Watchet Flatner
In Watchet, although not very different from others, the boats were known as flatties, the only difference being that the bottom had an extra layer of planking as they were constantly launched down the rocky foreshores of the area. They were strong craft, weighing at least a ton, able to cope with much of the seas thrown at them about the Bristol Channel. In relatively recent times many of these were built at Combwich on the west bank of the river Parrett, said by Tony James to be the stronghold of the flatner and, by some, the place the best boats were built. Before that many were built at Watchet. Most of these serviced underwater stake nets although they also fished for herring, mackerel and sprats in the same way as the sea boats did.
Sources: 8
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