Pitcairn Longboat

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shipstamps
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Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:12 pm

Pitcairn Longboat

Post by shipstamps » Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:29 pm


The longboat shown on a 2d. stamp is seen making a journey to Bounty Bay, the scene of the burning of the Bounty in 1790. The longboat has a crew of 14 oarsmen, her rudder is shipped and oars are being used for steering. Pitcairn has no exports and the economy is supported almost entirely by the revenue from the sale of its postage stamps to collectors throughout the world.
SG36 Sea Breezes 1/65

aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: Pitcairn Longboat

Post by aukepalmhof » Sun Jul 23, 2017 9:38 pm

Pitcairn has always relied on shipping as its lifeline for survival because of its isolation. Everything not produced on Pitcairn arrives by sea and is shipped ashore. In 1819 Captain Henry King donated a boat to the Island and in 1880 Queen Victoria gifted two whaleboats. The longboats of Pitcairn are reputed to be modelled on this whaleboat pattern. Over time the boats have been modified and enlarged but essentially retain the same look.

The Pitcairners built their own boats and up until the 1980s the boats were made of wood. The last boat was made in 1983 and retired in 1995 when it was replaced with a New Zealand made aluminium boat.

An excerpt from Miscellany was reprinted in the Guide to Pitcairn regarding the launch of the last wooden longboat “Stick” and states:

“…The previous week had seen a flurry of activity as the boat was finished as far as it could be, without diesel motor, stern tube and propeller (these are still awaiting shipment from Auckland). Final caulking and puttying was completed, the bow and stern houses made, fittings for rowlocks and a steering oar were put in place and the whole boat was coated with timber preservative and an orange undercoat…”
“Then began the procession downhill, led by the blue tractor pulling the boat and the red tractor acting as a brake and ‘nudger’. For once we were grateful for our clay roads as they were not too hard on the bottom of the sliding boat. After more muscle work, the boat was in the metal channel of the slipway and with a final heave she was launched. A quick check revealed there were only a few minor leaks. Oars were grabbed and the lads were ready to go for a row out of the harbour. The old-timers scratched their heads in disbelief at the lack of oarsmanship displayed by the younger members of the community, a heritage of the motor boat era….. She certainly road the seas well and the boat lived up to expectations “.

Pitcairn currently uses 2 aluminium boats built to the Islanders specifications and named “Tub”, and “Moss”. Each is around 13 metres in length and can carry up to 10 tonnes of cargo at any one time. “Tin” is a smaller third vessel but is rarely used.

They are powered by inboard diesel engines and are used primarily to offload supplies from visiting supply ships and to take the locals and their souvenir products to visiting cruise liners and to bring visitors to Bounty Bay. Exiting and entering the harbour at the Landing can be extremely dangerous and requires great skill and experience. In rough seas especially it is crucial that the right time is chosen to enter the harbour.

Other uses for the longboats are for fishing and for visiting the islands of Oeno and Henderson.
From timber framed vessels to tough aluminium workhorses, the Longboats of the Pitcairn Islands provide that much needed community lifeline.

Pitcairn Island 1964 ½d and 2d sg 36 and 38 scott 38 and 39. 1969 8c sg100, scott103. 1972 4c and 20c sg124/25, scott127/28. 1974 35c sg154. Scott?. 1977 2c sg175 and 5c sg176, scott?. 1984 50c/$2 sgMS 263, scott?. 1986 $2 sg295, scott280. 2000 20c sg?, scott511b. 2008 50c/$3.50 sg?, scott? (The cargo vessel on the $1.50 stamp in the background is I believe one of the Associated Container Transportation (Blue Star) ships of the ACT class.)

http://www.stamps.gov.pn/longboat.html
Attachments
1964 longboat (2).jpg
1969 longboat 8c (2).jpg
1972 longboat 20c (2).jpg
Image (35).jpg
1980 longboat 35c (2).jpg
Image (34).jpg
1986 longboat $2(2).jpg
2008 pitcairns longboats.jpg

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