Tag: Alan Thorne

Boat Building Experience with Alan Thorne, a crowd-funded community project for ages 12 to 99

Faversham’s Alan Thorne is running a crowd-sourced project that should be of interest for all sorts of people – those who want a taste of working with ply and timber or boatbuilding, or in a workshop, or who need the therapy of working with their hands or learning something new. I’d guess it might even appeal to those who just plain want to get out of the house.
To contact him, see the ad on this page.
Here’s what Alan says:
‘Building a boat, getting into it and on to the water is magic! It can be a life changing experience. Continuing from our success with Boat Camp for children and several boat building schemes with adults, Boat Building Experience is the new, exciting adventure where pairs of adults or children work with me to create Joansa,a beautiful John Welsford-design rowing boat.

‘I don’t want to charge anyone to participate. In that way anyone can come along and everything necessary will be provided. People can make a donation if they’d like to. For some it will be a therapy, others will want to learn boat building skills, many will grow in confidence and everyone will have fun as Joansa takes shape and finally floats gracefully on the water.

‘Not charging a fee means that I need to fundraise to cover my costs and to start the next course. Already I am over subscribed. Your help will mean that many people will be helped. Thank you!’

Faversham Creek: a Julie skiff whizzes along powered by an electric outboard

One of the skiffs built by school children at Faversham being powered along by an electric outboard.

The skiffs are built at Faversham Creek Trust’s Boat Camp to free plans available from Intheboatshed.net

The skiffs were built under the tutelage of local boatbuilder Alan Thorne, who is also a supplier for electric outboards, folding RIBs and inflatable canoes. Call Alan on 07865 091155

I’m not a fisherman, but surely this inexpensive and quick little rig would surely be great for line fishing in and out of suitable creeks, rivers and lakes…

Faversham Boat Camp youngsters build two more of my skiffs

Kids and their skiffs: these Julie skiffs were built in a week from cut-out components by local youngsters under the leadership of local boatbuilder Alan Thorne (see the ad in the left hand column) and his son Mark. (For free downloadable plans, see the free plans page)

The launch photos were taken at the Faversham Nautical Festival by kind Faversham Creek Trust member Griselda Mussett.

There are more photos taken by a professional on the Trust’s website…