boat gallery

In the boat gallery visitors can find out how sailing craft have been developed to cope with the various elements which were explored in the first section of the museum. Exhibits explain how sails are used to harness the power of the wind, how boats move through the water, how they anchor and how they moor. Several historic ship models show developments in ship design whilst a series of ship paintings are used in innovative ways to explore the maritime theme.

Small as the island may seem, Jersey was a major shipbuilding centre in the nineteenth century. One of the largest yards has been very skillfully modelled from surviving records of the site and visitors can get a real feel for the noise and bustle of a successful shipbuilding business. This particular yard was so busy there could be up to six vessels on the stocks at one time.

Moving from the past to the present, visitors can glimpse a modern workshop where old boats are restored and new boats are built using traditional materials and techniques. Later in your visit you will be able to walk through the workshop and take a closer look. On certain days you may even have an opportunity to chat to the boat builder. During 2001 we will be restoring Fiona, an 1860 traditional fishing boat built at La Rocque.