is a swedish municipality with a population of 75,000.
It is situated in the north of Sweden, at the Baltic Sea ( 64^o N, 21^o E).

('Skellefteå Society of Rustic Boats')

Our purpose is to learn about eldery wooden boats in the rural district of Skellefteå and learn how to build them.
We also want to preserve and spread old handicraft- and boatbilding traditions. A way to do it is to participate in the Postal Rowing ('Postrodden') between Holmön, Sweden and Björkö, Finland (34 NM) and the one called 'Postskyssen' in Bodö, Norway (17 NM).

Our society was formed in 1993. Since then we have built two boats ('skötbåtar') and now we are going to build a smaller one ('isjulle'). We built them in the old way, we howed the two lowest boards following the fibres and thus creating the shape of the boat.

The last four years we have had no workroom. Now we can build in the local Boat Museum so we we are eager to start. We are about 40 members, of which 15 – 20 participates in courses and building.

Fälbåt    ('Traveling Boat') It is around 10 m x 2,40 m. This boat was used when hunting seal on the Baltic ice in spring, between Sweden and Finland. It is clinker-built, takes a lot of cargo and was also used for trading, e.g. to Stockholm. The men were following the seals and the ice and they (5 – 8) could stay out for a couple of months. In order to hunt more effective they brought a small rowing boat, isjullen.

Isjullen    was kept across the 'fälboat', abaft the beam. 'Isjullen' is 3,5 - 4,5 m. long. It was drawn on the ice on its runners or on a sledge. When the ice was thin or there were cracks they used it to row.

Skötbåt    Known as a word since 1600. 'Sköt' is the name of the net that is used to catch Baltic Herring. The boat is around 7,2 m x 1,7 and was clinker-built, originally with four board. Since we have no archipelago it was used on open see, but near the coast. Was sailed with square sails and later on spritsails.

Kinningsbåt    Different to the others since it has a flat bottom and is carvel-built. Was used until 1865.

Inlandsbåt    Were of two kinds: 'forsbåt' and 'sjöbåt'.
The 'forsbåt' was used in the river, not seldom at log-driving. They were built of pine – most other boats were built of Swedish spruce. The keel was 'vugg', it was bent up towards the stems. It was about 4,80 m. x 1,30 m.
The 'sjöbåt' had a keel that was more straight, could have a sail, but were often rowed by two persons when they drag seined a lake.