Norman Brown says

Good morning John,

In response to your request, I can shed a bit of light on one of the boat hirers in Millport.

His name was Andy Hastie and he operated a number of clinker built, powered rowing boats.

I started serving my time in the early 50's with John S Thompson & Sons in the Finnart Street Garage in Greenock. At the time Andy was garage manager and lived above the garage there, on the corner of Finnart Street and Robertson Street.

He was lucky enough to have had a significant pools win and decided to make use of the money by starting a boat hire business in Millport bay

Looking after the wee engines was one of the jobs we did in the garage and I seem to remember that there were around 20 of them to be serviced annually. 

In the summer Andy made the trip almost daily, but mainly at weekends which was the busy time. I don't know if he had a house over there.

Being an apprentice on a very low pay (£2 1/6d a week), I never managed to get over to Millport and see the boats much as I would have loved to.

Andy was a short stocky chap and always wore a trilby type hat.

Later, and not related, John S as my employer was known, purchased and converted an MTB for his personal use. He named the boat "Helen" after his wife. Several of us were involved in helping him to move the boat into the river Kip and moored it in "the burn" long before the KIp Marina was built.

I feel sure there are many tales to relate of the happy times following the depression of the war years.

I hope this helps and if I can be of any more assistance, please feel free to call.

Tel: 01505 506194 Mob: 07774 951 660

Norman Brown says

Hi again John,

My memory isn't as good as I would like these days, but I think the engines were JAP ones. They were started by a hand crank and were certainly 4 stroke units with a fairly large flywheel (for a wee engine). Painted green.

Norrie

TOM DEAS says

gordon keltie says

I was one of many small boys who helped the boat hire men during the summer months. my family took a flat at the Cross Houses and above The Swiss Cafe. As such, Jim Calder's jetty was where I spent some of the most enjoyable days of my life! Wilson's jetty was the next on e towards town, but was nothing compared to Mr Calder's. The main men were Hunter and Mc Laughlin ( or Laughlan0 who had bigger fleets of boats , including big launches. Handline fishing in the bay was one of the best things about boat hire in Millport. but does anyone recall Jim Calder's speedboat  - "FLash" ?