Check the intheboatshed.net blogroll

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

Ben Crawshaw’s beach at Tarragona in winter

The Invisible Workshop’s Ben Crawshaw has been taking striking photographs of the beach outside his Tarragona apartment

You may have noticed the Blogroll to the right of this post. It’s meant to be a list of friendly weblogs and websites relevant to intheboatshed.net readers. And that’s exactly what it is – some of them are very old friends indeed (aren’t they Chris?), and I find they’re well worth a look whenever I feel I’m missing the water.

So tonight I’d like to draw attention to some particular gems on the intheboatshed.net Blogroll .

Ben Crawshaw of The Invisible Workshop has been taking a series of strikingly beautiful photos of his local beach in winter. Even in Spain, it’s now too cold to use the water with any pleasure, so he’s now walking, watching the sea, photographing it and, no doubt, dreaming about the spring.

Albert Strange Association webmaster Dick Wynne has been busy putting up news items, drawings and photos relating to their hero and his very attractive designs. And some of the news has been very good indeed – it seems Blue Jay has new owners, who have become members of the ASA.

Chris Perkin’s weblog Bumble of Loch Dubh currently has just one very interesting post describing how he built his first two clinker ply dinghies. It’s long and interesting, particularly because his next boat, an award-winning Iain Oughtred Macgregor sailing canoe has become something of a legend. (For more on the Macgregor, follow this link.)

Rowing for Pleasure is Chris Partridge’s wide-ranging weblog. Check out his illuminating posts about the boats of Venice, his trip round the backside of Portsea Island, the important place of the name Snarley(y)ow, and a rather sweet photo of the young Chris at the oars of a Thames Skiff long ago.

He says ‘I’ve been looking through family photo albums and discovered this pic of me rowing stroke on the Upper Thames in 1960 with Dad at bow. The boat was a beautiful mahogany double skiff called Snarleyow. Somehow, I can’t remember a single day when it rained.’

Funny that – I too can confirm that it never rained when my dad took us out on the Thames. Dads were much cleverer in those days and I sometimes think it’s a shame my kids have to deal with someone much more Pooterish.

And now for something completely different. George in Michigan is building one of Matt Layden’s distinctive little sharpies and tells us all about it at Building an Enigma 460. Many of home boat builders are intrigued by Matt’s simple and inexpensive solo and two-person micro sailing cruisers, and by his amazing sailing feats, and I’m no exception. There are still precious few designs for boats of this kind.

Some thoughts on barge and smack boats

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

Mike Feather’s smack boat Lettuce on the bar at Brancaster

Mike Feather sailing smack boat Lettuce over the bar at Brancaster, Norfolk. Mike comments that with a reef in she was under good control and rode the waves without shipping any water.

Alf Last’s boat Smack boats racing at Walton on the Naze 2002 Smack boat on its side

Above left. Maldon boat builder Alf Last built his best and last barge boat and a mould was taken off it. Here is a cast ready for fitting out. Many barges now carry these – they are stable and sail well. They do not dry out if left in the davits. Above centre.smacks’ boats racing at Walton on the Naze 2002. Above right. A smack boat on its side shows the shallow draft and centre board slot. Click here for more: Continue reading “Some thoughts on barge and smack boats”

Lena Reekie’s Nautibits shop is back in business

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

Lena Reekie’s Nautibits back in business

Lena Reekie’s Nautibits back in business Lena Reekie’s Nautibits back in business Lena Reekie’s Nautibits back in business

Back on line, finally, I have good news to share. Bob Telford has been in touch to say that Lena Reekie’s little shop at Iron Wharf has been refurbished and is back in business. So now there’s another reason to visit Faversham – in addition to the attractive old town, sheltered creeks, legendary boatyards, brilliant pubs and great beer, there’s now a cracking little shop selling second-hand bits and pieces of interest to classic boat nuts and low-budget sailers generally. You can bet I’ll be there as soon as I can make it.

If you are planning a visit, Iron Wharf is on the eastern side of Faversham Creek. While you’re there, check out John Copper’s bookshop, and the boats for sale at Cardinal Brokerage. From the Cardinal site, I can see there are some interesting boats on their books, including lifeboat conversion RNLI 47, a Belgian barge, an Alan Buchanan-designed 27ft East Anglian Sloop and a fiberglass-hulled Vertue II. Anyone out there drooling yet?

If you have local news to share, please tell us now at gmatkin@gmail.com.

Share this with your social network using the Share this link below.

Book a room in South-East England