New seats for the SCOW

 I finally got around to fitting the rear side seats to the SCOW, originally I was thinking of making slatted seats, but having sailed on a couple of other SCOWs I decided to reuse the original flat teak seats.

 Given that the SCOW was built in 1951, there's a good chance that the new seats and indeed all the interior wood work is 100+ years old.

The old dirty, grey boards which have been lying around in the garage for the past 15 years cleaned up amazingly with just a good coating of oxalic acid, followed by a light sanding and 6 coats of Epifanes varnish. In fact they look much better than the thwart and forward seats.

Hamble Village in the moment

When you've been somewhere so often and for so long it's easy to ignore or take for granted the surroundings. On a cold and bleak day I took the opportunity to slow down and as the modern parlance goes "be in the moment" walking through Hamble le Rice village

At the bottom of the High Street or the start of The Quay is the Maritime Art Gallery complete with what seems to be an expanding array of nautical paraphernalia.

Long before it became a B&B, Compass point was a chandlers and cafe. It also featured in the 1980's TV series Howard's Way as a Greek taverna. A couple of the characters were supposed to be on holiday or honeymoon in Greece, the scene was filmed with tables set out out on that low wall and lit by some strong arc lights to  look like bright sunshine.

Nice spot for alfresco dining at the King and Queen

Of if you fancy something more traditional and hearty could do worse than go along to the Victory

Cute cottages, and a cobbled street leading down to the Pirate Pasties hideaway

 

And all around the village there are little reminders of the nautical heritage.
 

Oysters

Nice crop of oysters waiting collection on the quay in Lymington

 Something you see very often in French ports especially Brittany, so good to see oysters making a comeback in the Solent which used to be a significant oyster fishery 100 years and more ago going right back to Roman times.
 

Shilling about

Nice example of a Willow Bay Boats Shilling on her mooring for the summer, really nice boat for pottering around Chichester harbour or drying out on the sand down at East Head. 

 

Below, Featured this day boat ashore previously but nice to see her afloat.

 

Flying fox

Maybe he just didn't get the memo - bird table

 

Wagtail for Sale

Friend Greg has recently put this delightful and immaculate Wagtail dinghy up for sale. Full disclosure Greg was the former builder of these dinghies as Salterns Boat Builders based on the Hamble

12 feet 6 inches in length, with a steel center-plate, the Wagtail is easy to sail, stable, and forgiving, making it a good choice  for picnics, training or for us elderly sailors who aren't as nimble as we used to be (actually I've been sailing a Laser recently and although it's fun it's not relaxing).

The quality of woodwork is lovely, richly finished and spot the bronze crutches which speak of the overall quality and attention to detail.

Knowing my affinity for small traditionally rigged dinghies some may ask why I'm not making an offer, and the truth is between Tosh and my SCOW I'm already over boated.

 There's some really useful advice from a Wagtail owner here  . If you are interested drop me an email and I'll pass it on

Smooth ride

 Interesting motor boat heading up the Hamble.

 Looks like a high speed hull with those fine bows, possibly wave piercing(?), with very functional topsides and cabin arrangement.

Great to see people investing time and money into new designs.

Rain stops play

 Or rather heavy winds, rain and the prospect of heavy sea conditions building up with the strong winds over the next couple of days have led to the cancellation of Hurst Castle SC "Thread the Needle" cruise.

I was due to crew aboard Equiox a lovely Berthon built wooden SCOW, built in the 1930's and restored by the current owner

The plan was to sail out from Keyhaven, crossing the Solent and then along the north coast of the Isle of Wight westward to the famous Needles, passing between the 30 odd meter chalk stacks and the island. 

 Above the fleet of dinghies from Hurst Castle SC and Keyhaven YC "threading the needle"last year in fine and settled weather.

Pointing southwest into the English channel the Needles are exposed to the prevailing weather as these pictures from a 2013 post show, taken form the comfort of a cafe they don't really do justice to the conditions between the needles and the Shingles Bank.

Low water calm

 A perfectly calm low water revealing some of the sculptural landscape of the riverbed

Below the lagoon looking across to Bunny Meadows, where the tide has scoured out a deep sink hole in the mid.

This side creek is so well developed running parallel to the main river, it wouldn't be a surprise if it eventually creates a low water island completely disconnected from the pathway.