Heritage 23 in Michigan

Here is a new twist on the St Ayles Skiff community rowing project.

Alec Jordan, the source for the St Ayles in Scotland, is in Tawas City Michigan helping to build the prototype Heritage 23 Mackinaw boat.



Heritage Coast Sailing and Rowing, whose purpose is to encourage sailing and rowing and to preserve historic regional boat designs, is in the process of building a 23 foot Mackinaw boat named the Heritage 23. Construction began on April 16 in East Tawas City.

Heritage Coast Sailing and Rowing is a Michigan not-for-profit corporation formed to encourage local boat building activities and build regional community. The organization is patterned after the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association. Heritage Coast hopes to use this concept to promote community rowing activities along the Lake Huron shoreline using its Heritage-23 as a one-design racer. This is a brand new project and with Alec's help they are already laying up planks!

Alec just sent me an update this morning:

"We are making very good progress – the kit is going together very easily, and we should have plank 4 on by the end of the day. Yes – there are 12 planks and the plan is to have her turned on Wednesday next week if I haven’t worked the building team to death by then. We have a minimum team of 6 building and have had as many as 10, with visitors calling by regularly - A lot of local enthusiasm."

Be sure to stay in touch with the Heritage Coast Sailing and Rowing Project.




Photos courtesy of Alec Jordan. Congratulations to this hard working crew!

What a beautiful boat.

St Ayles Skiff in Loch Broom

There is a lot of news to digest from the last week here in dory-land. We'll spend the next few days getting caught up.

First, I'd like to share the news from Scotland on the hugely popular St Ayles project. You may remember that the folks in Scotland have been building these racing skiffs as fast as they can to get in on the action. It's infectious! I've been working on drumming up interest in this project here at home because it seems like far too much fun to pass up. If you haven't yet heard of the St Ayles skiffs, please take some time to follow it's progress. This link will take you back through previous posts.

My good friend Chris Perkins sent me an update on the most recent launch of a St Ayles built by the Ullapool High School students. Under the guidance of the superlative Topher Dawson these young people turned out a boat they can be proud of. Watch for these enthusiastic young competitors, they could be real trouble!

Chris tells the story of the early season on the Loch Broom:

"Spring on Loch Broom"

"Friday 6th May saw the conclusion of much frenetic activity on the Coastal Rowing front in the Loch Broom area. Piped in procession from the high school to Ullapool’s Wee pier the latest St Ayles Skiff build, Cùl Mòr (a local hill) was launched during the school’s lunchtime break. The why of the timing was because a team of Ullapool High School students built her over the winter and spring terms and the ceremony had to fit in with the school day. The first School build to get splashed Cùl Mòr is a real credit to the build team guided by Topher Dawson and local boatbuilder Mark Stockl, well put together and nicely finished in blue and grey with a white sheerstrake. Anointed with the national spirit by Headmaster, Mr P. Harrison, she was quickly launched onto the slightly ruffled waters of Loch Broom to whoops of delight from her young crew. All too quickly she had to return to shore for the crew to resume their studies only just giving time for fellow skiffs Ulla and Loki to join her on the water. The Ullapool Harbour Trustees(who donated the kit and materials) faith in the ability of the local students has been amply justified."















"A couple of weeks earlier the Loch Broom Sailing Club had splashed their skiff Loki, again to the accompaniment of the pipes. Loki had been in build for the past two winters (the builders were far too busy playing on the water during the summer) and has the most intimidating figurehead on her stem – opinion is divided on exactly what it represents, a Black Swan or Water Fowl of a more local origin?"










"Whatever it may be it is a grand bit of sculpting. Sadly for photographers the LBSC team chose a livery that inhibits good imagery – satin black absorbs the light and conceals the detail – it will however be a permanent reminder of the stout beverage that fueled the build through those long cold and dark winter evenings."



















"And three weeks before Loki hit the water the Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club had the long delayed formal naming of Ulla. Traumatized from her encounter with some rocks during an early winter gale and very high tide last November the maintenance team led by Topher Dawson had spent the winter replacing the smashed planking and repainting and varnishing."



"Whilst she was in dry-dock the opportunity was taken to apply her name. Experience from last year showed that once she was in the hands of the rowers there is very little chance of taking her out of service long enough to do maintenance."







"An interesting aside – it has been noticed that Ulla is much faster since the gilded name has been applied, since she clearly responds well to bling, how much faster will she be once the gold go faster stripes are applied next winter? A launching trolley and bespoke trailer were also built to make it easier to move her around Scotland to attend the many regattas being arranged. The first one will be at Ullapool's neighbors, the Coigach Lass group just up the coast in Achiltibuie where all four of the Loch Broom area Skiffs will race together with Skiffs from further south on the 21st May. Knowing how well the Coigach party this should be a memorable happening."



Let the races begin! Thank you, Chris for the update with the fine photos. As usual, I would love to be there to join in the festivities and put my back into an oar.

Someday soon my friend, someday soon.

All photos courtesy of Chris Perkins and can only be reproduced with his specific permission.
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Glued Lapstrake Plank Repair

Since we've spent some time lately looking at modern plywood/epoxy construction, it might be helpful to see how repairs are accomplished with this building method.

In traditional wood boat construction care is taken to insure that future repairs can be made without compromising the structural integrity of the vessel. One of the perceived drawbacks to gluing a boat together as opposed to using fasteners is the difficulty in dissembling the damaged area and resembling with accuracy while also keeping the hull fair.

As we've seen with the design modification of Doryman's rowing shell, there is an inherent tendency for the glued planks to sag once the lap or glue joint is compromised. This is due to the strain on the plank, the lightness of the material and the lack of internal framing.

Last November, a combination of a strong gale and a high tide bashed the St Ayles Skiff built by the Ullapool Coastal Rowing syndicate against the rocks, breaking planks on both sides of the boat. Repairs began immediately and thanks to the efforts of master builder Topher Dawson the glue lapped clinker skiff designed by Iain Oughtred has been rescued.
With a bit of paint she will soon be ready for spring racing off the coast of Scotland.
You can follow the progress of this repair on the Ullapool Coastal Rowing site:

Nice job, Topher!

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Scottish Coastal Rowing Project

Off to the races!


St. Ayles Skiff crews from Portobello, North Berwick, Anstruther, Ullapool and Port Seton match skills in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, home of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.

Thank you so much, Chris Perkins and friends! There is nowhere on Earth I would rather be
right now than pulling on the oar of a St. Ayles Skiff!...



Ullapool Coastal Rowing

Catterline Coastal Rowing Project

Berwickshire Coastal Rowing

North Berwick Rowing Club

Newhaven Coastal Rowing

Coigach Lass

Rowporty

Chris O'Kanaird

Alec Jordan Boats

Iain Oughtred on Classic Marine

St. Ayles Skiff Launched at Anstruther

On the 31st of October, the celebrated St. Ayles Skiff was officially launched. Doryman has been avidly following the progress of this endeavor, though on the official launch day, he was drifting on his favorite local river, oblivious to the rest of the world. Perhaps dreaming of his own St. Alyes skiff, who knows?



It's a good thing Chris Perkins is on the job and thanks to him we have a welcome update with some great shots and videos of the event.
Luminaries from the The Scottish Fisheries Museum, local builders, designers and enthusiasts were present for the official launch and as may be expected, everyone was anxious to try the sleek new craft.






More information on the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project and the launch of the prototype skiff -


and more about the next St. Ayles Skiff in progress... This concept has spread like wild fire!



In the last photo, that's designer Iain in the second position.

Just for grins, this veteran crew decided on a true sea trial, over the vocal objections of builder Alec. That man has a voice! I'm sure he has confidence in the seaworthiness of his craft, but is concerned for liability reasons.
As you can see, the boat is doing what a well designed and expertly crafted boat is suppose to do, and in expert hands, obviously in it's element.





It's almost enough to prompt a man to move to Scotland...

Thanks to Chris Perkins for keeping us all informed and graciously providing us with his fine photos and videos. (please respect Mr. Perkin's copyright).
And thanks to Alec Jordan for conceiving of a project so rife with possibility. And to all those who's dedication to this project has made so much happen in such a short time; Cheers!
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St. Ayles Skiff

For those who have been following this story, there is no need for me to be redundant. You can find the latest update from Chris Perkins in the boat shed and at Rowing for Pleasure.

Alec Jordan and crew are working pretty hard on this project, but it's plain to see everyone is also having a lot of fun. The upper frames are installed with the thwarts fitted. I understand there is a good chance the first St. Ayles Skiff will splash in a week or two.
The Scottish Coastal Rowing Project is well underway.

A very nice design!

Chris Perkins has been working on this project and has the in-depth story from Scotland.
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