Ethel

Current boat name

Ethel

Boat class

7597

Sail number

n/a

Function

Service

Type

Length (m / ft)

5.15 / 16ft 9in

Beam (m / ft)

1.69 / 5ft 5in

Leeward

Keel

Masts

1

Rig type

Lug

Propulsion

Oar/Sail

Designer

Traditional

Date of build

1907 c

Place of build

North Shields

Present use

Museum/NMMC

Built about 1907 by Clarkson of South Shields. She was owned by Harrison of North Shields and later by Brian Walker of South Shields. ETHEL was used for mooring colliers to the buoys and piers in the Shields area and later for part-time fishing from the River Wear.She was purchased by NMM in 1981 and restored by Mr R Elsey.The original task of Foy boats was to tow or kedge-haul sailing vessels along or out of river estuaries of the North East during periods of calm or contrary winds. With the coming of steam tugs and then steam screw colliers the foyboatmens' towing and kedging work decreased, to be replaced almost entirely with the activity of mooring and unmooring ships at the coal staithes, mooring buoys, riverside quays and docks. They were very narrow beamed and heavily built to stand the knocks of mooring work. While not great sailers with their dipping lug sail, they were excellent rowing boats. October 2007 Significance : Typical small work boat that was used prior to the introduction of engine power on the rivers of northeast England. Part of National Small Boat Collection at National Maritime Museum Cornwall.