Model, of Ness yole Wave

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The Ness yole was peculiar to Dunrossness, the most southerly district in Shetland. The yole was essentially an inshore fishing boat, similar to the Viking boats from which it developed. This wooden model represents the Ness yole 'Wave', of West Voe in Shetland from around 1900. It was built to a scale of 1:12 by Mr J Shewan of Lerwick in Shetland.

The 'Wave' would have had a crew of four. Two men would have taken a pair of oars each while the other two would have attended to the lines thrown out on the tide side.

The yole or yoal is probably the oldest type of Shetland fishing boat still in use. Although it is used for inshore fishing, at one time the Shetland fishermen put out to sea in these frail vessels. Yoles were imported from Norway, often as kits, as timber was so scarce in Shetland.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-002-067-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1936.147
• Date: Model: Between 1900 and 1936; Original: around 1900
  
• Material: Fishing boat / yole / model
  
• Dimensions: 26.50" L x 6.00" beam
  
• What: Fishing boat / yole / model
  
• Subject: 23. SHIPPING, Fishing Boats (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: J. Shewan, Lerwick, Shetland (Model maker)
  Wave (fishing boat)
  
• Where: Scotland, Shetland Isles, Dunrossness, West Voe
  Scotland, Shetland, Lerwick
  
• Event:
• Description: Model of the Shetland Ness yole "Wave", LK. 613, of around 1900, made by J. Shewan of Lerwick to a scale of 1:12
  
• References:
  • Storer, J D. Ship Models in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh: A catalogue of models representing the history of shipping from 1500 BC to the present day. Edinburgh: Royal Scottish Museum Information Series, 1985, p 52. 
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