Iain Oughtred is one of the world’s great
small boat designers…
His instantly
recognisable, very beautiful boats add grace to waterways all
over the world. Iain’s designs have been the inspiration and
delight of thousands of amateur and professional builders over
the past 25 years, from Iceland in the north to Argentina at the
very tip of South America.
Iain’s distinctive
glued plywood clinker boats, dinghies, prams, double enders,
dories and small cruisers take inspiration from the long
traditions of wooden boat building of Northern Europe and
America, with stock designs ranging in size form two metres to
six and half metres. As well as Europe, Africa, Asia and
America, his boats are to be found now in all corners of
Australia, from the Indian Ocean to the Arafura Sea, from the
Pacific in the east to the clear blue waters of the Southern
Ocean, on the tops of cars and on trailers behind, on lakes and
rivers and floating anywhere a dew might last more than a day.
Iain’s interest in
boats dates form wild days sailing heavyweight Sharpies of
Sydney in New South Wales in the late 60’s, before moving to
Scotland to establish his design business. He has taught at
Woodenboat Magazine’s residential Summer Schools in America,
and has travelled extensively throughout Europe (in Kombi van)
observing and studying Scandinavian, European and British
designs and techniques, refining them over the years form modern
materials and amateur friendly building techniques.
Iain sees his work as
‘based on traditional designs’ but designed and detailed
especially from amateur builders. Using modern material, leading
to something new which may be regarded as simply a continuation
of the traditional evolutionary process.
Even in South
Australia, the driest state, in the driest continent on earth
there are over 30 ‘Oughtred’ boats.
So it is really BIG
news that Iain Oughtred is coming ‘home’ to Australia from his
eyrie in Scotland for a gathering of the clan of literally
hundreds of ‘his’ boats exclusively for the South Australian
Wooden Boat Festival.
We already have
news of Western Australian builders making plans for the long
journey in March, 2003.
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