Penilee’s Boat Building Project launched their first boat at Lochwinnoch on August 1. 

The 27ft boat was built from oak planking on oak frames by three volunteers and took almost a year to complete in the Galgael Trust’s Fairley Street workshop using traditional tools and techniques.

Ian Bogle, facilitator of the Penilee Boat Project, said, ‘It was an excellent day with good weather, barbie, courtesy of Michael, and rowing the boat around.’

More than 23 people traveled from Penilee Community Centre to Lochwinnoch to watch the launch.  The boat was funded by money from the now-disbanded Penilee Social Inclusion Partnership.

Ian told the LOCAL NEWS that the group were now looking into possible places to keep and maintain the boat, adding, ‘We would obviously like the people of Penilee to take ownership of the boat.’