Fishing for herring out of Clovelly the old fashioned way

Herring fishing the traditional way our of Clovelly: ‘We either sail or row.’

From Kipperman Mike Smylie (also see the 40-plus Fishing Boat Association). Thanks Mike!

Mobile boat repairer Simon Papendick gets to work on a Yorkshire coble

Yorkshire coble

Simon Papendick, otherwise known as the mobile boat maintenance and repair service J-Star Boat Services, is in Yorkshire and getting down to work on a coble in need of some TLC, and is weblogging the job.

Apart from anything else, it provides some interesting views of the structure of these fascinating craft.

Henry Blogg’s boat arrives at the Museum of the Broads for restoration

The hoveller fishing boat used by Cromer’s legendary lifeboat coxswain Henry Blogg this week arrived at Stalham for restoration by volunteers working with the Museum of the Broads, Stalham.

Old Henry was heavily decorated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and like all RNLI lifeboatman was a volunteer – he made his living catching the famous Cromer crabs.

The hoveller fishing boat differs from other fishing boats as it had a small deck at the bows enabling the fishermen to carry a small stove to boil water and make tea – which is of course essential for any boat belonging to Englishman, particularly if they’re working on the cold North Sea.

The boat is named the QJ&J – Queenie, Jack and Jim – and was named after Henry’s family members.

There have been a number of attempts over the years to save the historically important boat made from ash, larch and oak. Sadly, by the time it reached the museum, the stern was too bad to restore.

The plan is to restore the bow and return her to her Cromer home for exhibition next year.