Micro Shipbuilding

Micro shipbuilding in Skopelos, micro shipbuilding art, Boudalas family, culture of Skopelos, made in skopelos

Micro shipbuilding

Micro shipbuilding art is part of the traditional art and culture of the island. Micro shipbuilding is the construction of smaller wooden boats, miniatures.

The boat has a symbolic meaning in the Greek islands. It is a symbol, strongly intertwined with the history, tradition, and culture of Skopelos. In the old days, after all, during Christmas, Greeks used to decorate a small wooden ship instead of a Christmas tree.

There were many shipbuilders in Skopelos. But tourism is coming to change the data. At the beginning of the 1970s, shipyards closed and the locals turned to tourism.

The shipbuilder Triantaphyllos Boudalas, loving his work, has an excellent idea to use his knowledge and technique in shipbuilding, capturing his art on smaller ships. He is the pioneer of micro shipbuilding art in Skopelos.

Triantaphyllos Boudalas had worked in shipyards in Skopelos, Alonissos, and Athens. He came from a shipbuilding family. Both his father and grandfather practiced the art of shipbuilding abroad, but they loved Skopelos so they returned.  Boudala family continues the tradition.

Giannis Boudalas, having been taught by his father, nurturing the same love for micro shipbuilding art in Skopelos and having undeniable talent, continues the family tradition. His youngest daughter, Regina Boudala, also practiced micro shipbuilding in Skopelos, building small boats and all the small details of ships.

The Boudala family’s workshop has been operating since 1970. Furthermore, they have built dozens of miniatures that adorn museums, hotels, and private collections. The pride of Boudala family is “Victory”, the flagship of the British Nelson in the famous naval battle of Trafalgar, which now adorns the Portsmouth Museum as it has museum value.

Danos Tsourtsoumia also practices micro shipbuilding in Skopelos.