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THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY describes a ship as a 'sea-going vessel of considerable size'. Eric McKee in his book Working Boats of Britain writes 'this would seem to mean that a SHIP has to be able to stay at sea in all weathers until she reaches her destination, while a BOAT can only make short trips when the weather allows. Both ships and boats have crews, who need shelter, rest and food. Ships provide these all the time and need some form of deck, sleeping spaces, cooker and provisions to do so. Boats, without these, have to return periodically for their crews to recuperate ashore. Boats can be open- or part-decked and unencumbered by deadweight can have a greater part of their design devoted to their real task. By comparison a modern frigate has to give up a deal of space to messes, galleys, storerooms and ventilation if her crew is to remain efficient. All boats, even those that work well offshore, depend on having a refuge that can be reached in bad weather. This may be a harbour, or a beach if the boat is of the right shape. CRAFT on board larger VESSELS are usually boats on ships **, while quite small craft may have a small boat to work the gear or ferry the crew ashore daily. A tender like this is rarely brought inboard but is towed astern or left behind on the mooring. Ship's boats get less regular use, for example in an emergency or for some special task when the ship herself is stationary. Vessels and, with even rarer exception, ships are not the sole property of any one person who works on board. Ships generally belong to a shore-based organisation, which gives the crew wages or a share of the profits. Craft are frequently user-owned, while boats are almost always owned by one or more members of the crew or their relations. In some places there is a history of men (and women) who have owned and operated several boats with the aid of relations and paid hands. The International Collision Regulations group vessels above or below 150ft, 65ft and 40ft length overall. Which dimensions though not definitive provide a useful guide: 150ft being the lower limit for a ship, 65ft being the mid-figure of overlap between vessels and craft, and 40ft being the upper limit for a boat.' |
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restoration of Pedro |
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On every account therefore, Pedro is the archetypical BOAT>. To be exact a
motor coble for deep water salmon stations. Refer to Eric McKee for details: 'larch on oak, 26.5' x 3.0' x 9.0' as built by Thomas Easton of Joseph Johnston & Sons, Montrose in 1912. At the bow is a 2" sided stempost and 5" sided apron, both grown oak crooks. For protection, the clinker bottom strakes are first made flush using wedge pieces, then covered over with 9" x 5/8" doubling boards. In addition the after end of every strake is covered over.' Pedro was re-engined with Lister ST2 four-stroke, vertical two-cylinder, direct injection diesel engine in the 1980's. A salmon boat fishing at bag-nets off Staffin, Skye is one of many striking Scottish images by Oscar Marzaroli. my recent tenure of Pedro, a salmon coble former registration OB209:
May 1991: acquired from Mr. Peter MacLean of Mull. 1992 and 1993: fished two seasons. Relinquished fishing lease in 1995. 1993 to 1997: laid-up. May 1997: arrived Coast Craft Ltd., Cockenzie. Repair work in progress by Messrs. William Weatherhead and George Thompson of Port Seton. March 1998: Renovations more or less completed. Replaced and renewed irretrievable planks, timbers, rails, frames and stringers. Rebuilt transom; renewed aft thwart and thwart knees, aft sections of gunwale and part of prop-shaft tunnel. April 1998: engine overhauled. May 1998: launched Cockenzie. Newhaven Boat Festival 23rd May '98. September 1998: slip coble to Coast Craft yard. Laid-up. Aug 2002: launched Cockenzie. Cleared harbour 16.00 on 28th Aug 2002. To Granton harbour on flooding tide 19.00. Sept 2002-2005: Pedro on FCYC mooring at Granton harbour. Last known whereabouts: World of Boats Collection, Eyemouth (2017). Postscript: in 2021 OB209 was successfully recovered back to her original home at Fascadale, Ardnamurchan where she is now enjoying a splendid retirement! back
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email us at leo@leopoldo.co.uk |
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Copyright © 2004-2023 C.M.Simpson. All Rights Reserved. | |
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