In simpler times, not really that long ago, the Cayman Catboat was the basic means of survival here.
The Caymanised sloop was used for turtling, ‘fishinen’ and communicating.
Roads were non-existent in many of the districts until the 1960s, North Side being a primary example.
Catboats were used not only to get to the farther reaches of each district, but also to spread news from district to district.
Catboats were even used to deliver the mail.
For the uninitiated, Catboats are sleek wooden vessels made with mostly local wood like mahogany, pine, cedar and pompero.
They came in varying sizes, depending on what they were used for. And each could be rigged with a sail.
When Catboats weren’t being used for providing food on the table or communication, their owners would join each other in friendly regattas, mainly in the North Sound.
Sadly the Cayman Catboat went the way of horse and buggy and party line telephones.
Telephones and now Internet have taken over the job of communication. Paved roads and motor vehicles allow us to travel from district to district and our mail is now delivered via an automobile and placed neatly in small boxes.
But the Cayman Catboat is part of our heritage.
Brackers built their Catboats a little different than those who inhabited Grand Cayman, but all in all, the Catboat was the basis for many people to be able to earn a living, to eat and to keep up with the latest news.
There aren’t many Catboats left in the Cayman Islands. And many that were here were destroyed by Hurricane Ivan.
But the members of the Cayman Catboat Club have dedicated themselves to see that the Catboat isn’t forgotten to history.
They’ve got a couple of Catboats left in their arsenal, but they plan to add more.
And the addition will be done with the help – hopefully – of students and the public.
The art of building a Catboat is to be taken to the high schools and the Catboat Club’s house.
This last generation of Catboat builders is eager to pass on its knowledge and skills to future generations.
On Saturday the club will offer free Catboat rides at its clubhouse next to the Lobster Pot Restaurant beginning at 10am. The old, young and in betweeners should avail themselves of this free, thrilling experience.
We Caymanians are always complaining that we’re losing our culture and our heritage to the influences of expatriates and media.
The Cayman Catboat is something that is unique to this country. To lose sight of the importance of the catboat would be a shame.
If you’re fortunate enough to know someone who still has one of the old vessels, ask for a ride. If not, join the Catboat Club Saturday and experience a thrill of a lifetime.
Related Videos
