Key details
- Current boat name
- Papay Soo Boat
- Boat class
- 7337
- Function
- Service
- Type
Dimensions and specifications
- Length (m / ft)
- 3.51 / 11ft 6in
- Beam (m / ft)
- 1.51 / 5ft
- Leeward
- Keel
- Masts
- One Wood
- Propulsion
- Oar
Design and build
- Date of build
- 1930's
- Place of build
- Westray, Orkney
Current status
- Present use
- Museum
History
This Orkney work or Soo boat was probably built at Westray in the 1930's. Soo boats were used as tenders for transporting people out to the floating shop boats that regularly visited the numerous island communities of Orkney in the early 20th century. Customers would exchange local produce such as eggs, lobsters and whelks for commodities such as paraffin, meal, groceries, clothing and footwear. This boat was used for about 35 byears on the island of Westray by people on Holland Farm for crossing to a small island called Holm of Papay. This was for tending sheep kept there. The boat is also reputed to have been used by monks for subsistence fishing. She was also used by a family in England later as a recreational boat. January 2010 (Archive)