THE VITAL SPARK

The 'Vital Spark' puffer is in Bowling Basin this week. Normally berthed in Inverarry, she's down in the Clyde to mark the 150th anniversary of the construction of the first puffer.

Formerly called 'VIC 72' she was built in 1944 at Hull. She is one of the last VIC class puffers built to have a loadline certificate to carry cargo and is powered by diesel engine.

VIC stands for Victualing Inshore Craft.

The puffers were designed to negotiate the Crinan Canal and their max length could not exceed 67 ft.

'Eilean Easdeal' was the name given to her by the Easdale Shipping Company who used her commercially on the west coast. She was re-registered in 2006 as the 'Vital Spark' after the puffer in the stories written by the Inveraray writer Neil Munro who wrote about 'Para Handy', skipper of the 'Vital Spark'.