23rd of August, Dumfries
– Boats on the Nith
@contact us! if you would like to row on the river. Even better, let us know if you would like to sit and make model boats with people. In particular, pop pop boats from recycled materials. This draws attention to the principles of boat building – and also how precious recycled resources can be. Other styles of boat are possible too, and we will have a paddling pool set up to test them in so they don’t wash away downstream.
We are preparing components in advance of the day. Participants will be able to sit down and combine them to make something which floats. If they have time they can optimise their toy boat and see how well they can get it to work.
While preparing for the day we have been reminded just how engaging this process can be. Hours can vanish while the combination of boiler, candle, and hull are tweaked to get the best from the system.
There is an opportunity to practice this on Thursday evening in the wordsmithcrafts workshop 7-9pm.
We will need to set up on Friday evening but need to be sure of a full crew if we are going to row.
If the weather prevents rowing or we don’t have enough crew we will sit for a longer time in our medieval pavilion and make some model boats.
The overall programme for Nithraid can be found here:
Cluaran in 2023 cattle rustling with the Salty Coo. Our crew were time travellers that year!
Simon experimenting with making model boats out of precious recycled materials. We will bring parts for people to have a go at making their own.
We are hopefully bringing our DIY curragh “Catken” along too – but it is an elderly boat now…