Wooden boat building

There are some pretty impressive and ultra expensive craft capturing the imagination of sailing fans at the PSP Southampton Boat Show this week, yet it’s the traditional craftsmanship embodied in wooden boats which pulls the heartstrings.
The Wooden Boatbuilders’ Trade Association has mounted a display just inside the main entrance and displaying 22 vessels successfully portray the enduring aesthetics of timber boat construction — anything from a traditional dinghy to a modern luxury motor launch and yachts custom made.
The industry says wooden boats are enjoying a revival as an increasing number of sailors appreciate what can be achieved with a custom made craft in a material which is ecologically sound still meet exacting demands for performance, aesthetic and longevity.
The wooden boat builders maintain that a custom boat stands for individual choice and for form and function that has evolved through the hands of craftsmen over centuries..
The boats on display, all of them beautiful, durable and satisfying to own are a tantalising sample of what today’s wooden boat craftsmen can create.
Demonstrations during the show include the building to completion of a simple skiff, the construction of a cradle boat, as well as teaching youngsters to make a simple clinker joint and the mysteries of caulking.