Whitstable Maritime is a charity that believes in the value and power of maritime history, heritage and environment to positively change people’s lives today and tomorrow.
We are now looking for Volunteer Carpenters to support the restoration of The Gamecock, one of the last remaining Whitstable Oyster Yawls, for people in our community to enjoy using and benefit from. The boat is currently stored in Whitstable Harbour.
Our shipwright is talented and knowledgeable about restoring heritage sailing craft. We have been making steady progress in rebuilding this iconic sailing boat and plan to have her back in the water next year. But we need some more carpenters to join the small, dedicated team and help move the project forward.
Our volunteers get a great deal out of being part of this project. Camaraderie, a sense of purpose and the enjoyment of seeing something worthwhile come together.
You don’t need specific shipbuilding skills to help. Our shipwright will share his knowledge, so you can learn how these beautiful boats were constructed and share in the journey to have The Gamecock back in the water as an asset for the community.
Specific tasks include
* Machining timber into blanks for trunnels
* Cutting wedges for trunnels
* Cutting wooden plugs
* Scraping the keel rabbet clean
* Coating the original frames and keel with rot treatment
* Replacing temporary plank fixings on the starboard side
* Cutting bolts to length and cutting threads
* Drilling and plugging the original planking
* Assisting with fitting the new planking
If you can spare a few hours and would like to contribute to Whitstable’s maritime history, please get in touch. Send me your email and contact number, and I will contact you.
More information about Whitstable Maritime