Nonsuch Replica

In 1968 the Hudson's Bay Company was looking to celebrate their 300th anniversary, and it was decided that a replica of the Nonsuch, their first ship, would be appropriate.

In 1668, the Nonsuch was purchased by a few french men who were in search of a possible trade route for furs. The trip was not profitable, and as a result the Nonsuch was sold. However, the quantity of Beaver pelts was enough to appease the investors, and the Hudson's Bay Company was founded shortly after.

Due to the original Nonsuch being sold so quickly, we have very little information as to it's exact built. 5 months were spent on purely researching and reconstructing the vessel from paintings, texts, and knowledge of the Ketch from that era, before the replica could be built in the following 10 months. The replica would tour southern England, the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic coast of the US and Canada, before being placed on permanent display in Winnipeg, in 1973.



This ship was based off of ship plans on the HBC website, the HBC Nonsuch model, Aeropiccola model plans, google review photos (surprisingly useful), and archival photos of the replica sailing.