Community / Appeal to raise thousands to repair iconic Dim Riv
A PLEA has been made to raise £8,000 to repair the iconic Dim Riv Viking longship.
Graham Nicolson, who is chairman of the Dim Riv committee, said parts of the historic ship have been found to be “rotting from the inside out” after a survey.
He has launched a Just Giving page with the aim of rising thousands of pounds for urgent repairs to the boat, which was launched in 1980.
She was built by local boat builder Alan Moncrieff, and Nicolson said this was the first major repairs she would need in her 45-year lifespan.
He said the Dim Riv was “one of the most photographed vessels in Lerwick harbour”, and had brought “vast amounts of pleasure to many folk”.
“Anyone who owns a wooden boat will know that fresh water is the killer,” he said.
“After the Dim Riv was taken out of the water this year, we carried out an in-depth survey and found that a large proportion of the top board and gunnel were suffering from rot caused by fresh water ingress and was rotting from the inside out.
“Some bits were okay, but after discussions with experts, it was decided that the only sensible way was to replace all of the top board and the gunnel.”
Nicolson said the costs of looking after the Dim Riv have “risen exponentially” since Covid, leaving them in the position of needing to ask for outside help.
“We have managed to source most of the materials required and have folk willing to undertake the repairs,” he said.
“But it all costs, with materials coming in around £4,100 and labour around £3,000.
“So we are hoping to try and raise £8,000, as this will give us a bit of ‘wiggle room’ should costs exceed any quotes.”
The Dim Riv committee received £2,500 from SSE Renewables last December to ensure she could return to the water this year.
As well as acting as a sign of summer in the Lerwick harbour, she offers tours of the harbour to both locals and visitors.
You can donate to the fundraiser by following this link.
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