I had come across this old lady on a visit to The Blackwater Marina at Maylandsea some years ago but now moored and based at this delightful haven, I have taken a greater interest. She is owned by yard manager, Beccs Polden.
Vivid at Blackwater Marina – 2023.
She has a clinker hull with the top two planks being carvel. She was built as a shrimper and the smooth upper planks made for less wear and tear on the nets. She was originally built, it is said, in 1860 on the seawall at Gravesend.
Her working life was on the Thames until’ later ‘mid life’ she was sold to become a yacht conversion. She was in the lucrative trade to service the needs of the ‘Tea and Shrimp’ trippers down from London on the excursion steamers.
Interestingly, The Colne Smack Preservation Society lists her as being built in 1882, however, the write up clearly states ‘c1860…’ which is the date given to me by Beccs Polden.
You can read a resume of her life in the link:
Between the two 20th century world wars she is said to have been a yacht. During the 1950s she was acquired by Peter Brooks her undertook a structural rebuild. That was seventy years ago and now she has been hauled out for some much needed renovation…
Bow view of Vivid – note fine bow entry.
She is a lovely vessel to look at out of the water and her lines although finer are very similar to our Finesse 24 Whimbrel in many respects. The Finesse 24 hull has bawley influences for her builder completed his apprenticeship in a yard working on new build bawley yachts before going out on his own.
Compare transoms and runs to midships. The rudder is remarkably similar too.
Vivid’s current owner has told me that the top planks, some deck planks and top half of transom are to be renewed. The hull has been surveyed and there are plenty of yellow markings! She also mentioned that the engine was to be removed too…
There is a nice piece on the In the boat shed web site:
A little in love with a bawley – intheboatshed.net
The article talks of her ’rounded hull form … not so hot to windward…’ As can be seen from the pictures, she is far from rounded and has a deep long keel. The much larger Leigh/Medway/Harwich bawleys do have rounded hulls with a good amount of bilge. I suspect the author hadn’t seen this boat out of the water. Beccs Polden told me a while ago that Vivid carries her way and is easily sculled or rowed with a sweep – probably why the engine is to be removed.
I will follow this project and report again.