An extraordinary auction of amazing old boats at Turk’s, Chatham

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

turk's, boatyard, auction, film props, boats, wooden boats, old boats, steam launch

This motor launch is on sale at Turk’s

An astonishing sale of boats, many of the interesting and old, is going on at Turk’s of Chatham, Kent, apparently due to a relocation. See the lots here: Turk’s auction.

The story here is that this collection was part of a business providing boating film props that are no longer need – there’s more on this at Rowing for Pleasure. I do hope the important boats all go to good homes!

My thanks to the good folks of the Openboat Yahoogroup for bringing this to public attention.

Keep Turning Left Dylan just isn’t good enough to own a wooden boat

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

Here’s a Keep Turning Left video about tides, caulking and why Dylan could not have a wooden boat because he isn’t a good enough person… I think a lot of us might be in that category!

As so often with Keep Turning Left, the clip’s funny and opinionated, and the boatbuilder at the centre of it all shows remarkable good humour despite the film-maker’s prodding questions.

Dylan tells me this saintly man is Brian Upson, and that he runs a boatyard at Slaughden Quay, Aldeburgh. More power to his caulking elbow, I say.

Don’t miss something good! If you’d like to receive a weekly intheboatshed.net newsletter sign up here.

The boats of Hanoi, Vietnam

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

hanoi, vietnam, boats, pedlars, ferries

hanoi, vietnam, boats, pedlars, ferries

hanoi, vietnam, boats, pedlars, ferries hanoi, vietnam, boats, pedlars, ferries hanoi,

Small boats of North Vietnam

Just back from a business trip to Hanoi, my brother Matt Atkin has sent me these photos from the country. He reports that North Vietnam is an astonishing place where goods are still moved using carts and oxen, and from these photos it’s a place where traditional small boats are very much in evidence.

I can’t condone the use of cute children to sell goods – though I guess it’s better than some of the alternatives, even for the kids involved – but what astonishing scenery and boats!

The little craft seem to be woven from slender wooden or bamboo laths and then sealed, I’d guess with pitch. Can anyone confirm this? Also, they’re rowed forward without the aid of any complicated rowing machinery.

This is only a small sample of the photos Matt sent over, so I’ll put some more up in the next few days. Thanks Bruv! (See them here.)

There’s an interesting thread on Vietnamese boats at the Woodenboat Forum and an English language website devoted to the boats of Vietnam here.

Don’t miss something good! If you’d like to receive a weekly intheboatshed.net newsletter sign up here.