Boats - built with salmon in mind

Boats built with salmon in mind.

Boat design and construction is influenced by: the work they are intended for; the location and conditions they will work in; the skills and materials available within the region and available funds.
These pages are devoted to boats built specifically for use with salmon or typically used in connection with salmon or salmon fishing. From coracles catching individual fish to industrial fishing boats catching sand eels to feed the salmon farms and research vessels. If you know of a boat which you think should be included please email a picture to salmonboats@yahoo.co.uk

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One example of boat design to fit a purpose and the requirements of our exhibit is the Irish Curragh.
We needed a light boat which two of us could lift onto the roof of a Landrover, of traditional and ethnic design to fit with the ethos of our display, sea going and with fishing origins, easily built by ourselves with readily available inexpensive materials, fast and great fun to row.

BP1

See other boats in our collection at www.salmonboats.co.uk


The currach in action at Beale Park - with thanks to Gavin Atkin for the photo www.intheboatshed.net	Fishing with nets from the currach - with thanks to Gavin Atkin for the photo www.intheboatshed.net

Slimbridge Canoe Safari

"For me, no landscape is complete without water, whether it be sea or lake, stream or marsh, river or canal. Many canals and rivers pass through the most beautiful parts of our countryside and they offer to Britain’s newly leisured millions a great field for healthy and adventurous recreation, the chance of a new and unusual kind of holiday, often calling for initiative and yet starting almost from the doorstep."

The foreword written by Peter Scott for the book Camping By Water edited by Noel Carrington and Patricia Cavendish, published in 1950, a guide to the use of open canoes, folding - often described as collapsible canoes, camping skiffs on the waterways of Britain.

The naturalist and artist, the late Sir Peter Scott, founded the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in 1946. Since that time the Trust has set up a national network of nine specialist wetland visitor centres.

	When Sir Peter voiced these words in 1950 little would he have known how pertinent they would become over 50 years later. Good health and adventure are crucial elements which our modern society is depriving our youth of. In these days of interactivity often being little more than prodding a touch screen, to give what to many will be their first tentative experience to life afloat is an achievement that can only be applauded. This is exactly what the staff of The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust have created in the form of the Canoe Safari at Slimbridge.
The second of such trails, the first have opened in Llanelli in 2007, there is an opportunity to take to the water in an open canoe and sample the delightful and what for many is an adventurous way to explore part of the grounds and wild life from a boat.
	The whole trail, from the curved landing stage, enabling easy and safe access, to the canoes, to the intersecting channels have all been cleverly thought out. Whether a young family or youngsters acting out ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, or a dedicated bird watcher seeking out a quite backwater it’s an experience not to be missed.
Slimbridge is particularly famous for the migratory birds which come to the vast areas of sand and mud flats which are revealed twice daily on the Severn Estuary. The Severn is also renowned for migratory salmon and eels and recognising this the WWT have endeavoured to create the atmosphere of a traditional waterside setting by building a traditional riverside fishermen’s hut. Another innovative idea of the WWT is to combine elements of living heritage in a traditional setting on the banks of the river where the crafts have been worked for over a century.
	A timber framed shed clad in rusting corrugated tin and in centre stage sits one of two remaining Scottish Cobles traditional salmon fishing boats, obtained from salmonboats. As with any boat shed the articles of the fisherman’s trade are strewn around and discreetly hidden behind a stable door are stored paddles and life jackets for the canoes.

Whilst recognising both the practicalities of the need for the canoes to be resilient and of zero maintenance, thus made of modern materials, the importance of encouraging new enthusiasm into non fossil fuel power craft and the healthy activity it provides needs encouragement.

For some, once bitten by the boating bug, it is inevitable that progression to building or buying ones own craft will follow.

email: salmonboats@yahoo.co.uk