A wherry is a type of boat that was traditionally used for carrying cargo or passengers on rivers and canals in England, and is particularly associated with the River Thames and also with the Broadland rivers of Norfolk and Suffolk.
London passenger wherries evolved into the Thames skiff, a gentleman's rowing boat. Wherries were clinker-built with long overhanging bows so that patrons could step ashore dryshod before landing stages were built along the river. It is the long angled bow that distinguishes the wherry and skiff from the gig and cutter which have steeper bows following the rise of the Royal Navy, and the building of landing stages.
In the late 18th century the name was given to the Norfolk wherry, a kind of sailing barge with large sails which was developed to replace an earlier cargo boat, the Norfolk Keel.
The term wherry is also associated with a particular type of lighter used on the River Tyne largely in connection with the coal trade. The last complete example Elswick No.2 is owned by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums service. There is a well documented study of the last surviving wrecked examples as surveyed in 2009.
If you had a room, he'd paint it white,
survives the day, prefers the night,
build sight.
Got a head for figures,
no time for bickers,
(or so he says,)
prefers the company of a woman.
Finds it more physical,
(that's an important word,)
always seen first then heard,
such a rare bird.
With praise he glows,
with change he grows,
finds that important,
hates waiting, it's not stimulating,
likes celebrating,
I can't understand why that is so funny,