In February 2024 Peter Matheson, builder of traditional Scottish boats, and his volunteer team, took on a new project at their boatyard near Glasgow, to build a Stroma Yole ‘American Lady‘ inspired by The Voyage of The Aegre
Photos and notes on the building of this boat between February 2024 and June 2025 can be viewed here.
Photos and notes on the building of this boat from July 2025 onwards are shown below:
5 November 2025: Peter Matheson writes, “Our plans for the ‘American Lady‘ are now to get a few coats of good varnish on her before putting her outside. We have a metal framework which forms a shed when covered with plastic sheeting. That will protect her in the Glasgow winter.”
“As it is now coming into winter here, we will get every thing ready to rig her but will not step the mast (which is ready) until spring time as the metal framework will prevent this.”
Click on pics to enlarge.
5 October 2025: Latest update from Peter Matheson: We now have the engine fitted and lined up and are working on the ‘Morse’ controls. The engine loom is fitted and I am waiting for some hose fittings etc. It was a lot easier to obtain these fittings in Thurso in Caithness where our original boatyard was situated than in Glasgow. A lot of what I get comes from China at a fraction of the cost in Scotland and is exactly the same stuff that I can buy locally for some times ten times the cost.
The engine is a ‘Yanmar’ GM 20 it is I believe 16 horsepower. I would have preferred a ‘Lister’ but there are not a lot of them about now. Due to the lines of these boats they do not require much power. The last one had a 40 Horsepower Perkins unit but she was used for otter trawling so required the power.
I have Murray most of the time which is good as I find it difficult to do a lot of the jobs now. Mathew was in today and gave a help. Varnished the deck etc. The boys from the yard lifted out our RNSA dingy which was a relief as a bad storm has just struck and has driven some boats ashore.
Pics below courtesy of Matthew.
25 August 2025: Latest pics showing progress of the building of American Lady. Photos courtesy of Lorraina Matheson, boat builder Peter Matheson’s daughter.
15 August 2025: Peter and his team on Clydebank have been distracted from their work on American Lady, by the RNSA dinghy renovation and (on Peter’s part) a bit of emailing…
It had been suggested that Peter seek funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund. But on Clydebank, Glasgow, Peter builds wooden boats the traditional way, and writing emails re the admin requirements of the Heritage Lottery Fund isn’t how he wants to spend his time. Besides he’s got a local funding source now, as he proudly displays on the newly completed rudder of American Lady:
Ah, they do things differently on Clydebank.
30 July 2025: Over these summer weeks boat builder Peter Matheson has been joined by an enthusiastic group of young French boat builders keen to learn from Peter.
Loic Poissonnier, Eloise Bertron, Estelle Cavla, Mathilde Bezier, Polina Volochay and Lois Billot Laillet have been bringing a touch of France (and Russia) to Clydebank, and I’m sure a smile to the face of their Patron.
They’ve been helping with the finishing of the Stroma Yole ‘American Lady‘.
As a diversion, and bit of fun, he looked out an old RNSA dinghy and together they’ve been restoring her. The first sail day will be anytime soon!
Below: The French team with the RNSA dinghy (click to enlarge).
16 July 2025 : Latest photos from builder Peter Matheson, taken by his daughter, Lorraina Matheson, are below: (click to enlarge).
Peter and his volunteer team have now finished the gunnal on top of the wash strake and and now working on the hatches and rudder,
