SURF BOATS ON THE GOLD COAST

[aukepalmhof]

The Gold Coast issued in 1948 and 1952 a set of stamps of which the 5sh shows us a surfboat used when there is not a harbour, and the surfboats are used to carry the cargo and passengers from and to the ship at anchor off the road.
A surfboat is an open boat designed and modified to work well through sea and surf conditions off a particular beach. Used to land passengers and goods and as a lifeboat.
Primarily double-ended; fine entrance, carvel planked with battens or clinker-built; flat floors; strong sheer; heavy scantlings; often a curved keel. Frequently has a short deck forward and aft; later boats self-bailing.
Paddled or rowed using a steering oar. Rarely sailed.
Mostly 6.1 - 8.2m long; shallow draft.

From: Aak to Zumbra a dictionary of the World’s Watercraft.

The following is from an early 1800 report on surfboats, given on the URL below.
Amongst the anchorages in open roadsteads of the west coast of Africa is that of Accra, the seat of the Government of the Gold Coast.
Owing to the heavy surf breaking all along the beach, it is impossible to land in any ordinary ship's boat, and, therefore, on the ship hoisting the signal - the Zanzibar ensign at the fore - a native surf boat shoves off from the shore to meet the approaching ship's boat just beyond the surf.
Having received its living freight, the surfboat commences her return to the shore.
She is a large, strongly-built open boat, manned by ten natives with short wooded paddles, and steered by a 'boatswain,' who uses an ordinary oar in place of a rudder.
As the boat is propelled through the water by the paddlers, the crew keeps time with a musical chant. Nearing the beach, the boat arrives amongst the breakers and then comes the tug of war.
The "boatswain," every nerve and muscle strained, steers her with an unerring eye, the crew with a will work their paddles and shoot her like a rocket through the heavy surf.
At last, within from twenty to thirty yards from the shore, the song ceases and the paddles are stopped until a huge breaker comes upsurging and roaring from the stern.
As it reaches the surf boat, it lifts her on its crest like a cork; the crew throws up their paddles with a loud yell; and almost before you are aware of it, the boat is landed on the sandy beach, and you are in the arms of two stalwart natives who - with or against your will - carry you up clear of the succeeding wave, which sometimes turns the boat completely over.

https://www.surfresearch.com.au/1891_Th ... Accra.html
Gold Coast 1948 5s sg 145, scott?, 1952 5s sg 163, scott?
Ghana 1957 5s sg180, scott?