoured railings and steeped bulwarks. An on-site visit to the shipyard at various stages was necessary to make accurate templates which we would later be used at the DME shop for fabrication. This required building mock ups of the starboard, port, bow, and stern bulwark to correctly contour the hand rails.

The project also included a mirror finish stainless steel spiral staircase which will be used for access from the main salon to the pilot house. It had to be installed before the pilot house roof in order to be dropped in. Once again mock ups were built to simulate floor dimensions. The stair case was completely fabricated in Charlottetown.

The stainless steel finish on all DME built pieces were of yacht quality. By using 316l tubing with a 600 grit polish, removing all welds and polishing with buffing wheels, DME achieved the desired mirror like finish required to stand up to the harsh marine environments.

In all, DME Decor supplied over 400 feet of hand rail, pilot house ladder, boarding ladder, stair way barriers, lifeline supports, shower grabs, 3 sets of name plates, and of course the center piece of the main deck, a mirror finish stair case.

"It has been a real pleasure to work with DME Décor. The company exceeded our expectations, delivering Yacht Quality stainless steel, polished name plates, and ladders. All with attention to detail, open to ideas, and providing bright smart solutions to our needs. Our staircase is a work of art." Captain Brian Waters Hayfu II