History of South-Savo and Lake Saimaa
ON THE PIER
Living on the shores of Lake Saimaa

 

A BOAT FOR EVERY OCCASION

It became common for people to acquire motorboats for their villas as early as the 1910’s, becoming more popular in the 1930’s. Two types of inboard motorboats were used: those with an open top and ones with a cabin. "Pleasure boats" featuring a cabin were only used for business or leisure voyages, and reflected the owner’s status. The open-top version revealed the motor in the centre of the boat, and it was intended for everyday use. Outboard motors became more common in the 1930’s alongside inboard motors. Villas also had rowing boats.

Many villa-owners in Savonlinna travelled to work in the summers either by means of a liner or in their own boats. The location of the villa was often dictated by the work place of the head of the family. Bank managers, shop keepers, wholesalers and doctors would acquire a villa close to Savonlinna in order to have a manageable journey to work. The daily programme for the rest of the family was largely determined by the father’s comings and goings; breakfast was set before he left and dinner when he returned.

The exhibited inboard motorboat Juha was built in Savonlinna at the turn of the 1920’s and 1930’s. It has been manufactured according to a design by Helsinki Boatyard out of pine and oak. The seams have been reinforced with sheets of metal, contrary to the custom of the time, which was to lath or fill the seams with cotton yarn. The petroleum-driven Sarin motor derives from Vaasa Engineering Works, and it is a seven to eight horse-power four-stroke motor. Juha could reach a speed of 16 km /h. It was originally owned by a teacher from Savonlinna.

 

29.7.2005