This open, single-masted boat originally came from Ostend and only appeared in Blankenberge once the harbour was constructed. The structure of this type of vessel could be either metal or clinker-built. Schovers were constructed from oak or other types of wood. In Ostend, they were fitted with a lugsail.
In Blankenberge, however, they were rigged differently. The gaff rig used locally made the sail plan easier to handle. The schover is a long-keel vessel and featured a small fore cabin. If fishermen were unable to return to port in time or encountered bad weather, they could comfortably spend the night in a foreign harbour. The crew typically consisted of two men, and the fishing grounds were limited to the coastal strip. In winter, the main catch was sprat.
In the sophisticated Blankenberge of the pre-First World War era, a course of sea air was considered a true breath of fresh air. With around four schovers, short boat trips were offered to tourists from the pier. This provided local fishermen with additional seasonal income. The replica B19 ‘Canot’ was built by the Vandamme-Hutsebout shipyard in Blankenberge.
Technical specifications
- Length overall: 8 metres
- Beam: 2.54 metres
- Draught: 0.65 metres
- Sail plan: Gaff rigged