Stern Of SS Rifle

Description

This is all that remains of *SS Rifle*, one of the earliest surviving examples of a small pre-fabricated screw steamer in the British Isles. *Rifle* was purchased by the Locheil Estate in the 1860s for use on Loch Arkaig, ferrying goods, passengers and mail between the isolated dwellings around the loch. As well as being a practical vessel, *Rifle* was also used for pleasure, often carrying shooting parties. The boat was laid-up in the 1930s, and whilst being scrapped, sank and lay buried until removed by the army after becoming a hazard to wartime vessels working from the pier. *Rifle* was blasted away from the pier, losing the bow in the process. Despite being submerged for over half a century, it was raised in 1990. Although in a very fragile condition, *Rifle's* propeller is a well-preserved example of an early design. The model was created as a part of ‘Scanning The Horizon’ 3D digitisation project. We would like to thank [RPS Europe](http://www.rpsgroup.com) their help during this project.