A Sgoth or Sgoth Niseach is a traditional type of clinker built skiff with a dipping lug rig and a Lateen style sail built mainly in Ness. The boats were used for line fishing during the 19th century and up until the early half of the twentieth century [1]. There are several still in active use owned by community trusts which maintain them.
The rig of a Sgoth is unusual in that the yard is longer than the mast, all of the rig fits comfortably within the boat as the mast was lowered when working with the lines. The boats were beach launched, when they were afloat they were loaded with ballast in the form of stones from the shore, during fishing the stone ballast would be replaced by the catch.
In 1994, the last full size ( 33 feet ) Sgoth to be built, An Sulaire (The Gannet) was launched in Stornoway, a documentary called An Sgoth recorded the construction of the boat by John Murdo Macleod. Jubilee a 1935 built three quarters size Sgoth was also restored in 2005 and a similarly sized and recently restored Sgoth Oigh Niseach is based in Raasay. Jubilee and An Sulaire are moored in Stornoway for most of the year. Bluebird a half sized ( 16ft ) Sgoth is based in Ness.
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