Majorcan Llaut

 

The llaüt is the traditional boat of the Balearic Islands for trawling, although the appearance of motor boats and the concentration of bathers on the beaches have caused its decline in professional use. For this reason, today it represents a work of craftsmanship reserved for amateurs and its presence in the Mallorcan fleet is almost a testimony. Its consistency and stability in the water make it a perfect boat for all kinds of activities, such as recreational sailing or sport fishing, and weather resistant. The title of Skipper of pleasure boats (PER) is required to sail. The first builders of llaüts were known as "mestres d'aixa" and they used native woods for their production. Today most boats are built with new materials, such as fiberglass, the price of which is much lower, and with very high quality finishes, like any luxury yacht. At present, the number of maesters has considerably decreased and their devotion is concentrated above all on the restoration of old specimens. In any case, there are still training courses to prevent the profession from falling into oblivion.

The original Catalan boats officially arrived in the Islands with Jaume I. Very soon the local adze masters adapted the original models to their needs. The boats from Ses Islas, with some of their own details, matched the qualities of the Catalan boats without ceasing to be very similar in hulls and equipment. Except for the difficulty of giving general details in craft-built boats, made to measure for the buyer by adze masters who finished them with their own details, the Balearic boats were less plain than the Catalan ones at bottom (live work). The Catalans had to rest on the beach on the keel and the schools. While the Majorcan and Menorcan boats could dock at a dock. On the Balearic boats the mast was raised a little further forward than on the Catalan boats.