Lowers of Newhaven

[wombat88]

I only know a little about Lowers. They built many 'Sussex beats boats' clinker, almost flat bottomed, very blunt and broad and often with a lute stern. I had a 18' grp boat taken from a mould of one of their boats. Great little thing. Many were longer.

I have heard talk of a 13' boat, clinker with lute stern, available not too far away but...does anyone know if they ever built such a small thing?

 

[wombat88]

Inundated with replies...

Anyway, they did, it is lovely but it has been in a garden for maybe 15 years under a leaky tarpaulin.

13ft loa, 5ft beam, gaff rigged, all clinker, lute stern, dagger board, probably 1940/50s, mahogany on oak, was varnished once

It is a survivor, a complete sailing Sussex beach boat.

 

[Keith 66]

Another builder of similar fine boats was HJ Phillips of Rye, they built many similar beach boats, I owned & restored one of theirs, Billows a 21ft sailing tripper boat built in 1938, she is a much finer lined boat than the fishing luggers & sails like a witch.
Currently based at Titchmarsh on the Walton backwaters.
One of the few boats i wished i had never sold!

 

[Poecheng]

https://www.woodbridgeboatyard.com/boats-for-sale

 

[wombat88]

I think Phillips are still in business.

Yes I know of Arwen, a fine craft indeed!

It is fascinating to see how the design of local craft changed in only a few miles to suit local conditions.

 

[Captainodge]

Hi all
New to ybw.and was interested to read this subject on lowers boats of Newhaven
A friend has a beachboat which originally I thought could be a lowers .it has a number carved in a beam .would it be possible to identify this vessel from that .it is currently in a very bad state .and was found in rye East Sussex. So could possibly been a Phillips

 

[Captainodge]

The aforementioned vessel

 

[wombat88]

The three Lowers boats I have cast an eye upon all had a builder's plate somewhere near the transom.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Beach Boats are /were built also in South Devon by Mears at Seaton ; many still plying at Beer , off the Beach
All had very solid Bow fore foot where a line for hauling out was attatched

If looking for a Beach Boat might suggest one broadens the seaching to include South Devon areas

Mears still trading at Seaton Boatyard

 

[wombat88]

A comparison between a Mears boat and a Lowers boat will show how the design changes to meet local conditions.

 

[Capt Popeye]

A comparison between a Mears boat and a Lowers boat will show how the design changes to meet local conditions.

A Mears boat photographed today in their Yard ; showing Line attatchnent through the Keel , for assisting in drawing up out of the Sea onto the beach

 

[wombat88]

A Lowers boat I decided not to buy which I think I regret (or maybe I don't)! It was no worse than it looks. The beaching line through the forefoot on the Mears boat is reminiscent of lifeboats.

 

[Keith 66]

Heres a photo of one of Harry Phillips finest, the sailing tripper boat "Billows" built in 1938 & rebuilt by myself in 96, unlike the fishing boats she was relatively narrow 21ft loa 6' 10" beam, she sails like a witch especially in light winds but can be a real handful in a breeze!
The sharp eyed will notice the lack of ruffle holes in the keel, these were filled in during the rebuild.
She arrived in Benfleet just after ww2 & spent most of her life here. Anyone who aspires to be a clinker boatbuilder only has to look at her to see how it should be done.