Strilebåten Oselvaren fekk namnet sitt etter den viktigaste byggjestaden for denne båttypen på 1700-talet: ved munninga av Oselva. Båtbyggjarane her var kjende for dei lette, mjuke og snøgge trebordingane sine, båtar nett slik strilane ville ha dei. Oselvarane vart mykje nytta mellom anna til transport av fisk og jordbruksprodukt til Bergen. Ved Torget, der det var trongt om plassen for større båtar, låg oselvarane tett i tett. Og frå desse flytande handelsbuene falbaud strilane varene sine. | 
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På kyrkjeferd frå Ferstadvågen, 1906, Biletsamlinga, Os kommune.
The «Strile» boats
The Oselvar boat was named after the most important building site for this type of boat during the 18th century: at the mouth of the River Os. The boat builders were renowned for building light, swift and elegant wooden boats. And this kind of boat was just perfect for the «striler» (pronounced streeler). This is the originally insulting, but now somewhat affectionate term given to the people who lived on the islands and coastal regions outside Bergen. The striler used these boats to transport. They were dependent on boats to transport fish and crops to Bergen. The market in Bergen lies on the quay, and Strile boats would huddle together, their wooden sides bumping into each other, whilst their owners stood unsteadily bargaining to sell their goods. The Strile boats were both a form of transport and a market place.
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Sport og fritid
Oselvaren var ikkje berre ein arbeidsreiskap. Båten har lange tradisjonar til sports- og fritidsbruk. Den lette og snøgge båten høvde godt for kappsegling og kapproing. Den første regattaen vart skipa til av Bergen Seilforening jonsok 1871. Interessa for oselvaren som konkurransebåt har hatt mykje å seia for at han har overlevd motoralderen til no. Fleire lag og seglforeiningar arbeider for båten – ikkje minst i sportssamanheng.
Båten vart frå først av rigga med råsegl, men mot slutten av 1800-talet gjekk strilane over til sprisegl. Andre rigg-variantar er gaffelsegl og bermuda.
Ved kappseglingar vert oselvarane delte inn i klassane: 8 kvm spri, 8 kvm, 10 kvm og 15 kvm bermudasegl. | 
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| Sport and Leisure Initially the Oselvar was rigged with a square sail. Towards the end of the 19th century the «striler» began using sprit sails. Other forms of rigging are the gaff sail and the Bermuda sail.
Although initially a working boat, the Oselvar also has a long tradition as a leisure craft. A boat which could achieve such grace and speed was perfect for sailing and rowing competitions. The first regatta was arranged by the Bergen Sailing Association on Midsummer’s Day in 1871. Interest in the Oselvar as a racing boat has played a major role in its survival to this day. Today several clubs and sailing associations are engaged in promoting the traditions of the Oselvar – also as a sports and leisure boat. In competitions the Oselvar is classified as: 8 square metre sprit sail, 8 square metre, 10 square metre and 15 square metre Bermuda sail. | | |  |
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