67 April 10, 1999

Handcrafted Boats on Portuguese Beaches

The people of Portugal are justifiably proud of an ancient maritime tradition that took their navigators to the farthest reaches of the world's oceans. That pride shows itself in the fine wooden boats exhibited in Lisbon's maritime museum. And it shows in the modern wooden fishing boats that are being built by craftsmen in the boat yards of Peniche 100 kilometres north of Lisbon.

Many fishermen the world over cherish their wooden boats for their unique sea keeping abilities, that "feel" that other materials never seem to replicate. Unfortunately for these fishermen, in many areas of the world there are a diminishing number of yards to maintain these boats. And in many places the construction of a new wooden boat hasn't been seen for several decades. Reasons for the demise of wood as a construction material range from a lack of suitable wood and skilled builders to high costs for construction and maintenance. But for Portugal's sardine fishermen, explains Armando Silva, Cummins Marine Sales Representative with Portugal's Electro Central Vulcanizadora, Lda., the catches and prices have been good and new boats are being built.

On the beach at Peniche, between a coast guard station and an ancient fortified city wall, two of these fishermen are having a pair of 23-meter purse seine boats built. Joáo Carvalho Galhardo and António Joaquim Galhardo Correia came north to Peniche from the port of Sagres on the very south west tip of Portugal in Algarve province. They came to the Estaleiros Navais Uniáo Da Gambôa where similar vessels have been built including the sistership "Princesa Peniche" which was launched last year with a Cummins KTA19-M main engine.

To this writer, familiar with the salmon and herring seiners of Alaska and British Columbia, the Portugese boats offer some fascinating variations. With a crew of 18, the new boats will fish a 1000 metre long by 130 to 140-metre deep seine in relatively shallow waters. In the Algrave, I was told, the bottom is fine and snagging the net is not a danger. A some what different net design is used off Peniche where the bottom can be rougher. The body of the southern net carries about one third more web than its length and would suggest giving it a good bag. The net is pursed with a forward mounted deck winch and the 1200-metre by 4.4-cm. nylon purse line is wound onto a powered drum. The net is hauled aboard through a hydraulic net retrieval system and piled on the stern through a power block. The boats sail each day in the afternoon to travel several miles off shore and wait for the sardines to show around midnight. Lights are not required to attract the fish and a night's catch of about 30 tons will occasionally be taken in a single set. While the boats include a small 30 cubic metre hold area, the catch is usually stowed on deck inside the high bulwarks and penned off from the net stowage area. The boats are back at dock side around nine in the morning. From May to September, when the fish are fat, they fetch optimum price on the fresh market. From October to April much of the catch is canned with most boats taking a break in the fishing for overhaul and repairs to gear.

Construction of the boats at Peniche is of 5.5-cm. planking on sawn frames set on 42-cm. centres and tapering from 26 cm. at the keel to 10.5 cm. at the deck. The bow sweeps dramatically from a flare at the bulwarks to taper to a fine entry at the forefoot. The hull lines are pure grace forward with the 5.9-metre beam carried well aft to a strong transom stern to support the heavy net and Cummins 6B-powered seine skiff. There is a large accommodation area in the foc'sule where stainless steel is used to reinforce the deck beams. Amidships is the well laid out engine room with the six-cylinder Cummins KTA 19 M3 with Twin Disc MG5202 4.5:1 marine gear mounted on sister keelsons that stretch aft into the small hold area behind which the bottom sweeps from the hull's 2.6-metre molded depth to the rudder and lazarette. Hydraulic power for the deck machinery is provided by a power-take off on the front of the main engine, while electrical power comes from Cummins powered gen set.

The small engine rooms are extremely well laid out with air flow aided by a raised section of the deck cabin that also provides access. Interestingly, the main part of the cabin is made of stainless steel. This includes the forward cabin section, raised about one meter to match the height of the bulwarks and the aft cabin section which provides a galley space and support for the electronics mast. The wheelhouse is made of wood and is set on top of the low forward cabin section. The result is a very good looking boat that is making money for its owner.

It is not only among the sardine fishermen that Cummins engines and wooden construction are popular at Peniche. Over at the Estaleiros Navais De Peniche. S.A. a 16-metre gillnet boat to be powered with a turbo-charged Cummins NT855 is building and just ahead of it on the ways an 18-metre longliner also powered with a Cummins NT855 is taking shape. However, a short distance from the bright wooden hulls, a new structure is rising up over the shipyard to house the yard's planned expansion into the construction of fibreglass vessels. So even here, that magic feel of a good wooden hull under your feet may become a thing of the past. But for now, discerning fishermen are launching boats in the fine maritime tradition of the Portugese explorers.

For more information on any of these vessels, contact:

Armando Silva
Marine Sales
Electro Central Vulcanizadora, Lda.
Rua Conselheiro Martins De Carvalho, Lote 1480
1400-069 Lisboa
Telephone: 0936 918 805 Fax: 301 76 58
E-mail: armando_silva@ecv.pt

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