Catterline Online - Catterline Coastal Rowing Club

Find Out More

stephen — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:52:10 +0000

Want to find out more about our community boat building and coastal rowing project? Contact us via rowingskiff@catterline.org.

The Boat Needs a Name

stephen — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:04:38 +0100

It is a been few weeks since the last update, and details of what has been going on in the boatshed are below.

But firstly, we need your help - the boat needs a name.

We are planning to choose the boat’s name at the Gala. The plan is for you to vote for your favourite name at the Gala. But beforehand, we need suggestions. Can you please send me your suggestions plus an explanation of why this should be the name of the Catterline Coastal Rowing boat. These will be displayed at the Gala, so that people can choose their favourite name.

The biggest excitement in April was the screening of a short piece on the project on STV news (about half way through)

Since Easter boat building turnouts have been low. Progress has therefore been a bit slower than perhaps hoped for. The boat will come to the Gala, but will not be ready to be launched. There will be some work that can be done at the Gala.

North-east community comes together to build coastal rowing boat - stv.tv

stephen — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:52:23 +0100

stv.tv

North-east community comes together to build coastal rowing boat
stv.tv
Catterline man Robert Plummer came up with the idea after being inspired by similar projects around the Scottish coastline. Adults and children alike have been getting involved in the project. Dozens of similar boats are being built around the country ...

If you missed it when it was shown on the telly you can watch it here. It's at 10.50, about half way through.

Easter Break

stephen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:04:08 +0100

Week 29 – 8 April

With Easter, it was another quiet Sunday in the boatshed. More joinery work on the seats continue, with the mitre saw in use to get the seats and supporting beams to fit the curve of the boat.

Hopefully the boat builders will return in force next week. The launch at the Gala is looking unlikely at the moment as there is still a lot to do

A Quiet Week – Fund Raising

stephen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:03:02 +0100

Week 28 – 1 April

After the excitement of the previous few weeks and with Easter approaching, this was one of the quietest sessions with only Rob and Dave MacAulay in the shed on Sunday. The first thwart (seat) is now ready to be fitted.

Dave and Dorothy Ramsay have very generously pledged to give a significant offering to the project from the proceeds of the sale of their boat. Dave has also offered to add the Catterline Rowing project to his application for local heritage funds.

We have just about enough funds to finish the building of the boat. However we still need funds to complete the project. In particular we need to buy safety equipment (VHF radio, lifejackets) and a trolley and cover for the boat.

STV in the Shed

stephen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:00:40 +0100

Week 27 - 25 March

We were honoured this week by a visit from STV News. The presenter Fiona McIlwraith spent most of the afternoon talking, filming and interviewing boat builders. She was curious about what motivates a group of individuals to come together to build a community boat. With a knowledge of boats she seemed to enjoy her time in the boat shed and is keen to film the launch. She will let us know when her piece is due to be screened.

Despite the distractions of a TV camera, the first strip of the inner gunwales (bit of wood at the top of the side of the boat) was glued on the starboard side. The port side having received its one in a mid-week operation. The wood for these are leftovers from the building of Rob's boatshed. The gluing of the gunwale required the use of all the clamps (around 25) in the shed, much to Brendan Hall’s frustration. He had to find another way to secure the piece of wood he was planing. Nursing the frustration of a damaged motorbike, Stephen Hall did a splendid job putting a D section onto the strips of oak that he had previously cut for the outer gunwales, with a hand plane. Brendan finished these up with sandpaper to leave some fine pieces of timber.

Have you finished with that noisy thing?

stephen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:58:15 +0100

Week 26 - 18 March

The first task was to get the boat sitting properly on its chocks. Rob, Tim and Chris spent a while fiddling around with ever smaller chocks to ensure that the weight of the hull was taken through the keel and then that the hull was level.

Work entered a new phase with the start of some of the more fiddly joinery work. The thwarts will be a challenge to get a snug fit. The curve of the planks both horizontally and vertically require some careful measuring and cutting.

Preparation of the gunwales began. This involved quite a lot of stock removal. Nick offered to use his electric plane. But was only allowed to on the condition he did it outside the shed. At tea, he was met with the comment, “ Have you finished with that noisy thing?”. Fortunately there had been a realisation that the inner gunwales could be completed with two thicker strips. The plans show three strips with the middle strip made up of alternate pieces of wood and gaps. This looks good, but is quite a bit of extra work and avoids the use of noisy tools, so there was agreement to go for the alternate option.

"She Has Lovely Curves"

stephen — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:09:28 +0000

Week 25 – 4 March

Almost exactly six months after the project started, the Catterline St Ayles skiff was gently rolled over on Sunday.

On a glorious sunny day, a crowd of nearly forty people watched or participated in the turning of the hull. The hull was lifted upwards, coming cleanly away from the bed frame. It was then moved sideways and lowered whilst others picked up the bed frame and took it out of the boat shed. The hull was then slowly turned and then gently lowered onto its chocks. With a few gentle tap, the hull frames that had attached themselves to the hull were removed, leaving the hull to be viewed.

There were nods of approval from those familiar with Iain Oughtred’s designs. Others expressed surprise at the size of the boat and comments such as “She has lovely curves” came from others.

Then tea and cake were served and the moment was enjoyed.

Some generous souls bought components of the boat to help funds, which need replenishing.

The core boat builders stayed longer, unable to resist the urge to start cleaning up the hull. A few gaps between the planks were spotted that will need filling, but otherwise it looked good.

Our youngest and keenest boat builders Jacob and Findlay Ronald are worthy of note. They had persuaded their mother to bring them to the boatshed, and whilst everyone was chatting waiting for the hull turning, they had set to work with planes to continue putting a gentle curve on the thwart beams.

For more pictures, see Dottie's Slideshow and our gallery on Facebook.

Week 24 – 4 March

stephen — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:43:20 +0000

The hull will be turned over this coming Sunday (11th March 3pm). Tea and cakes will be served. Any contributions gratefully received.

This week, work focused on tidying up the hull. Gary has continued the curve of the stems into the keel. The plane was also run along the side of the keel to make it straight. Meanwhile the hull has been tidied up. Work has also continued on preparing the gunwales. The external gunwales have been taken from a great piece of oak supplied by Ian Buchan and the internal gunwales are from left over timber Rob’s barn/boatbuilding shed. This involves a lot of planing to clean up the wood and reduce it to the correct thickness. Supports are also being built to hold the hull, once it is upright.

Overall one of those weeks, where there is not much to show for the effort. But all important in the building of a boat.

Boat Turning – 3pm Sunday, 11 March

stephen — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 21:54:04 +0000

The stems and the hog are now glued in place. This means we will be turning the boat over on Sunday 11 March. We will be celebrating the event and will encourage all of you who have participated the project to come along and mark the event. Tea will be served and hopefully some baking will be there.

The Ronald family signed up as boat builders on Sunday and smoothed off the edges on the beams that will support the thwarts. Jacob’s commitment was noted when he turned down a boat builder’s biscuit to keep planing.

Over forty people have now worked on the boat. Twenty–seven people have spent an afternoon or more in the boat shed and we had the visit of the P6/7 class.