Skiff refit gets pupils involved
A DECADE after she was built with the help of Tarbert school pupils, a replica fishing skiff is once again offering youngsters the chance to learn traditional skills.
In 2007, volunteers were awarded a lottery grant under the Young Roots initiative to build a replica Loch Fyne skiff.
With the help of school pupils, mainly from Tarbert Academy, the project was completed with 36 youngsters learning traditional boatbuilding skills and local fishing heritage. The Princes Royal visited the project and the Wee Dooker was blessed in her presence.
A decade on, the skiff now needs a little TLC and has been taken out of the water and housed in Tarbert Lochfyne Yacht Club.
Maintenance of the wooden boat has now been taken on by the Ring Net Heritage Trust, which keeps the ring net fishing boat
Shemaron. The trust will be working with Tarbert Academy and the yacht club to involve children in the refit. The skills of timber boat work, rigging and copper riveting will once again be introduced to a younger generation.
Neil McKnight, Tarbert Academy head teacher, said: ‘I am delighted the young people of Tarbert Academy have this further opportunity to learn new skills and learn a bit more about the history of Tarbert.’
Ring Net Heritage Trust chairman Chris Malkin said: ‘We believe this is an important project which will raise the profile of Wee
Dooker and Shemaron and help build awareness of their important position in local heritage.
‘The trust sees this as a first step in developing a programme of local community engagement and we look forward to future projects.’