Local craft for local waters

Local boat-building traditions vary markedly in different parts of the country. Local conditions, launching sites, uses, and building traditions all combine to establish identifiable local characteristics. The boats of the Fal estuary, for example, can be very different from those of their neighbours Porthleven, Gorran Haven and Mevagissey, despite the fact that many would have been using the same waters.

Sadly, many local traditional wooden craft are now coming to the end of their lives and information is being lost.

In an effort to record some of the more important traditional craft (pre-grp) in and around the Fal, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and a group of former fishermen, boat builders and local historians initiated the Local Craft for Local Waters project, surveying the boats, compiling archive material such as early photographs and oral history interviews, and lines plans. Funded by the John Ellerman Foundation, this project is designed to act as model for other parts of the country.

A list of the craft surveyed so far is below. Our partners at https://www.digitaldrydock.co.uk/ can provide more detail on these.

In an effort to record some of the more important traditional craft (pre-grp) in and around the Fal, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and a group of former fishermen, boat builders and local historians initiated the Local Craft for Local Waters project, surveying the boats, compiling archive material such as early photographs and oral history interviews, and lines plans. Funded by the John Ellerman Foundation, this project is designed to act as model for other parts of the country.

A list of the craft surveyed so far is below. Our partners at https://www.digitaldrydock.co.uk/ can provide more detail on these.