About Orkney Historic Boat Society
The Orkney Historic Boat Society (OHBS) was formed in 2013 with a clear vision:
- to preserve the boating history of Orkney for future generations
- to preserve historic boats and related traditional boat building skills and crafts
- to collect, preserve and communicate knowledge relating to boats built in Orkney or having contributed significantly to Orkney life
- to further the education and knowledge of the public in relation to historical Orkney Boats, including establishing a boat museum and workshop
Since its establishment, the Society has undertaken a range of work, including a programme of traditional boat acquisition and restoration; research into and development of the Boat Haven/Museum concept (see below); research into the boatbuilding heritage of Orkney; and the development of a Traditional Orkney Boatbuilding Craft Fellowship in conjunction with Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
The Boat Collection
OHBS's acquisition programme is based on collecting boats of:
- Orcadian heritage
- Orcadian provenance with marine architectural, military or historic interest
- Orcadian provenance with recreational/ leisure heritage
- Non-Orcadian provenance, but with related heritage
The Orkney Historic Boat Society currently owns and preserves 25 vessels:
- Bulldog – 1927, 18′ Orkney Yole
- Cingalee – 1905, World War 1, 28′ vintage fleet launch
- Doris – c1930, 18′ Orkney South Isles sail and motor Yole
- Esmeralda – 1934 short transom cutter Uffa Fox
- Falcon – 1927, square-sterned 17′ dinghy
- Hide Boat – 2016, Neolithic replica built for the BBC
- Laverne – 1932, elliptic stern racing yole
- Lifeboat – 1930s, ex “M/T Arne Kjøde“
- Linda – 1939, 12′ rowing boat built by Mackay, Finstown
- Nellie – 25′ First World War Naval Launch
- Orcadian – 1949-50, an early 14′ Merlin racing dinghy
- Pearl – 1926, 15′ North Ronaldsay Praam
- Ruby 1960s, 12' Westray Dinghy
- Saga – 14′ one-design Redwing racing dinghy
- Shamrock – late 1940s, 13′ transom dinghy
- Sheena – 1947, 32′ Maxwell built passenger vessel
- Shownia – 1939, 20′ Shetland model
- Sirius – 1955, Snipe class racing dinghy
- Stromness Flatties – 1895 & 1920 Flat-bottomed dory
- Tern – 1886, 19′ Stroma Yole
- Tystie – c1960, Orkney 12′ dinghy
- Venture – c1960 Yachting World Catamaran
- Waterlily – c1870 North Isles Yole
- Waterwitch – 1923 fully restored South Isles Yole
- White Wings – 1937, 14′ Orkney Yole
The Boat Haven/Museum
OHBS's long-term aim has been to establish a new Boat Haven and Museum in Stromness, which, in addition to being of interest to the large local maritime community, will provide an attraction for tourists. The Boat Haven will provide local community groups with a range of volunteering, learning and skill development opportunities. As the haven/museum develops there will also be employment opportunities. Work on a lease for the Old Buoy Store in Stromness, for repurposing as an Orkney Historic Boat Haven, is continuing and the Society hope to have a decision from the council soon. There is, however, still a long way to go before the Boat Haven becomes a reality.
In the meantime, OHBS has secured a 10 year lease on space in an Old Herring Factory in Stromness. The long term security associated with this storage space will see the historic boats properly stored in favourable conditions for the foreseeable future. In addition to providing storage for the boats, this space will also provide working space for ongoing restoration projects and required preservation work.
Find out more:
www.ohbsworkgroup.blogspot.com
Follow them on social media:
