Falmouth working boat

As well as being general purpose fishing boats they have a specific function of dredging the native oysters (Ostrea edulis).

[1] In its traditional form the boats have a hull with a plumb stem and almost vertical transom, with a long straight keel.

Oysters are dredged from the sea bed using a small trawl or drudge, which is a weighted net that is towed along the bottom.

The boat's speed can be controlled by slacking or tightening the jib, while the skipper handles the drudges, and sorts out the recovered oysters.

The hull shape has good seakeeping qualities, and the size of the boat is practical for short handed cruising.