Talking and thinking first human beings paddled and rowed the waters. Central Europe was tundra after the end of the Ice age, 9 thousand years ago. Hunters followed the reindeer herds. Since there were no trees boat frames were bound together by antlers and covered with hide. With a wee knock on the head, the reindeer lost manoeuvrability and was towed ashore.

Similar boats, coracles and curraghs, were built all over Europe. Along the Atlantic fringes of Great Britain Celts used the curragh well into 19th century. T. Severin built a curragh in Ireland and followed Brendan, a 7th century saint, across the Atlantic to Canada.

A dugout was enlarged by adding planks. The Viking boat evolved. A few dugouts, bound together parallel, with boards on top, could carry cattle and horses across waters. Trade through the whole of Europe was possible on the central Europe river systems.

All over the world boats were built out of available material, like reed, wood, wicker and hide, and logs. Like the wheel for land vehicles, the boat was necessary to start development into modern day sea faring.

In Stone Age the Hebridean Isles were colonized. Boats were essential. Ingenuity and hand craft, building boats, made trade, colonization, and conquest possible.

M/V Fyne Spirit peacefully followes those ancient sea routes along the west of Scotland. Welcome on board!