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North Dorset Scouts District News

Bell Boats – the Journey

Bell Boating

The idea that the North Dorset District should try and acquire some Bell Boats was first mooted about three years ago.

A lot of work on a bid for a contribution from the Big Lottery Fund supported by the expertise of Louise at Shaftesbury Task Force and after a couple of false starts; resulted in a grant of £9,995.00. The District funds contributed about £5,000 and the project was up and running.

The North Dorset Bell Boating Team

Bell Boats consist of two fibre glass canoe like structures joined along their length with a deck making a catamaran type craft which is exceeding stable and can hold many people. Our pair of Bell Boats were delivered in two halves each boat and on a road trailer. We also acquired at the same time the necessary paddles and steering oars and a launch trolley.

TRAINING

The bell boat out of the water

The steering and safety aspects together with any special considerations when undertaking a risk assessment are specialised so we sent a number of leaders to Fladbury where the Bell Boats were first developed for specialised instruction from David and Andy Brain the inventor and son respectively.

We were fortunate to meet a number of leaders from Yorkshire and an interesting absorbing informative day was enjoyed by all.

The next part of the project was to actually put our boats together and this was accomplished at Buddens Activity Centre when a number of leaders assembled for the task.

Carrying the Bell Boat

We soon learned that the launch trolley was an essential (and we had left that behind), these boats are heavy and it took a few bodies to carry it from the assembly point to the water.

Assembly of the second boat took place at the waters edge and we were soon afloat.

Arrangements have now been made for our young people to benefit, and we will now be inviting others not involved with Scouting to make use of our boats and have fun and learn about using the water for recreation.

New DESA Appointed

Welcome to Helen Graeser of Shillingstone as our new District Explorer Scout Administrator.

Helen was seen at Appointments on 18th. July and will take up her duties gradually from Chrissy Monksummers over the next few weeks. Helen will take on the many duties of the DESA in administering the Explorer Scout Section except the finances which will continue to be managed by Brenda White.

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