A wooden boat bailer and oiled string from a Tiree boat. From the old Registrar’s House at Kirkapol. The bailer may have been brought back from the Baltic countries as it is redolent of those historically used in the Baltic fishing fleet.
Donated by Catriona Smyth.
Large metal marlin spike for splicing heavy rope. Probably from the Vaul boat-builders.
Colour photograph of a traditional boat built by Donald MacIntyre, Gott, on the machair. He wasn’t happy with it, saying that it didn’t sit right in the water.
Wooden seam presser
Wooden marlinspike for splicing rope.
Sail-maker’s awl for creating holes in the sail cloth before sewing. Made at a local smiddy. From a collection of sail-maker’s tools belonging to Hector MacKinnon, owner of the schooner ‘Coll Castle’ (Eachann a’ Cholla, born ca 1847).
Two sail-maker’s needles. From a collection of sail-maker’s tools belonging to Hector MacKinnon, owner of the schooner ‘Coll Castle’ (Eachann a’ Cholla, born ca 1847).
Sail-maker’s palm strap to protect the hand from the eye end of the needle when pushing the needle through the tough fabric of the sail, with extra foam padding to protect the top of the thumb. From a collection of sail-maker’s tools belonging to Hector MacKinnon, owner of the schooner ‘Coll Castle’ (Eachann a’ Cholla, born ca 1847).
Length of handmade sìoman ruadh / coir rope, made from coconut husks and much used in sailing boats. It replaced rope made from cereal straw around the 1850s as it was resistant to salt water.
Newsletter `An Tirisdeach`, No. 425, 13/9/08
Local news: sub-standard water quality; interview with Mabel MacArthur; restricted access to beaches; boat revival project.
