Red List Comment Submission

Commenting on: Oar, mast, spar and flagpole making

Section one - About you

Name

Are you willing for your name to appear on the website as a reviewer?

Yes please
No thanks

What is your reason for contacting us?

What is your interest or experience in this craft?

Do you have any suitable images or photos to support your entry?

No I don't
Yes, please contact me about them

Please give more details of your interest or experience of this craft and any organisations, guilds or associations that you are representing.

Section two - Description of the craft

Are you commenting on an existing craft?

If you are commenting on an existing craft, please select it here and skip the next two questions

You are suggesting a new craft that is not already featured on the Red List

Please enter the name of the craft you would like us to add here.

Craft category

If this is a new craft type please select the most suitable category

Please give a definition of the craft in one or two sentences.

Where in the world is the craft historically associated?

Please identify country, region, county or town

Where in the UK is the craft currently practised?

Please identify country, region, county or town

When was the craft first practised in the UK?

Please identify an era/century/approximate historic period.

How endangered would you say this craft is?

Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. For more information on definitions see http://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/categories-of-risk/

Currently Viable (are in a healthy state and skills are being passed to the next generation)
Endangered (skills can be passed on but there are serious concerns about their ongoing viability)
Critically Endangered (there is serious risk that skills won't be passed on)
Extinct ( ‘extirpated’ or ‘locally extinct’ in the UK)

Section three - Current numbers of those practising the craft in the UK

Number of professional makers (main income)

People earning their main craft income from this craft (selling, commissions, conservation/ restoration and/or teaching).

Number of professional makers (part-time or side line to main income)

People practicing this craft commercially (selling, commissions, conservation/restoration and/or teaching) but as less than half of their income.

Number of trainees

People acquiring skills in order to become a professional in this craft, they probably have to work under supervision even if they are earning money while training.

Number of serious amateur makers

People whose knowledge and ability is at a level of the most skilled practitioners of this craft.

Number of UK leisure makers and learners

People who do not intend to practice this craft professionally or at the highest level.

Section four - Issues affecting the viability of the craft

Existing content:

Oar, mast and spar making:

Market issues: There is still a demand for hand made wooden oars – either for new boats or to replace existing hand-made oars. While some companies machine-make oars, the International Boatbuilding Training College (IBTC) still teaches the craft of making oars by hand.
Market issues: There are still people willing to pay for good workmanship, but profit needs to be less if final price does not frighten people off. Firms which make machine made oars, spars and masts can absorb some costs in the handmade sector, but overheads are generally high. Individuals can make oars in their sheds in Cornwall, but they will not be able to charge labour rates that would make a living. A hand crafted Cornish gig oar will retail at £500, whereas a pair of machine made, hand finished, straight oars will cost about £70.
Market issues: The restoration side of the craft is dependent on the continuing interest in classic boats, both from individuals and groups.
Training issues: Trainees, including apprentices are being taken on, but skills are not always good enough from college outputs, and there is often a lack of business awareness, including the need for work to be completed quickly to make a profit. It is difficult to find the right partner course – one firm has taken on an apprentice via a cabinet making course.
Supply of raw materials: Most materials are imported from British Columbia in Canada, where the slow growing sitka spruce is ideal for the work. There is no threat to this source at present.
Market issues: Whilst ‘hobbyist’ oar makers do not seem under threat, the danger is that small and medium sized firms will, in the future, not be able to keep handmade prices within reason and the buyers will only be the very wealthy.
Business issues: Small businesses are facing mounting challenges including the high cost of living and wage expectations. Recent increases to the minimum wage have compounded these difficulties, as even trainees are now expected to deliver immediate productivity, placing considerable strain on businesses during their training periods. Rising employer National Insurance contributions have added further financial pressure, following previous obligations to fund employee pensions. Business rates also present a significant burden.

Flagpole making:

There is only one dedicated maker (The Wooden Flagpole Company Ltd), producing 10-20 flagpoles a year, although some spar makers might produce the odd one or two as a sideline.
Training issues: Individuals may do a short course and make their own flagpole, but then would not make any more. Serious training would not be relevant due to the very small market.
Market issues: Although they do not last as long, aluminium and fibreglass poles are much cheaper to produce.
Market issues: The market is 50 per cent historic buildings/restoration and 50 per cent for individuals’ houses. The future market will depend on the degree of authenticity seen to be important in historic buildings, and whether individuals will continue to pay high prices for traditional materials and craftsmanship.

Training and recruitment issues

e.g. lack of qualifications, funding for training etc.

Tick for yes