Beale Park – Page 7 – intheboatshed.net

Nick Smith’s handsome clinker-built boats at the Beale Park Thames Boat Show

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Nick Smith’s boatbuilding work at the Beale Park Thames Boat Show. If you
ring him, this is now the preferred telephone number: 0778 6693370

I’ve had another frantically busy week, so I’m afraid it’s taken me a little while to get these first photos from the Beale Park Thames Boat Show up.

In fact, I haven’t a huge amount to say about these photos of Nick Smith’s very nice work, so I’ll leave the pictures to tell their story.

Nick tells me that he builds these craft because he was brought up using similar craft, and that he learned his trade in a long-closed boatyard at Salcombe.

Apparently the historic old place is being developed for housing. In an expensive place like Salcombe, I guess that someone is about to make a killing even in these times, but Nick’s certainly less than happy about the loss of the old yard. I can remember the place he’s talking about, and rather agree with him.

I’d also like to thank Nick for his kindness in taking us under his wing at the show this year – he has a lot to share about traditional boats and boatbuilding and I’ve a lot to learn, so I’m looking forward to having the chance to listen to him again soon.

A pretty double-ended skiff seen at the Beale Park Thames Boat Show

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A double-ended skiff that could have been built from the
pages of Practical Boatbuilding for Amateurs

I’ve got lots of photographs from the Beale Park show, but with lots of work to do and a musical engagement I’ve had precious little time to put them up. In fact, I’ve very little time now, but I thought I should quickly share these shots of what was probably my favourite boat from the show – a little double-ender that could easily have been built from the pages of a book I scanned and posted here some time ago, Practical Boatbuilding for Amateurs.

Although it was on the International Boatuilding Training College’s stand, there was sadly no information about the boat’s history, or anything to explain the reason for the double-ended shape, or anything about how it performs on the water. And all their people were so busy I didn’t want to interrupt them!

Nevertheless, I think it’s a real sweetheart and if I was half clever enough, I’d want to build one just like it.

For more information, click here for the freely available plans. As I’ve said before, if anyone builds this little boat I would be delighted to hear about the project.

The Beale Park Thames Boat Show is this weekend – so try not to miss it!

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Photo courtesy of the Beale Park Thames Boat Show organisers

Contrasting boats on the water at the Beale Park Thames Boat
Show – an elderly motor cruiser and a Wharram catamaran.
Thanks to boatbuilder Fabian Bush for the photo

A newly discovered Percy Dalton drawing of a Falmouth quay punt
found by the folks at boating booksellers Dalton Young

Earlier today I found myself reflecting that quite a few of the people who contribute to intheboatshed.net are likely to be at the Beale Park Thames Boat Show this weekend. Naturally we’re planning to be there on Saturday and looking forward to meeting as many of them as possible.

I’d encourage any reader who can get there to make the trip as well. For boat building and boat restoration enthusiasts, part of the success of Beale Park is that it’s a show that works on many levels.

Those who admire exquisite craftsmanship will find it, while those who need to be encouraged to build their first simple plywood boat will find that as well.

There are also stalls selling recycled bits of boats and old books, cut-price chandlery, smart bronze bits and pieces, top-quality hardwoods and plywood, sophisticated glues and resins. And then there are the sociable membership organisations. The Eventide Owners, the Dinghy Cruising Association and the rest, are all there to talk with show visitors, and they’re easily interesting enough to make for an interesting conversation.

But on second thoughts perhaps I won’t be able to stand and talk for too long – after all, I’ll be making sure my camera is full of photographs to keep this weblog going through the winter months!

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