The Colglen Skiff

The villages of Colintraive and Glendaruel often come together, especially on social occasions and when this happens they are together known as Colglen.  A few years ago a group of enthusiasts raised enough money to purchase the kit to build a skiff.   A skiff is a wooden rowing boat.  It took two years and a huge community effort to actually build the boat and now we have the pleasure of being able to use it.

The skiff in the Kyles of Bute

The skiff usually launches twice a week – on Thursday afternoons and on Saturday mornings.  Obviously weather sometimes (but actually quite rarely) prevents the boat being launched.

It is kept in a recently completed purpose built boat shed near the public slip which is accessed by turning into the ferry area.

Getting ready to launch

As well as a chance for some good sea air and a bit of a work out, it also seen as as an opportunity to socialize.  Some of the regular rowers are outstanding cooks and there is normally some wonderful cake to look forward to when we get to our furthest point.  Often there is more than one cake … Tea and coffee are served too.

Skiff stopped for a wee picnic at Caladh

The minimum number required to crew the skiff is 5,  4 rowing and a cox.  However the seats are wide and we can easily take one or two extra people.  We tend to be out for a couple of hours and either row south down the east Kyle or west towards the picturesque Caladh bay area.  Indeed Caladh is a favourite stopping point and we often go ashore for our picnic.

Visitors are most welcome to join in and you don’t need to have any experience

A drone’s eye view of the skiff