Boat of the week 2

Seen at West Mersea before sunset.

This boat gives the lie to criticisms about the longevity and resilience of wooden boats. In contrast to last weeks lightweight this one is substantially built: the planks and frames are massive.

The Strood Channel that separates Mersea from the mainland of Essex is a shellfish lovers dream. The oystermen use boats like these to dredge, sort and start the cleaning process.
Theyre hard working boats used by hard working men to do a back-breaking job. It looks very romantic at this time of year but on a miserable East Anglian day with the rain coming in horizontally the price of oysters in the West End doesnt seem unreasonable.
My own boat is moored just up the channel from here. The gull that guards this boat and his mates leave a guano all over my cockpit that resembles the stuff at the bottom of fish tanks. Its finely ground shells that tell us that however many oysters the fishermen take there are plenty of other molluscs and crustaceans out there.

Im more familiar with thin, steam-bent frames that are put in after planking. I believe these big timbers are set up first and then planks are bent over them. This is closer to traditional carvel framing. Id like to get inside one and have a look at the fit of the planks to the frames. Some builders in northern Europe "joggle" in frames that meet the planks across their full width. This must be incredibly time-consuming.
If youre wondering what the sticks in the boat are for then this might give you a clue:

"Withies" are stuck in the thick Blackwater mud to mark the oyster beds. Beware the visiting yachtsman who thinks theyre channel markers. If you try to sail between these youll dry out on an oyster bed and be greeted by some unhappy oystermen.

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