Page 88 - KBHA BULLETIN 4

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THE CAPE BEACH BOATS

Henry Aikman

Introduction

In 1906 there were 427 boats operating off the Cape beaches. Table Bay had 111, while Kalk Bay
had 48, only one less than Port Elizabeth. (Wardlaw Thompson, 1913.)

Thompson argues:

“.....the Cape fishing boat of the present day has been gradually evolved from this early type [boats

from Holland brought out in halves and put together at the Cape] until it has become a craft sui-
generis, like the “Cape cart” amongst vehicles; for local conditions required a good pulling and

safe sailing boat, of a size and weight not too great for carrying up the beach every day.”

He suggests that the boat was also derived from a boat design introduced from Cowes in the UK by

a Cape Town merchant in the middle of the 19th century. He confessed that he had no information

on how this new design influenced the local boat builders.

Although unsure about its origins he nevertheless provided a clear description of the Cape beach

boat:

“......the present class of fishing boat is a stout-built open craft, rigged with a huge spritsail and jib
1
and pulling 4 or 5 oars: the four oared boats being from 16 - 21 feet length overall and 5 / 2 to 6 feet
beam with heavy oars 15 to 20 feet long; the larger boats are generally about 25 feet in length and

7 feet beam, with 5 oars - 16 - 21 feet long.” (Figs. 4.1 – 4.3.)

He stated that the larger boats required sixteen men to carry them up the beach with poles rested on

their shoulders. Photographs from the period confirm his observations but they also perhaps indicate
something of the boat’s possible origin.

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