SAILING AND ROWING WORKING BOATS FROM THE WESTCOAST OF SCOTLAND

By Mike Jarvis

This page, from an excellent little site about the Scottish Birlinn, or Hebridean Galley, is an invaluable reference source and well worth a look: page 13

However, as the author says,

'It is a tragedy that there is not one survivor of all the little trading sailing vessels that kept the communities of the West Coast of Scotland in touch with the outside world.'

Apparently Simper, R. (1974) Scottish Sail, a Forgotten Era. David & Charles, has some documentation and photographs, and second-hand copies are available, so I am tempted...

There are some lovely pictures here of a Hebridean Lugger built by John Macaulay of Flodabay, Harris. The article contains additional links of great interest. An article written by John himself can be read here: http://www.leverburgh.co.uk/boatbuilding.htm

Ref: http://galgael.org/birlinn/