Category: Rowing,paddling and sculling

The 20th Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, 22nd and 23rd June

Portobello and Queensferry

STBF1 (1) Little and Large Skiffs tied up at Portsoy harbour 2

The 20th annual Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Traditional Boat Festival will take place at Portsoy on the 22nd and 23rd June.

Amazingly, crowds in excess of 16,000 are expected – which is quite a thought for those who think traditional boats are a minority interest.

Traditional wooden boats from all over the UK and beyond will congregate in the historic 17th century Portsoy harbour. Visitors can learn how to paddle a coracle, hop aboard restored fishing vessels, and see the crews of the St Ayles Skiffs rowing regatta race on the open seas.

The music programme will once again feature the very best of traditional music. Popular Scottish folk singer and former presenter of BBC’s Travelling Folk, Archie Fisher, will headline the Friday Showcase Concert on the eve of the Festival – supported by the internationally celebrated shanty band Kimbers Men, and local group The Lennox Family.

Festival-goers should watch out for the opportunity to learn a shanty or two and perform a ‘maritime work song’ on stage on the Sunday.

For more information about the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival and to buy tickets visit www.stbfportsoy.com.

Marcus Lewis dinghy for sale – and a Percy Mitchell tosher too

11ft dinghy 4

 

11ft dinghy 3 11ft dinghy2 11ft dinghy1

Fowey boat builder Marcus Lewis has this newly built 11ft clinker-built rowing dinghy for sale.

The handsome little boat is based on a tender to the sailing yacht Veronique owned by Colonel Treffry, of Place near Fowey in the 1930s. It is planked in spruce, with steamed oak timbers, mahogany top strake and seats, and will be supplied complete with a pair of scoop paddles, bronze rowlocks, and a cover.

Marcus tells me he’s currently building two Fowey River dinghies scheduled for completion this spring: the planking is almost complete, the green oak is ready to slice for timbers, and the copper nails are on order.

Also, the 18ft Percy Mitchell-built Tosher Marcus has stored for some time has got to go because he needs the space it is currently occupying.

It needs a complete rebuild, but Marcus says it has suberbly shaped hull suitable for almost anything. ‘The last owner put in a big Lister two-cylinder diesel and went fishing, but the usual treatment these days is a gaff rig, with a 4-5ft bowsprit, jib and staysail, with a topsail if you are feeling adventurous.

‘It bit of time would have to be spent working out the sail plan and centre of effort, and a bit of a calculation about an additional keel – she has no external ballast keel at all, but a 300-400lb shoe well bolted underneath, and a bit of internal trimming ballast would keep her down to her marks, and make her a stiff enough to sail well.’

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Currach for sale, Argyll

Curragh 003

Here’s something you don’t see every day – a currach for sale in Scotland. It’s currently in the hands of retired boat builder and part-time boat dealer Dave Hart, who lives on the banks of Loch Long, Argyll.

Dave’s currently working on a few minor repairs, and says the currach  is 19ft 9in in length and just under 4ft in beam, has three thwarts and a sternsheets, a transom-style stern that can take an outboard can be fitted on, two pairs of oars and floorboards.

The builder is unknown – I’ve no doubt Dave would be pleased to have information about this – but he believes it’s a professional job.

I think Dave is open to reasonable offers. Email me at gmatkin@gmail.com in the first instance and I’ll pass your message on to Dave. I’d also say if anyone in the South-East corner of England buys this boat, could they please invite me to come and have a row on the sea in it some day?

For more about currachs at intheboatshed.net, click here.