Introduction / The Island / Accidents and Wrecks / The "Hope" / Dramatic Rescue

The "Mary"

William Burgar’s boat was a North Isles type yawl. The North Isles’ ones were slightly straighter in the bow and had a little rake on the stern compared to those from the South Isles, which had a bit of a rake at both ends.

The boat was meant for carrying grain, peats and coal as well as for the fishing. She’d a 13ft keel and had been built by Robert Groat at Calfsound, Eday. Robert, who was from Pharay and had moved to Furrowend, was well known as a boat builder at that time. He was in fact born at the Ness, his mother being Ann Drummond. The occupation of Robert’s uncle, William Drummond, at the Ness in the 1871 and 1881 censuses is that of boat carpenter. It must be assumed that Robert certainly mastered the trade.

The “Mary” was sold in 1915 to incoming tenants when William Burgar left Pharay for Fersness in Eday. It was sold a few times to incoming tenants and in the 1930s was used as the Post Boat. It eventually ended up in Rousay.