Yesterday, in Part 1, we took a look at traditional boat designs of the 1800’s along the northern and eastern coasts of Great Britain, as described in the two-volume masterwork of Edgar J. March, a marine historian who dedicated his life to the study of early inshore craft of the United Kingdom.
Today, in Part 2, we conclude with a look at pre-engine designs of the southern, southwestern and western coasts, from Kent down and around to Scotland.
The Kent Coast
Even larger working craft were beach-launched. This photo, taken in 1865 at South End station (now Southend-on-Sea, boasting the longest pier in the world), shows sets of boats on their stages, ready for launching. In the foreground is a lugger, then a fore-peaker. The steep-angled shingle beach has greased wood planks under the bows, with haul-off warps to anchors well to seaward. These were fast and weatherly boats, used mostly when trawling for different fish species. Unfortunately, no lines were taken since moulds were generally consigned to the scrap heap, and few sailing luggers survived beyond the First World War.
Sail plan of the beautiful “Argonaut”, a dipping lug-and-mizzen punt built in 1880 at New Deal. While this 14’ 6” lapstrake boat, used for lobster and crab fishing, was still working in 1937, Deal boatmen lived dangerous lives and many of their boats were lost. Between 1860 and 1887, 53 men were drowned—26 from luggers, 23 from galley punts—their average age being 31.
The lugger “Annie” of the Deal fishery, shown in 1897. Note her rare counter stern, bowsprit lashed to foremast, mizzen staysail and jib on a traveller.
As mentioned in a previous caption, fishing along the Deal coast could be extremely dangerous, where a southbound tide from the North Sea encounters currents swirling up from the English Channel through the narrow Straits of Dover. Pictured is Richard Roberts, coxswain of the lifeboat “Mary Somerville”, with comforter wrapped around his neck, rope lashings to his oilskins, cork lifebelts and whistle on a lanyard. Just imagine the stories he could tell!
We wouldn’t willingly drive our small boat onto a hard beach in these conditions, but this may have been a routine landing for the crew of “Team”, a lugger seen on final approach to the shore in Deal, between Ramsgate and Dover, where the North Sea and English Channel meet—often angrily.
The Sussex Coast
The salty, impressive sail plan of “Industry”, a 32’ Hastings lugger built in 1780. These strong hulls survived an amazing number of rough-water beachings and relaunchings (The bowsprit is 20’ overall, with more than 14’ out from the stem. The boomkin, or outrigger as it was called, is about the same length.
Speaking of danger faced by seamen along Britain’s coast, the nine-man crew of the gig “Slippen”, built in 1830, are leaving to collect the dead from wreck of the seven-masted schooner “Thomas W. Lawson” and bring them ashore for burial, in December, 1907.
Hampshire and Dorset Coasts, to the West Coast
Twenty Bristol Channel pilot skiffs racing in 1899 during the Cardiff Pilots’ Regatta. Speed was important when getting out to incoming sailing ships and early steamers.
Sail plan of the Itchen Ferry punt “Nellie”, built in about 1862 and used for shrimping in her early life. Under 20’ in length, the Itchen Ferry punts were often long-lived—“Nellie” was still sailing in the Southhampton area in 1970 (after several rebuilds), and she may still be in use today.
The Morecambe Bay prawner, Alice Allen, trawling in heavy weather, probably about 1910. Under sail alone, the boats often headed out at dusk, trawling all night and returning at dawn. Not an easy way to make a living!
Along the Dorset coast, smaller boats like this 17’ 2” Portland Lerret, with a beam of 7’, were used for fishing without a sailing rig. Four men would typically row out to the fishing grounds, and a fifth would throw out a net or seines. This boat’s name was “Pussyfoot”.
This sweet Manx (Isle of Man) dipping-lug and mizzen fishing boat, probably about 20’ overall, was used for crabbing and line fishing.
The West Coast of Scotland
Beautiful lines and sail rig of a Largs line skiff, about 18’ x 5’, built in the 1850’s and fished mainly in Loch Fyne, on the west coast of Scotland. Many of the boats were half-decked, allowing fishermen to sleep aboard with protection from the weather, and cook when on a fishing trip. The sharply raked mast was usually about 18’ in length, with a well-peaked lugsail and 12’ bowsprit, more than 7’ of which was outboard of the stem.
So, that’s it for “Inshore Craft of Britain in the Days of Sail & Oar,” a fascinating history if you can find copies of the two editions.
I remember watching as a boy clinker built fishing boats launch and return off the steep pebble beach at the Devon resort of Sidmouth. A wonderful sight. It was Beach i knew well. I raced Mirrors and 420's and getting even them up the beach was a struggle.
I remember watching as a boy clinker built fishing boats launch and return off the steep pebble beach at the Devon resort of Sidmouth. A wonderful sight. It was Beach i knew well. I raced Mirrors and 420's and getting even them up the beach was a struggle.