Category: Restoration and repair

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.

The Classic Boat Awards – an opportunity to recognise Giacomo de Stefano, among others

Giacomo de Stefano

Our pal Giacomo de Stefano surely deserves some recognition for his achievement in voyaging from London to Istanbul in self-built 16ft open sailing dinghy – an Iain Oughtred Ness Yawl, no less – last year, overcoming illness and host of other obstacles and difficulties along the way.

So I think the Classic Boat Awards this year represent an opportunity to give him a well deserved pat on the back, as well as to help focus attention on the reason for his journey – to publicise the plight of the world’s waterways.

Read about the case for Giacomo to receive CB’s personality of the year award here and vote here. And while you’re at it, you might also consider voting for some of our other friends up for a bit of Award action this year including Stirling and Son for the stunning Integrity, and for Adrian Morgan’s lovely Faering built from solid timber or maybe the James Caird replica Alexandra Shackleton built by students at the International Boatbuilding Training College.

I was also pleased to see that the restoration of the Breton tunnyman Biche by the Chantier du Guip is now complete – I’ve had a soft spot for her after seeing her in a sad state some years ago. Read about her claim for an award here.

I was also surprised and pleased to note that someone has entered a Maurice Griffiths designed entry, the Lone Gull named Little Gull. To give restorer Peter Harrold a fillip, read this and bung him a vote too. The well publicised and big money projects shouldn’t be allowed to have things all their own way!

Spider T calendar now on sale!

I hear demand for the first ever Spider T calendar has far outstripped expectations – but happily it is now again available after skipper Mal Nicholson had it reprinted.

The calendar, which will make a fine Christmas present for many people, is made up of photographs from the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in London this summer – watched from the banks by 1.2 million people, it was the largest collection of historic vessels ever assembled on the river. Each participating boat was provided with a specially designed Diamond Jubilee ensign as a lasting souvenir.

Mal tells me that copies of the calendar have gone to the USA and Germany, among other countries, and UK visitors have been buying them four and six at a time.

The calendars are priced at £10.00 each plus postage and packaging, and all proceeds go towards the upkeep of Humber sloop Spider T herself. To buy one, contact Mal through the Spider T website – you will be able to make your payment through the site’s donations button.

On the subject of the Spider T and Humber sloops, here’s a nice story in the local paper and another from the BBC, and  how about this cracking photo of a Humber sloop being loaded with horses.