World's oldest floating boat?

Seagreen

Seagreen

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World\'s oldest floating boat?

So, prompted by Beth's "let's see them" post, and by my own researches, I'm trying to find out the oldest boats in the world still actively in commission, sailing or afloat, not just chocked up in museums slowly drying out and falling apart, or floating exhibits. This rules out vessels like Warrior and Trincomalee. To qualify, these vessels must be capable of leaving the quayside and actually sailing.

So far I think the oldest goes like this:

USS Constitution - nuff said. 1790's
Boadicea - of Brightlingsea. 1808

After that It gets more complicated. Thers a few boats from the 1860's I think, but in what order?

Any suggestions?
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

The Falmouth Quay Punt 'Curlew' is still relatively young (especially when compared with vessels like Boadicea) but she was apparently built in either 1898 or 1905 (depending on what source you refer to). Anywhichway, that is still an impressive age!
More details about her here at http://www.nmmc.co.uk/index.php?page=Collections&type=Boat&id=190&choiceid=31
I saw her sailing in Antigua Race Week in the Classics division (before they had a seperate Classics Regatta) in 1987, and she just mopped up all the opposition very thoroughly.
They were not amused to be beaten by a gaffer who was over 80.....
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

Hundred year old boats are relatively common on the Broads. The trading wherry Albion was built in 1898 and still sails - and there are plenty of yachts of comparable age still in commission.
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

The Fife Mikado, 1904 is pretty old. I think she is notable because she has never had a major rebuild. She has had a 'check up from the deck up', put apart from her garboards all her planking, frames and centerline structure is original. Corrie is similar too in this respect. Mikado races at Cowes in Class 7 and won last year, leaving GRP and some carbon boats in her wake.

How much of Bodecea is 1808???? Not a lot.


Thalia, 40' gaffer, 1889, has just done the ARC, and is currently touring the carribean.
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

Both Newquay and the Scillies have pilot gigs dating back to the early 1800s, still in regular use for racing! I'm sorry I can't remember the details, but I'm sure someone will!
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

East coast Smacks are often over a 100 years old. Off the top of my head there is "Dusmarie" an 1884 Aldous smack. There are plenty of others though.
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

To get the date correct, USS Constitution
Built in 1797, “Old Ironsides' is a veteran of many campaigns including the War of 1812, and the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat.
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

[ QUOTE ]
How about Seagreen's Cleone?

[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks Halcyon. I've no real proof apart from word of mouth that she was built in 1860, but it would be hard to see how she wasn't of that era. If I replaced an original frame, I could get it dated (dendrocrinology) but that would only prove when the tree was growing, not the build date. I could always take a core sample of the keel, but thats for another year. Maybe find the felling year of the keel tree and add a year? All Pitch pine - is that any good for dating off? I'd much rather find documentary evidence and anyway, Seanick, apart from the rise in her deck height, most of Cleone is original too.
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

[ QUOTE ]
Both Newquay and the Scillies have pilot gigs dating back to the early 1800s, still in regular use for racing! I'm sorry I can't remember the details, but I'm sure someone will!

[/ QUOTE ]
From the website:
newquay.jpg

Built in 1812 by William Peters of St Mawes. She is considered to be the oldest traditional rowing boat still in regular use and is slightly shorter than most gigs being just under 30ft in length with a 4ft 10in beam. She is predominantly red in colour with a white rubbing strake and underside.
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

Berthed next to me is "Playmate", an old gaff cutter thought to be built about 1895. The owner sails her regularly, including the annual Holms Race, and heads off to Milford Haven most years. I know it's nowhere near the oldest, but may be puts in more miles than most of that age?
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

Consitution may strictly be the oldest floating, but she never goes out under her own power: every 4 July they take her round Boston harbour strapped to two tugs. I think they may have been allowed to actually put the sails up on her bicentenary, but not since then.

Boadicea must be the oldest one actually sailing on a regular basis.
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

Boadicea must be the oldest one actually sailing on a regular basis.


she is "In Fox`s" 4 a re-fit spoke to the owner on saturday over a pint. the spars are un-stepped @ the moment she is afloat on the linear berth
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

I often think that there would be more use for ships like Warrior, Victory, Cutty Sark, etc., if they were properly refurbed and used as training vessels. The example of the Gypsy Moth is the one to follow. But they'll never have the political will, never mind the budget. Boats and ships should be used or they become relics. Boadicea, and I suppose Cleone and the Gigs prove it.

Small rantlet over.
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

What about the East coast smack 'Pioneer'. Originally built in 1864 and now sailing on a regular basis around the Thames Estuary
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

There is a ceremonial barge kept ashore somewhere on the Thames, but used at least until recently on special occasions. William III's, or some City livery company?
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

The Star of India - currently in commission in San Diego USA and originally built in my home town of Ramsey Isle of Man is as far as I know the oldest iron ship still sailing. She was built in 1863.

See her wikkapedia entry here Wikipedia for Star of India

Her own website is here Star of India

A pretty spectacular achievement to have lasted that long...
 
Re: World\'s oldest floating boat?

Also there's Lord St Leven's barge at St Michael's Mount: there was an article about her in Classic Boat a couple of years back, including some phots of her afloat, with oarsmen in full regalia. Built 1770s, I think.
 
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