Hector

The Hector is a replica of a Dutch fluyt merchant vessel with three masts, displayed at the waterfront at Hector Heritage Quay. The vessel shows the construction and proportions of ships built for long ocean voyages across the Atlantic.

The original was built in the Netherlands before 1750 and carried Scottish emigrants to North America in 1773. This voyage marked the beginning of a major Scottish migration wave that shaped the population of eastern Canada.

The ship represents a link between Scotland and Canada created through emigration in the 1700s. It reminds visitors of the people who left their homeland on vessels like this one to start new lives across the ocean.

You can explore the vessel from May through October and learn about conditions during 18th-century ocean travel. Guided tours are available on board to explain construction details and what daily life was like for passengers and crew.

The reconstruction was undertaken with careful study to replicate the exact measurements and features of the original vessel. This effort shows how historians and craftspeople work together to bring historical ships back to life based on research.