The seaweed sloop

In the 19th century, to meet the needs of the manufacturers, the seaweed harvesters had sturdy boats built: the seaweed sloops. These boats were made to run aground, even on rocky bottoms.

Small in size, about 6 metres, they were solidly timbered and of shallow draught so as to move just above the rocks. Most were rigged with a gaff sail, a jib and a staysail made of coarse, rustic canvas.

Marine carpentry workshops multiplied along the Breton coasts. In Plouguerneau alone, three yards were in operation around 1920, including that of Mr Le Got, known as “Castor”. In 1925, 56 seaweed boats were built in the commune.

The Karreg Hir, Plouguerneau’s maritime heritage

The Karreg Hir is a reconstruction of a seaweed sloop. Its construction, launched in 1989, was entrusted to Jean-Louis Le Got, who drew inspiration from the old sailing seaweed boats built by his father Théophile. In keeping with tradition, the Karreg Hir is built of oak, except for the upper planking, which is fir. The seams, first caulked, were coated with pitch, and the hull is entirely coal-tarred. Karreg Hir is the name of a rock lying off the port of Koréjou.