Stern Of SS Rifle

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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. The Locheil Estate purchased Rifle in the 1860s for use on Loch Arkaig, ferrying goods, passengers and mail between isolated dwellings around the loch. In addition to being a practical vessel, Rifle was also used for pleasure, often carrying shooting parties on its deck. The boat was laid-up in the 1930s and while being scrapped, it sank and lay buried until removed by the army after becoming a hazard to wartime vessels working from the pier. The rifle was blasted away from the pier, losing its 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. A model was created as part of 'Scanning The Horizon' 3D digitisation project. We would like to thank RPS Europe for their help during this project.