Sambro Skiff

[dm_scott]

Link below

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-boats-19-LAP-STREAKE-SAMBRO-SKIFF-SAILBOAT-W0QQAdIdZ21588346

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=21588346&img=http://kijiji.ebayimg.com/i12/01/k/000/77/d5/2b84_18.JPG



Ok MMD, what the heck is a Sambro Skiff? you are the resident NS boat type guru.

[mmd]

Uh-oh.

Here we go with the name thing again. IF the boat is the type I think it is (the picture you have linked to doesn't show the bottom, which is the defining feature of the type), it is a type of boat that Eamonn Doorly (resident boatbuilder at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax) and I have had a long-running and good-natured dispute over what it should properly be called. What transpired was this:

At approximately the same time and unbeknownst to each other, the Museum and my boatbuilder buddy Kevin Wambach acquired two derelict boats of the same type, the Museum's from the village of Sambro, Kevin's from a fellow hailing from Moose River, a bit farther up the Eastern Shore. Kevin & I took the lines from his and Eamonn built a replica of his. The Museum staff interviewed the locals in Sambro about the boat and determined that it was locally known as a "Sambro Flattie" or "Sambro Skiff" even though it was neither a skiff nor a flattie. I, being blessed with no such historical nor anecdotal information, arbitrarily named the boat type the "Moose River Wherry" because it was a wherry type and Kevin's sample came from Moose River. In the end, the Museum won - as I had expected them to - and the vessel type retained the name of Sambro Flattie.

As for the boat, as far as I know it was a type of inshore working boat developed around the late 1800's along the Eastern Shore and Sambro area for inshore net fishing and general waterfront work. It is a lapstrake hull with wineglass transom and spoon bow, quite heavily built of softwood planks and steam-bent frames. The one I measured had eight planks per side. In the photo you posted, there is a caprail on the gunwales; Kevin's did not. It's most notable feature is that it has a broad, heavy plank keel with no rocker that allows the boat to stand on her own bottom when hauled out.

The boat was primarily propelled by two sets of oars, although the forward thwart was set up to recieve a mast. Neither the Museum boat nor Kevin's had any survivng rig bits, but from the fittings and wear on the hull is seemed plausible that the rig was a loose-footed gaff or sprit without jib (Eamonn was kind enough to agree with me on this part <grin>), though I see that the one in the posted photo has been fitted with a foresail. This makes sense as that type of rig was common in the region on the Banks dorys, and bits and parts were probably interchangeable.

The boat is a very shapely vessel, with a long, sweet run and an elegant sheer. She has a fine entry and carries her transom above the waterline so is like a peapod on the waterline, although more slender than most peapods. She is quite burdensom and probably carries her sail well. I suspect that she is quite easily rowed - I haven't had the pleasure - and would be pretty confident in moderate seas. The one I measured was 15'-2" LOA x 4'-2" Bmax x 1'-6" Dmidships, with a rise of sheer 3" at the stern and about 5" at the bow. The bilges are very slack, indicating that she would row very easily when lightly loaded, but would have quite a large carrying capacity.

Personally, I think that she is a very pretty vessel. She's be able to hold her head up proudly in company with other classic working craft such as the Newfoundland trap skiff and Whitehall types. One caveat, though - the twist in the bottom planks is extreme and it would take a seasoned boatbuilder to build her. In fact, the second and third planks are carved to make a smooth transition from skeg to bilge. This would not be a built for the inexperienced or faint-of-heart!

[dm_scott]

Thanks for the info, and very tactfully done also.

[Hwyl]

Did you buy it?

[outofthenorm]

That's an elegant looking hull. Are lines available anywhere? - Norm

[mmd]

I have the lines & offsets that I took from the "Moose River Wherry", as noted in my previous post. They are unfaired, but show the shape of the boat.

I'll try to get a couple of the photos I took scanned & post them. Pretty busy right now getting ready to move into new digs for the shipyard job I am about to undertake, so it may be a few days...

[boatbear]

MMD, I am intrigued by the beautiful shapes of the round hulled working boats of this era (Wherries, the Hampden types, Oz Couta boats etc). I find it amazing that the hard-working people of the time chose such shapely boats and contributed to their evolution when there must have been types available that were simpler and cheaper to build and perhaps as efficient and seaworthy.
I’m wondering if you are prepared to release the lines and offsets for the Moose River Wherry ‘into the wild’? I would be interested in producing a Delftship model for the pleasure and learning experience that’s in it. I understand that you might be saving this hard-won information for later commercial release, and that is perfectly valid. No harm in asking, eh?
Have fun with the new job.
Charlie

[mmd]

Boatbear (and others), this boat is already in the public record, so I have no real or imagined proprietary claim to its form. I collect this kind of information for study purposes, to use as an influence on new designs based on the type, and for the historical record. Also, because I am obsessed with small traditional craft types. As far as letting others have access to my lines drawing of the boat, all I'd ask in this case is that my expenses for plotting and mailing the linesplan be covered. Contact me off-line to discuss.

Edit to add...

These are scans of photos I took when I measured Whammy's boat. Not very flattering, but I was just interested in recording the boat - most of the photos are detail shots. I assure you that the replica that Eamonn built is very much prettier than this one!

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d19/mmd_ns/MooseRiverWherrybowquarter.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d19/mmd_ns/MooseRiverWherrysternquarter.jpg

[boatbear]

"The owl and the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat. ... " .. can't remember the rest.
Very nice. Thank you
Charlie

[PaulC]

MMD, I am curious, is the hull "soft" like its been out in the woods too long, or is it actually very hard with peeling paint? From the picture I would guess soft, but is it one of those things where the picture deceives?

[mmd]

Hard as nails, Paul, 'cept where rot has set in. Salt air weathers the wood to a hard, silvery-grey but peels the paint effortlessly.

[aseagull]

I just stumbled across this thread... and as it turns out, I am the new owner of this old boat! As such, I was wondering if anyone knew the answer to the following question:

The photo posted above was an aquamarine color and I have found a similar bit of paint a layer or two down on my boat. What color would this boat have traditionally been painted?

Here are some current photos of my Sambro Skiff/Moose River Wherry! :)

http://dal.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15488&l=ea5e9&id=596196905

mmd- As the boat is now here in Halifax on the NW arm, if you would ever like the pleasure of rowing it (it is, you are right, quite easily rowed) or sailing it, we would love to take you out!

[Hwyl]

Congratulations Angela, she's a nice boat. Great pictures.

[mmd]

Hi, Angela. Nicely turned out boat. Not that I am reccommending that you do so, but you would be pleasantly surprised at how stable and easily-driven the boat would be if you pile in about eight more people (or a thousand pounds of "stuff"). She'd become more stable the deeper she is laden, and would still row quite easily.

I'd love to have an up-close and personal look at her. Unfortunately I am pretty busy down in the other end of the province, so it won't likely happen this season. However, if I find that I will be in Halifax on a weekend, I'll contact you to take you up on your kind offer.

P.S.: The "traditional colour" would most likely be whatever paint was handy. White or dory buff with green gunwales would be likely. Fancy colours were for rich folks' toys. <wink, grin>

[boatbear]

Thanks for the pics. She is beautiful. The crew looks pretty happy, too.
Charlie

[aseagull]

Couldn't be happier with the boat or the crew! :)

[SaltyD from BC]

Congradulations aseagull she is something special! And in good hands obviously :cool:

And mmd- as usual thanks for your knowledge and help. Great thread all.

[aseagull]

Hi All,

Sadly we are moving and can't take this beautiful boat with us.

This Sambro Skiff is once again for sale this spring. Please see the Kijiji ad here: http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-boats-watercraft-sailboats-19-Sambro-Skiff-Dory-W0QQAdIdZ284635693

Plenty of new enjoyment awaits the lucky new owner!