Fore & Aft

For over 230 years, Lowell’s Boat Shop has perched over the Merrimack River in Massachusetts. It holds the distinction of being America's oldest continually operated wooden boat shop. Once an economic powerhouse, Lowell’s is now primarily a museum, National Historic Landmark, and vital hub for youth mentorship.

Graham McKay, the master boat builder, safeguards tradition and community at the shop. He imparts the nuances of boat building to apprentices, reanimating a dying craft. While Graham has mentored for years, he finds an uncommonly precocious pupil in William, a 16-year-old drawn to the water and the workshop.

The duo bond swiftly. William thrives at Lowell’s—nurturing his craft, mentoring peers, and racing to finish a boat for a crucial client. As William plans for college and beyond, he and Graham reflect on Lowell’s amidst a changing world, pondering their futures.

Selected by the Maine Outdoor Film Festival, New Hampshire Film Festival, Coast Film Festival and Thomas Edison Film Festival.

A Matter Video Production
Directed by: Gabe Gerzon
Executive Producers: Timothy Bradley, Gabe Gerzon
Director of Photography: Colby Todisco
Edited by: Rhidian Pentz
Assistant Editor: Oliver Round
Produced by: Rhidian Pentz, Samantha Brindisi, Colin Davy