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Doris LO 284 •
A Harwich bawley built in 1909 by John Cann - the genius of bawleys
and barges.
photos by Denis Johnson and others unknown
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With jib tops'l set in
1984
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On her mooring
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Replace the keel |
| Built on spec
in 1909 and purchased by a Leigh on Sea publican, Mr Choppin. A
Cann bawley with all the hallmarks of the Cann shape. Absolutely
gorgeous in the water and just as beautiful out of it. Her bottom
being shaped like a wine glass. Her early years were spent fishing
and racing in and around Leigh. She was skippered by Bill Lucking.
Doris, apparently, received her name from the owner's favourite
daughter. There were seven daughter's and one son; whom ran away
to sea, aged 18, when his father refused to sell him Doris. He only
returned to this country at the onset on the second world war. Doris'
ownership then becomes a little uncertain to us but 70 years later
we had the privilege to meet the "runaway" son who vividly recounted
Doris early years at length. |
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Doris, the beauty who
gave her name to a bawley.
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Doris
is one of the largest bawley's being 40 feet in length, 14 feet
beam and draws 5'-6". She has been selected by the National Historic
Ships Commission for the designated list for her outstanding local
interest. She is oak framed, with an iroko keel, her first 3 planks
are elm, the rest being pine, her whaling is oak. Her mainmast and
topmast are Douglas Fir. Her sails are flax and the decks are laid
iroko. Doris is kept very traditional; her two main concessions
to modern life are an inboard engine (fitted only last year) and
fibreglass tender. This sense of tradition is not due to the owner
having a feel for purism but simply that we think she is beautiful
as she is. Marion Johnson 18th. April 2001
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* Lines of Doris taken off by Ted Penny are here
and can be downloaded with a right click. Thanks to Ted, they are
the only lines of a bawley on the web so please give Ted the credit
if used. |
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18
- April - 2001 © Roger Walker - Colne Smack Preservation Society
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