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
A clinker-built dinghy from the 50s built in the
Lake District by Borthwick’s
I’m really enjoying going through old photos at the moment. Here are still more from last year’s Beale Park Thames Boat Show from last year.
Nutmeg is a 12ft 6in mahogany on larch yacht tender that I gather was built by Borwick’s of Windermere, the company responsible for building many of the Lake District’s fleets of larch on larch-built hire boats. She’s pictured here by the Old Gaffers Association stand.
There’s always much to admire at the Beale Park Thames Boat Show, and some of the craft on show become quite familiar over time.
This electric punt is one I’ve seen several times, and it’s a bit of a favourite – not only is it an elegant and beautifully cared for boat, but it has the power to glide almost silently. The contrast with the ubiquitous infernal combustion engine is enough to make one want to stretch out in the sun – that forward area would be a good place – and sigh.
It’s a nice touch also that it bears the name of a famous philosopher and experimenter in natural philosophy.
If you like river punts like Voltaire, also see the following posts:
•Henry Taunt’s 19th Century photos of the Thames
•Free online boatbuilding plans for a racing punt
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With the Beale Park Thames Boat Show getting closer all the time (put the 5th-7th June in your diary, if you haven’t done so already), I thought I should post some more photos from last year’s event.
These photos show a pretty small stem dinghy displayed on the Wooden Boatbuilder’s Trade Association stand; the gentlemen dressed in green jerseys are some of its members.