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Coventry Boatbuilders and
Restoration
We specialise in the restoration of vintage
boats. They have worked for the National Maritime
Museum, the Manchester Museum, the Musee Bernier in
Quebec, the Colchester Museum, and the newly opened
Henley River and Rowing Museum. We have done
experimental work for the Greek Trireme Trust. We
have done a number of restorations of river boats
and launches as well as sea going boats. Visiting
our yard in Coventry is an unlikely experience with
a number of boats restored and awaiting
restoration, including a post war Yachting
World - Jenny Wren, a 1927
Gibbs Launch, a pre-war Morgan
Giles National 14, A Norfolk Broads gaff
cuiser
To see more abour restoration and repair
click here
Other Boats that we have restored or
Repaired-
Examples of smaller Boats
- "The Deadly Reg" - had been in the family
for over 50 years. She was grey and bottomless
when we were asked to restore her. Named after a
favourite Uncle!
- "Loostrife" a 17 ft. river skiff - restored
for a customer in Evesham
- Morgan Giles - National 14, restored for the
National Maritime Museum -Greenwich - We have
recently restored another Morgan Giles which is
now in Eire.
- Plymouth Watermans Gig - Restored for the
National Maritime Museum - Greenwich
We also do engine
restorations.
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Coventry and the
Greeks
In the 1980's we undertook the building of the
Greek Trireme Trial Piece in Coventry for the
Greek
Trireme Trust. This was a 15m. section of the
proposed reconstruction which was designed to see
if Ancient Greek construction methods of edge
fastening of planks, was feasible and if the rowers
could actually operate. It was and they could, and
the full version - Olympus was built a couple of
years later.
Later the Manchester Museum approached us to ask
if we could build a replica of the "Kyrenia"
ship.
In 1998 we were asked to build a cross section
of a Greek Trireme for the Henley River and Rowing
Museum and the people putting together Fords
transport exhibition in the Millenium Dome liked it
so much that they asked for another section for
that. Later the Manchester Museum were given it so
you can see that one there.
THIRD
CENTURY B.C. GREEK MERCHANT SHIP FOUND IN
COVENTRY!
BUILDING A REPLICA OF THE "KYRENIA"
SHIP.
In Coventry a rather special boat was built in
the workshops of Coventry Boatbuilders. It is a one
third replica of the "Kyrenia Ship" which sank off
the Northern coast of Cyprus around 300 BC, either
as the result of a storm or perhaps from a pirate
attack. At that time she was probably over 100
years old and had been extensively patched and
repaired. In 1966 the wreck was discovered by a
local diver and excavated over the next 3 years.
"Kyrenia" is remarkable for the amount of the boat
that survived the 2300 years since she sank - some
60% of the boat has been recovered and she
represents the most complete record that we have of
Greek shipbuilding techniques.
Kyrenia had an overall length of 14 meters and a
displacement of 14 tons. Carbon dating showed that
the pine trees that were used to build her had been
felled in about 389 BC. The cargo was about 20 tons
in all and consisted of 400 amphoras, and 10,000
almonds. Everyday utensils indicated a crew of 4.
The boat was powered by a square sail that was
controlled by brails. Her lifetime began well
before the birth of Alexander the Great, and ended
well after.
What was significant about the Kyrenia ship was
the way in which she was constructed. The planks,
which vary from 1.5" to 2" thick are fixed together
along their edges by thousands of mortices and
loose tenon joints. The hull was built "shell"
first and with the edge fastening technique a
monoque structure was achieved. The strength of
this shell was not improved upon until first iron
and steel ships and then GRP were developed.
Accordingly the internal framing could be much
lighter.
John Prag of the Manchester
Museum had the idea that their Agean Gallery
should have a scale replica of the Kyrenia Ship
suspended in the middle of the gallery. Coventry
Boatbuilders were asked to do the work.
The replica built in the original edge fastened
manner with all the original fitments, sails and
gear is on permanent display in the Manchester
Museum. The rigging and sail were undertaken by
Owain Roberts a specialist in this area.
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