Karamolegos Boatyard | Boatbuilding on Syros Today

The Karamolegos Boatyard, located in the landlocked village of Danakos on the island’s western side, was established in 1981 by Nikolaos Karamolegos. Today he co-runs the establishment alongside his daughter, Georgia Karamolegos. The boatyard’s location, removed from the coast, prevents them from building boats over ten meters in size, for it would be impossible to transport boats any larger on the winding roads connecting Danakos to the main and secondary ports of the island. Shortly after its establishment, when boatbuilding activity still proliferated on Syros, the boatyard built five to six new boats per year, specializing in liberty and “trechantiri” type hulls.

This collection includes a series of photographs and ephemera dating from the 1980s to late 1990s: photos of boats in various stages of construction, selections from two photo albums kept by Nikolaos Karamolegos, a delivery slip for a lumber shipment, and a handwritten note from a customer specifying his preferences for a new boat build.

1 Small-format photo album compiled by Nikolaos Karamolegos depicting assorted boats, c. 1980.

2 Small-format photo album compiled by Nikolaos Karamolegos depicting assorted boats, c. 1980.

3 Small-format photo album compiled by Nikolaos Karamolegos depicting assorted boats, c. 1980.

4 Large-format photo album compiled by Nikolaos Karamolegos depicting assorted boats, c. 1980.

5 Large-format photo album compiled by Nikolaos Karamolegos depicting assorted boats, c. 1980.

6 Large-format photo album compiled by Nikolaos Karamolegos depicting assorted boats, c. 1980.

7 Large-format photo album compiled by Nikolaos Karamolegos depicting assorted boats, c. 1980.

8 Construction of boat, c. 2000.

9 Customer’s sketch outlining desired boat, c. 1980.

10 Karamolegos Boatyard business card, c. 1980.

11 Repair of “Agios Nikolaos,” c. 1990.

12 Transport slip for wood delivery from Mytilene, 1984.

13 Liberty type boat outside boatyard, c. 1970.

14 Front of Karamolegos Boatyard, before transport of a 6.5 m “trechantiri” type boat, c. 1999.