BLUEMOMENT

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Seil is building a St. Ayles Skiff. It's all part of the Scottish Coastal Rowing initiative which has seen over 40 coastal communities in Scotland build these boats and compete against each other in regattas.

[youtube]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-y1LgkSkPsg#![/youtube]

Scottish Coastal Rowing website

Seil Skiff website

Has anyone else on here come across or been involved in the building or rowing of a St. Ayles skiff?

Nick wrote: Has anyone else on here come across or been involved in the building or rowing of a St. Ayles skiff?

I've been trying to get some enthusiasm going for a build in Kirkcudbright and/or Kippford. The boats are absolutely gorgeous, I think, and one of Oughtred's best designs, but I understand that there is a LOT of work involved. They aren't Mirror dinghies.

ubergeekian wrote:

Nick wrote: Has anyone else on here come across or been involved in the building or rowing of a St. Ayles skiff?

I've been trying to get some enthusiasm going for a build in Kirkcudbright and/or Kippford. The boats are absolutely gorgeous, I think, and one of Oughtred's best designs, but I understand that there is a LOT of work involved. They aren't Mirror dinghies.

They've been built start to finish in ten weeks.

Saw the Helmsdale one when I was up there this summer. Lovely looking boat, and an enthusiastic crew!.

Rowana wrote:Saw the Helmsdale one when I was up there this summer. Lovely looking boat, and an enthusiastic crew!.

Here she is shortly after launch:

What a great idea for a community. I am aware of the coastal skiff thing and think its a great idea for a community to get involved with. Its certainly an affordable thing: the building, participation and even touring to races does not have to be that expensive. Its certainly something I would like to be involved with if was part of a Coastal community.

Good luck with the build and racing.

BlowingOldBoots

Nick wrote: They've been built start to finish in ten weeks.

That's pretty good going. Their website says "We are estimating that it will take a team of four or five people five or six months to build in spare time after work and at weekends. If you can dedicate more time to it, it can be built in less. The prototype had roughly the equivalent of two people working on it full time and was complete in about a five weeks work."

I imagine that a second one, as on Islay, could be done substantially faster than the first, as both techniques and formers would be available.

Now, if only I can persuade the Kirkcudbright SC committee to let boat building take over the club house for the winter ...

We've got one in Stornoway. I'm only vaguely involved with it though. I expressed surprise at the lack of an outboard bracket, apparently I wasn't "getting the point".

They are fast, powerful boats, and if you're at all into rowing I'm sure it is a satisfying way of getting around.

A second boat would indeed be easier and cheaper as you can reuse the formers. The Stornoway club are really keen for a second boat to be built because the future probably lies in head-to-head racing.

Mavanier wrote: A second boat would indeed be easier and cheaper as you can reuse the formers. The Stornoway club are really keen for a second boat to be built because the future probably lies in head-to-head racing.

When I talked to the rowing association people about getting something moving in Kirkcudbright, they strongly suggested getting somewhere else local (Kippford? Isle of Whithorn?) to build one too, to give a bit of local competition and incentive.

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Lochgilphead have one, Kilmelford and Luing are thinking of building one and who knows, Seil may decide to build a second boat. Getting the first one in the water locally will be a great motivation

Nick wrote:.
Lochgilphead have one, Kilmelford and Luing are thinking of building one and who knows, Seil may decide to build a second boat. Getting the first one in the water locally will be a great motivation

Interesting parallels with the Cornish pilot gigs which were practically defunct but are now thriving all over the place. I read recently that the most famous original one of them - still in use - was once rowed from Mount's Bay to Padstow for a regatta, won everything going, and was then rowed back again. Those pilchards never stood a chance.

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The Sunday before last we turned the boat over. Last Sunday was spent painstakingly removing excess epoxy from the inner lands with hot air guns and chisels prior to sanding.

Next come the gunwhales, inwhales, seats etc.



Seil skiff website

Pics here, http://www.millport.net/
of the building of the Cumbrae skiff.
There was a good gathering of teams at the last Sail and Oar festival in august.
I have been asked to, and had intended having a go at rowing it but the elbowgate affair put an end to that for the near future anyway.
Most interesting skiff name I saw this year was the 'Chippy Mc Nish' after the famous chippy who's great grandson I happen to know personnaly and who was also a wood worker/joiner, had a fire surround buisness but now retired.
These skiffs appear to be making a real comeback.
C_W

BlowingOldBoots wrote:What a great idea for a community. I am aware of the coastal skiff thing and think its a great idea for a community to get involved with. Its certainly an affordable thing: the building, participation and even touring to races does not have to be that expensive. Its certainly something I would like to be involved with if was part of a Coastal community.BlowingOldBoots

They are looking for rowers for the Cumbrae Skiff.
C_W

Having looked at the site I would like to contibute to the naming game.

Like a Mirror, Maid Fraea Kit could suit.

Unike a Mirror, Maid from Ply, wouldn't suit.

Having watched the folk @ Port Ellen practicing I can see the fine line o these boats, good effort.