The Eight-ringed Aust

From Skålbones in Bodø . Storage space for boat. From the late 19th century. Set up in Bodøsjøen in 1965.

The boathouse was built by Berteus Pedersen in 1876 on the farm Skålbones in Bodin. The boathouse was built from timber purchased from Namsos, the same year that a new farmhouse was built on the farm. Berteus owned the yacht "Håbet", and later he bought the yachts "Guri-Malene" and "Sjøfuglen". He was involved in clipfish production and shipping. Berteus died in 1892. Then his son Julius took over the farm and the yacht "Guri-Malene". He later bought the yacht "Alette". Julius also had a share in the m/k "Britannia" and m/j "WF Christie"

In the boathouse in Berteus and Julius' time there was an eight-rower, a four-rower, a pair of boats for catching clipfish, two stern boats and a spoon boat for hunting, plus a regular pointed boat built in Saltdal . Right next to the boathouse there once stood a small pier. The pier was demolished in 1960, and the boathouse was sold to Nordlandsmuseet and moved here in 1964.

In Bodin, there were many shipowners in the late 19th century and early 20th century, who, among other things, were involved in extensive clipfish production. Places such as Vikan, Seines, Skålbones, Godøynes, Valnes, Tuv, Knaplund and so on, were involved in this operation. Altogether, there was a significant fleet of freighters connected to shipping and fish production in Salten at this time, and up to 50% of all fish purchased for salting in Lofoten was produced in Salten around the turn of the century.

(Sources Axel Coldevin, Steinar Aas, Knut Moe Bodin bygdg 2, Nordland Museum archives)

Yacht "Alette", Yacht "Ingeborg" and cutter "Blue Jacket", Skålbonesodden in the background.

Photo: Nordlandsmuseet collection. Circa 1920.