Reggie Goodbody

Wooden boats and their environment

Ireland has a rich tradition of boat-building, both working craft and racing boats. These boats were designed for specific purposes and particular places, local weather, materials and craftsmanship were incorporated into their designs. Sometimes the designs came from abroad and were adapted for local conditions. Many of these designs are still preserved and active today.

This course is about designing a wooden sailing boat for Lough Derg (County Tipperary) referring to the history and traditions of local construction and water use. Students will learn about the history of boat design and construction, the processes of design and the methods of construction. There will be visits to boatyards and boatbuilders with a particular emphasis on techniques of wooden construction. The final objective is the creation of a new design of sailing craft.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Reggie Goodbody

Reggie Goodbody very kindly gave us a very interesting talk on the use of different timbers in boat building at his workshop in Dromineer in early October. Reggie had prepared numerous samples of different woods for us to feel and sniff and gave insights and case studies based on his many years experience working in the timber and boat building business. It was an invaluable opportunity to see the character and quality of wood in practice, to feel the various grains in Reggie's beautifully made half models and musical instruments and to hear of the lost art of timber grading. It was interesting to hear about how half models were the principal naval design tool for many hundreds of years, feel was more accurate than eye.