105718: CY 142 Kelvin

An Kelvin

The Kelvin was the first motorised boat to arrive on Berneray, named for its 12/14 horsepower petrol-paraffin engine. It was bought by merchant Finlay Paterson at Kyle of Lochalsh in June 1921, having been built in Portsoy. Thirty feet in length, of the ‘lìteach’ design and built for fishing, with a crew of four, it had an auxiliary engine fitted. 

In 1935, the Kelvin was used to carry Berneray’s children over to Pabbay for a picnic to celebrate King George V’s silver jubilee.

The boat later passed to Finlay’s son John Angus.

Finlay’s wife Christina made a sound recording of her memories of the Kelvin, which is available on the Tobar an Dualchais website.