Posted by kate crosby on April 30, 1999 at 16:06:01:
In Reply to: Message by Steam Packet.. posted by Andy Morley on April 30, 1999 at 15:10:09:
Ken, thank you so much for joining us, and putting the photos up for us to admire. My question is - how many wherries are there still afloat? Is anyone interested in restoring hulks or building replicas?
On the subject of the boat transport long ago, it might interest you to know that from Thomas Jefferson's ( 1776 +) time on there were "batteaux" ( wide, shallow- draught boats that are paddled) on the James River here in Virginia, to carry cargoes of products like tobacco down to Richmond and the Chesapeake Bay. In the last few years several replica batteaux have been built and they have an annual race down the river. I can understand that something similar with wherries might be much more difficult, but maybe some enthusiasts want to have a go?