According to the National Heritage Craft Organisation traditional shipbuilding skills are on the red danger list . This means that there is a severe skill shortage threatening the future of the renovation and maintenance of our wooden boat stock. The skills unique to wooden boat building are known to a small and decreasing number of experts, who are of progressing age. If no action is taken, it is only a matter of time before these skills become extinct.
The traditions and skills of this maritime industry is an important asset which is highly valued by those living in the regions along the coastline of the UK, as well as across the North Sea and along the European coastline of Netherlands and Belgium. It is both a key part of these regions’ history and economy, as well as an important cultural attraction for visitors. Although we tend to consider these skills are required for the renovation of historic vessels, but modern day yacht owners also seek skilled craftsmen to repair and maintain their wooden boats.
Ten years ago a European funded project supported the collaboration of skilled boatwrights across Cornwall and Holland to record some of these traditional skills. They visited boat yards, followed the renovation of wooden vessels and filmed (Youtube) short recordings of these traditional skills. The aims of the project was to:
- Collect and record traditional boat building skills
- Promote these skills in traditional and modern ship and boat building
- Increase the number of people pursuing education and a career in wooden boat building
- Develop an outline for a training programme on traditional boat and ship building skills that can be customised
It was a worthy project and their website is still available with some videos, but the full scale of the project was not realised, as we are still, 10-12 years later lamenting the demise of these skills and a shortage of training and take up for training in these skills. The skills include, using a spar gauge, bending techniques, making a template and sewing sails to name but a few.
We are proud as a charity to be able to do something to try to reverse this trend and to support local people of the Torridge Estuary region to gain these important skills. It may be but a small measure, a drop in an ocean – but from small acorns grow tall trees. It is by involving local people, learning through doing in a social environment and witnessing the difference they can make in a short space of tie, and be part of the renovation of a vessel from wreck to re-launched on the water provide
We are offering the opportunity to visit the boat when the boatwright is working, to observe and learn more about these vanishing skills. If you are interested please do get in touch. We are a tiny charity and our resources are minimal, but in time we hope to grow so that we will be able to offer real training opportunities.
