Bawley Yacht Scoter

Updated: 19 April 2012

Yacht Scoter

A painting of Scoter by Colin Grierson

Bawley Cutter Rigged Wildfowling Boat

Year Built: 1894 Builder: J G Howard of Maldon, Essex
Length Over Perpendiculars:	33' 2"
Length Waterline:	30'
Beam:	11'
Draft (Plate up):	3'
Draft (Plate Down):	6' 6"
Ballast: No external ballast
Iron Centreplate:	580 lbs (10' long)
Internal Ballast:	2256 lbs
Total Ballast:	1.4 tons

An interesting old boat with an interesting history. Based on a Thames Bawley, Scoter was built in 1894, by John Howard of Maldon, for sailing in the Blackwater area of Essex and for wildfowling in the winter months. It is said that she mounted two large fowling pieces and when the Scoter was at work the rest of the wildfowlers stayed ashore in the pub, such was the quantity of lead shot in the air.

The stern is instantly shows her bawley roots, although the spoon bow indicates that she was not destined for the commercial fishing trade. Originally bawley rigged, cutter headed with a boomless gaff mainsail and topsail, her rig has seen many incarnations through her long life, ending the last chapter with a Bermudan cutter arrangement.

After having a number of owners she was acquired by Colin Grierson, a commercial artist, from 1930s until 1997 and for much of that time kept at Tayport, Fife, Scotland.

The yacht designer, Maurice Griffiths, first saw Scoter in about 1920 lying afloat in Ipswich dock and based the design of his first Lone Gull on her.

Colin Grierson had taken the lines off Scoter and had given a copy to 'MG'. Some years later he was commissioned by Colins' friends, Brian and Zella Kelly, to design, "Idle Duck", which was based on the much admired Scoter.

Over the past 10 years poor old Scoter has been sadly neglected until falling into the hands of Jan Carpenter who was, until he discovered the boats' history, going to use the boat as garden plaything for his children. Plan 'A' has now been sidelined in favour of restoring the the boat to her former glory, complete with the original bawley rig.

The project is serious madness, it being an almost total re-build from the keel up, but a worthy madness and will provide great sailing once completed. There is no definitive time scale to this project, the work will continue as time and cash flow allow. So be patient, this will not be undertaken in the style of a television makeover.