Gavin Atkin's weblog for the sort of people who like looking inside boat sheds. It's about old boats, traditional boats, boat building, restoration, the sea and the North Kent Coast
Canoes, kayaks, sailin canoes, open canoes, paddles, skin on frame canoes, canoe plans
Folkspress has a very nice article about Harvey Golden, voyaging kayaker, builder of traditional kayaks, and museum owner. Also see his museum website here and this YouTube demonstration of kayak paddling.
The article is an absorbing piece throughout, but the last line made me smile: ‘It was either a museum or a bonfire.’
That could reasonably be carved into the gravestones of amateur boatbuilders and keepers of traditionally built craft everywhere!
![swallow 9 [1024x768]](https://i0.wp.com/intheboatshed.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/swallow-9-1024x768.jpg)
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The fourth Coniston Regatta 2013 runs from Thursday 30th May to the Saturday the 1st June, and everyone is invited – including traditional boat owners and their boats.
Organiser Greg Simpson has been in touch to say that among the boats booked in so far include a 1930s Peterborough canoe, a 1910s Thames sailing skiff, and numerous steam launches and model boats.
The events are based at the English Lake District home of Swallows & Amazons, Bank Ground Farm – which in the book is called Holly Howe and is the holiday home where the Swallows stayed each summer.
Attractions for boating enthusiasts and kids include exhibition stands presented by Windermere Steamboat Museum, Good Wood Boatbuilders, Patterson Boatworks and various other local craftsmen, and steam engines.
SY Gondola and Coniston Launch will be available for trips, there will be boats for hire and some boat owners attending the regatta will be offering sailing trips.
Children will enjoy a kids’ fishing competition and a miniature railway. The tea rooms open from 11am each day.
There are also a range of evening entertainments, including an outdoor screening of a film version of Swallows and Amazons.
Students Ewan Thomson and Patrick Hughes built this cold-moulded 19.6 by 1.4ft fast touring kayak, ready to hit the water at the Boat Building Academy’s December student launch.
Ewan, who is from Isle of Skye, has worked in various practical roles from timber framing and gardening to boat repair, but it was the latter that grabbed his attention after he fitted out a plastic dinghy, repaired a clinker boat, did some boat painting and a spot of fibreglassing.
He then joined the BBA’s 38-week course to gain more experience with different construction types and designs.
A keen kayaker, Ewan had seen a kayak that he wanted to adapt and build as a prototype for a potential business and with help from group lead instructor Mike Broome he drew up new plans.
The finished kayak is made from 1.5mm sapele veneers – not an easy material to work with in so slender a hull form – and is finished bright.
Ewan’s next project is a GRP Orkney longliner, but he also hopes to start his own business on Skye and build more kayaks. Academy staff report that he feels a sense of relief that he now has the skills he needs to start a business of his own.
Fellow student Patrick’s background is in graphic design and communications. He joined the long course after completing the eight-week woodworking skills course, during which he was impressed by the achievements of some of the students on the 38-week course. I gather Pat now plans to start his own business, offering boat repairs, maintenance and storage in France.
A photo diary of the build can be found here.