Thames skiff

Thames skiff

A Thames skiff is a traditional River Thames wooden rowing boat used for the activity of Skiffing. These boats evolved from Thames wherries in the Victorian era to meet a passion for river exploration and leisure outings on the water.

Construction of a skiff

The Thames skiff owes its origins to the viking boat building method of over-lapping timber planking known as clinker construction. Many of the terms used for parts of the skiff are of Scandinavian origin – “tholes”, “thwarts”, and “sax”. Planks on either side of a wooden keel are laid down following the outline of a sham (temporary pattern) placed across the keel. The planks are nailed in place and then a strengthening framework of ribs is added. Oars (or blades) are held in place by wooden thole pins at the side of the boat rather than rollocks or outriggers. The thole pins are designed to give way if too much pressure is put on them, thus protecting the boat itself from damage. The thwart, or seat, is fixed rather than sliding as in modern boats. The sax runs round the top of the boat to strengthen and protect it. [Eric McKee "Working Boats of Britain" Conway Maritime Press, 1983, ISBN 0851772773 (Includes on p. 172 the lines and offsets for a 24ft Double Thames Skiff by W.A.B. Hobbs of Henley-on Thames, England.)] Blades are made of wood with leather collars.

Skiffs usually provide for one or two scullers but because they have been built to individual customer's specifications, there can be a wide variety of designs. There are skiffs with three or four rowing positions. Skiffs with more than one sculler have a seat for a coxswain who steers the boat by ropes attached to a rudder. Single scullers usually steer themselves, but some single skiffs allow for a cox/passenger as well. Some skiffs also provide for a sail to be used.

Skiffs following the traditional Thames design are to be found in The Netherlands and Argentina, although Argentinian skiffs usually have outriggers instead of tholes.

Uses and types of Skiff

Skiffs are both recreational and working boats on the Thames. They can be seen used for swan upping and other general purpose duties. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20050719/ai_n14780001 Wardens get down to the task of swan-upping] ] Racing skiffs are specially built for skiffing in competitions at regattas and long distance events and also for recreational purposes. A camping skiff has an easily erectable canvas cover and is used for outdoor recreational activity holidays, often in conjunction with other activities such as walking, swimming and fishing. The cover can be used for shelter from the sun and rain during the day and at night converts the entire craft into a floating tent. It enables the occupants to experience nature and river life up close and is featured in Jerome K. Jerome's 1889 comic novel "Three Men In A Boat". [Jerome K. Jerome "Three Men in a Boat" Penguin Books, ISBN 0140012133. (First published 1889)]

References

External links

* [http://www.ttbs.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=46 Thames Traditional Boat Society - Plans for skiffs and punts]
* [http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/Collections/Artefact/Vessels.htm Docklands Museum collection]
* [http://www.skiffhire.com/ Thames skiff holiday providers]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Thames Skiff — Innenansicht des Bootsrumpfes eines historischen Thames Skiff Ein Thames Skiff ist ein englischer Bootstyp. Ein Thames Skiff ist ein traditionelles Ruderboot zum Skullen, so wie es seit mehr als 200 Jahren als beplanktes Holzboot gebaut wird. Es… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Skiff — The term skiff is used, and has been used, to refer to many various types of small boats.The word is related to ship and has a complicated etymology: it comes from the Middle English skif , which derives from the Old French esquif , which in turn …   Wikipedia

  • Thames Ditton — Thames Ditton, Surrey …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Thames meander — refers to a long distance journey over all or part of the River Thames in England. Walking the Thames Path is itself a meander, but the term usually applies to journeys using other methods such as rowing, running, or Swimming.A Thames meander can …   Wikipedia

  • Thames Valley Skiff Club — Infobox Rowing Club ClubName = Thames Valley Skiff Club Clubhouse BladeColour Emblem = Tvscwide.gif Location = Walton on Thames Coordinates = Founded = 1923 Motto = Membership = 132 HomeWater = Sunbury Lock Website = www.tvsc.co.uk/ Affiliations …   Wikipedia

  • Thames Punting Club — Infobox Sport governing body assocname= Thames Punting Club logo= sport=Punt Racing founded = 1885 aff = affdate = region = regionyear = president = secretary = coach = womenscoach = url = country The Thames Punting Club (TPC) is the governing… …   Wikipedia

  • Skiff Championships Regatta — The Skiff Championships Regatta is the premier skiff racing regatta on the River Thames in England. It is held at annually at Henley on the August Bank Holiday.The regatta was originally held at Teddington, but in recent times has been held at… …   Wikipedia

  • Skiff Racing Association — Infobox Sport governing body assocname= Skiff Racing Association abbrev = SRA aff = ARA logo= sport=Skiff Racing founded = 1901 president = Gordon Dear url = www.skiffing.org.uk country The Skiff Racing Association (SRA) is the governing body in… …   Wikipedia

  • Thames Ditton — infobox UK place country = England latitude=51.39479 longitude= 0.34125 official name= Thames Ditton map type= Surrey population = 5,863 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7 b=5943027 c=Thames+Ditton d=14… …   Wikipedia

  • Dittons Skiff and Punting Club — Dittons Skiff and Punting Club …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”