Known as Vic 32, it was built in 1943 and named after the Victualling Inshore Craft (Vics) fleet it belonged to.

In their day, puffers served the west coast islands where they carried coal, grain, stone and whisky.

Nick Walker, maritime enthusiast and director of the Puffer Preservation Trust, explained the vital role they played serving as a lifeline to the islands' remote communities.

Island hoppers

He said: "Their standard trade was coal from Glasgow through the Crinan Canal out to all the west coast islands.

"They used to beach themselves and a horse and cart would come alongside.

"All the locals would come out and unload the coal and on the way back the puffers would perhaps pick up glass-making sand or builders' sand.

"They were very useful people puffer skippers because they could bring everything and anything to the islands."

The Vic 32 is the last ship of its kind in operation and was involved in an historical re-enactment recently when it was used in the filming of the popular BBC drama Para Handy, based on the lives of a fictional crew.

During the war she carried cement, ammunition and aviation fuel to the fleet, as far away as Scapa Flow and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Vessels.

Mike Smith, director of the trust and former sales director of Arnold Laver Timberworld said " In the renovation of the Clyde Puffer we are always keen to purchase products that are actually manufactured on the Clyde. When we realised we required laminate wall linings and worksurfaces I knew where to turn. I was fortunate to have formerly chaired the B.L.F.A. (British Laminate Fabricators Association) of which Rearo were a well respected member. I phoned Graham Mercer Rearo's managing director and he was only too happy to help out."