Strathnaver Museum links with North Sutherland Community Forest Trust to offer local people an exciting opportunity to help build a community boat for Bettyhill
Workshops to create a community rowing boat for Bettyhill will start in the new year.
Strathnaver Museum has linked forces with the North Sutherland Community Forest Trust (NSCFT) to progress the boat building project.
Museum project manager Fiona Mackenzie said: “An exciting opportunity to create a community boat for Bettyhill has emerged as part of our traditional skills programme.”
Funding for the workshops has been sourced from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing fund and the Co-op.
Ms Mackenzie said the new boat would be modelled on the Iris WK322, a fishing exhibit which takes centre stage in the museum.
The Iris is thought to have been build between 1870 and 1880 and was owned by James Mackay and used as a second boat to the Roseleaf WK121 at Kirtomy.
Three generations of the Mackay family used the Iris to take in creels close at hand and to fish for lobster bait for salting.
The North Sutherland Community Forest Trust is hosting the workshops at its Borgie Cabin site from January to June 2023 and a polycrub has been erected to provide shelter for the boat during its construction.
Expert boat builder Jeff Mackie from Stromness will be providing tuition.
Andreas Herfurt, chairman of North Sutherland Community Forestry Trust: “The boat building project is a really unique opportunity for those in the local community to learn and replicate the skills used by those living in the area over 100 years ago.
“We are delighted to be involved in the project and to be able to provide both the facilities offered by the polycrub and log cabin.”
The first workshops will take place from January 20-23 To register your interest, and sign up for an initial induction, email: volunteer@strathnavermuseum.org.uk.
