After the trials and tribulations of last summer and my subsequent treatment for prostate cancer, I decided during the spring of this year (with my good Mate’s agreement) to go wandering this summer.

The boat’s travels ranged from North Kent up to Iken Cliff on the River Alde, covering a few miles short of 700 n.miles during period away from home. The distance is modest against those that go on long coastal voyages in all probability, but for us it has been a pleasant meander. I’ll suffix that with an exception … being wind bound on two occasions – once in Titchmarsh for five whole days. Now Titchmarsh is a lovely marina, but amenities and stores are a good walk away!

However, my time cocooned from the worst of the high winds wasn’t wasted. I had a bit of a wander through what is euphemistically called the ‘graveyard’ by Titchmarsh Marina staff looking at the various craft that are at death’s door or close to it.

I came across a sad and forlorn looking Sea King – a 24-footer, I believe – which has clearly come to the end of her sailing days and will eventually find her way to a funeral pyre…

The Sea King Halcyon appears doomed…

Inside, her cabin still ‘glowed’ in varnished mahagany.

The cockpit was a mass of various bits including her rudder. Below her sails have clearly been rifled over and parts have already ‘walked’…

The boat’s stem clearly shows her main problem – ‘iron’ rot.

The Sea King is essentially a ‘grown up Dauntless’ – her lines and hull shape show this. It isn’t surprising for her creator, Reg Patten, served his time with the Dauntless Boatbuilders of Canvey Island.

Close by the Finesse 24, Halda, still languishes in a continual state of slow demise. Much equipment has been taken (purchased, I understand to offset unpaid charges) but a perfectly good centre plate winch is still bolted to the cockpit bulkhead! The deepness of keel and completely different hull lines created by Alan Platt can be seen – a proper little yacht!

Halda moulders on…

To one side of the yard where vessels seemed not quite ‘into’ the doomed category sat a collection of vessels – wood and glass – awaiting their owners’ return to continue refits. It was clear to me that for some this was going to be a forlorn wait. Green verdigris was spread in abundance.  I chanced upon a sweet little day racer – a bit like a dragon, and it could be (?). She had the enticing name – Victoria. I wonder what the monarch of that name would have thought! The poor boat is drying out badly…

A sweet little thing – her name is ‘Victoria’…

I passed a glass-fibre sloop with a notice of sale to redeem unpaid ground rent – there were a number of these about. Little chance of Titchmarsh recouping losses!

Close by sat a couple of deepsh draft cruisers – wooden, of course – that showed a great willingness to get on with it. But how many years ago was that, I wondered.

Work appears ongoing…

But is it too much? Planking has sprung!

Leaving that little area behind, I continued my wanderings … and stumbled upon this once fine looking open motor boat – a yacht tender perhaps, for reaching the mother ship out on distant moorings. These days virtually all vessels used for this purpose around the Walton Channel are either Rib types of GRP motor tenders, left to swing on moorings whilst the ‘mother’ is away.

I liked the look of this one!

A vessel with good solid shape, designed for load carrying. Her propeller was guarded by the tunnel – seen.

Her bow was pram-shaped with a rise not dissimilar to a scow.

Oh yes, her little petrol engine still awaits the attention of an engineer!

Arkle, seen below was another launch of a different pedigree, but nonetheless, functional. She had the look of a yacht club launch… She ‘aint’ going anywhere!

Arkle…

I walked on and I found before me the bow of a good looking motor-cruiser or weekender. She didn’t look too bad at first sighting, but as I walked round her, a tale of neglect followed. I think it highly unlikely that she ever had a cover fitted over all that open woodwork – a great shame for a small amount of outlay would have stalled this sort of nonsense!

Once a fine motor launch…

Hmmmmmm …… whatever happened about fitting a good cover?

Another thing noted was the use of what are essentially DIY timber such as plywood – a false economy afloat where weather can do its worst.

In the middle of ‘this lot’ sat a pretty little thing – a Silhouette I believe, or of the type. Work had clearly been carried out, but when wasn’t clear: green verdigris was taking hold. Maybe this is a stalled project…

A pretty little boat – Silhouette?

Repainted this year, or last, but seemingly un-cared for…

I was left wondering if she would still be in the same position the next time I was likely to be in the Walton Backwaters.

The next vessel seemed beyond the possibilities of a renewal. Hull planking was seen to be coming adrift, she has a crushed bilge and her internals were a picture of decay. The old launch has served her time in some harbour with day after day of hard graft, heavy use and probably a ‘she isn’t mine, so I don’t care about the knocks’ attitude. Sadly, a chainsaw and bonfire awaits…

Not a lot of hope, surely?

Crushed bilge…

My eyes then lit up as they alighted on a fine deep draft cruiser with the look of  one of those Littlehampton built yachts. Her hull sides have been prepared and the bottom cleaned off … but close inspection began to show why progress has stalled. Keel bolts looked as if attention was needed from the look of the ballast keel to timber join. Then there were areas of degradation around the stem and opening up around the planking ends to stern post…

Some hope?

I cast my eyes towards the deck line – trouble was afoot. Open deck edges. Partially stripped cabin sides and missing window furniture in a sea of ‘green’ growth. Initial thoughts were squashed!

Fast drying out…

Some weeks later my good Mate gave up her place so that I could take a New Zealand friend sailing. The chap asked me soon after he’d arrived in Essex back in May if it would be possible to get him to the River Ore and Alde in Suffolk. I said, ‘Yes, weather and God willing…’ Starting from Bradwell on the River Blackwater, it happened. That tale is another story though…

We stopped off at the Aldeburgh Yacht Club for showers, after which we walked into the town past Slaughden Quay – once a busy and prosperous place before it was all bu washed away centuries ago – but I stopped by Demon Yachts, a yard situated on the edge of the town, and saw a couple of boats advertised as being for sale. Both are ‘projects’ and much would be needed to finish them. Most of all a willingness…

The first was a vessel 117 years old – a Whitewing, a local class boat. Her hull looked in a precarious condition, however, the planking looked ‘good’. The advert spoke of a ‘group ownership’ or of a single benefactor to complete…

As I say, true willingness is essential!

117 year old White Wing Nona…

The details…

Are you the one to do it?

The next looked less of a challenge and is a lovely sleek looking thing. The long double-ender was originally built as a gentleman’s launch. In time she had clearly gained a rig: the ‘irons’ are still fitted.

Lovely looking thing…

The vessel was built by Camper & Nicholson, but no date was given on her details. Of all the vessels I saw at the two yards, this one seemed the most likely to find a buyer. She’d certainly repay an expense, surely…

The  details…

Now, up and down the coast many of you can probably find similar craft in very similar states of disrepair or neglect. It is something I get ‘bothered’ about and generally come away full of sadness. It is the same for wooden and GRP craft. All were once loved and cosseted. Age has wearied them, but for many much life remains.

I know an owner of a Finesse 24 who obtained the ownership of his little sloop for the nominal sum of £500 – admittedly, he has accepted the undertaking of a little over £2000 of repair work, and that will probably grow… But, for a around £3000 he will gain a superb coastal cruiser, safe enough to wander the east coast and provide a ‘home’ for the summer (as I do on Whimbrel!)

There are a myriad of GRP craft sitting on yard hard standings which with a dose of elbow grease would scrub up. Defects can be fixed.

What has to be remembered is that for a small outlay a first time cruiser owner could get afloat for a relatively small cost, if the heart strings can be pulled … instead of paying out 1000’s of pounds sterling for a modern expensively built vessel with supposedly superior pedigree.

I’ve looked at modern 24-footers, their costs are frightening and their supposed spacious interiors are nothing of the sort in comparison to my Finesse 24 … I wouldn’t touch ’em with a barge pole…