HISTORY OF THE FALMOUTH BASS BOAT
The Falmouth Bass Boat was designed by the late Rodney Warrington-Smythe, MRINA, OBE, in the 1950's and was, in the first instance, a home-built 14 footer.
Over the years the design has evolved from hard-chine ply to round bilge resin and glass and has at the same time increased in length to the present 15' 10'' (4.83m).This constant evolution using the latest materials has resulted in a tough safe craft of traditional looks true to the Cornish boat building tradition
Commercial construction of the design originally took place in Falmouth, at the Flushing yard of Falmouth Boat Construction Ltd. in an area known as Little Flushing. Here boat building and repairs have been carried out since the 1800's. In those days a variety of merchant and other sailing ships were built and over the years the area became the centre for the building of many traditional wooden craft, such as oyster boats and quay punts, as well as working boats and custom-built yachts.
As well as the sailing Bass Boat a number of Working Bass Boats were built and sold. These spacious and sturdy open working boats appealed to both professional fishermen and leisure users without sailing experience.
Other licenced builders of the boats were Riverside Products, GMP Yacht Services, and The Falmouth Bass Boat Company Limited, based in Penryn on the Falmouth estuary. In 1989 The Falmouth Bass Boat Company launched a Bass Boat 20 in both open and cabin versions. This boat had an optional inboard diesel engine as a standard alternative to the usual outboard. Two other versions of the standard 16 foot Bass Boat were launched in the same year, a Deluxe version, and a Bermudan rigged North West Passage Replica Bass Boat to celebrate intrepid North West Passage expedition.
Ian Fossey, who built boats for the Falmouth Bass Boat Company continues to build and supply this versatile and popular design today. Construction has, however, moved from Falmouth to Fos-Tek Marine Services, located near Milton Keynes.
Commercial construction of the design originally took place in Falmouth, at the Flushing yard of Falmouth Boat Construction Ltd. in an area known as Little Flushing. Here boat building and repairs have been carried out since the 1800's. In those days a variety of merchant and other sailing ships were built and over the years the area became the centre for the building of many traditional wooden craft, such as oyster boats and quay punts, as well as working boats and custom-built yachts.
As well as the sailing Bass Boat a number of Working Bass Boats were built and sold. These spacious and sturdy open working boats appealed to both professional fishermen and leisure users without sailing experience.
Other licenced builders of the boats were Riverside Products, GMP Yacht Services, and The Falmouth Bass Boat Company Limited, based in Penryn on the Falmouth estuary. In 1989 The Falmouth Bass Boat Company launched a Bass Boat 20 in both open and cabin versions. This boat had an optional inboard diesel engine as a standard alternative to the usual outboard. Two other versions of the standard 16 foot Bass Boat were launched in the same year, a Deluxe version, and a Bermudan rigged North West Passage Replica Bass Boat to celebrate intrepid North West Passage expedition.
Ian Fossey, who built boats for the Falmouth Bass Boat Company continues to build and supply this versatile and popular design today. Construction has, however, moved from Falmouth to Fos-Tek Marine Services, located near Milton Keynes.
In addition to the traditional gunter rigged ketch Fos-Tec Marine Services also build an 8ft Baby Bass Dinghy (see attachment below) with a simple junk rig and a Falmouth Bass Boat Cutter (see attachment below), employing the same hull as the ketch but rigged as a gaff cutter.