YARD VISIT

BUSY TIME DURING LOCKDOWN

We catch up with the motor boat specailist in Southwold

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS STEFFAN MERYRIC-HUGHES

As with so many boatyards, Harbour hearing from boatbuilders are that they have more Marine Service has been work on than ever before – but that the availability exceptionally busy during the Covid of skilled labour has never been lower. To address pandemic – and that’s saying this, John will soon be starting a project for four something at a yard whose order book is full for a new apprentices to restore Elizabeth Green, a 43ft year ahead in normal times. Is it the amount of 6in (13.3m), twin-engined Dunkirk Little Ship built in time away from the water that has given boat- 1935 by H Milland of Twickenham. She was one of the owners daydreams about floating projects and John Buckley first to save Allied troops from the beaches, and her happier days? Is it just that that time has allowed record is one of the best-preserved of the fleet. She’s projects to forge ahead full-bore, without the need to sail? presently an empty hull on the hard outside the boatyard. This Is it the unprecedented transfer of inherited wealth from a generation could be self-funding, with the cheaper labour of apprenticeships and that has fallen prey to Covid to the next generation down? All three, the resale value of the finished boats. John’s reward, if it works out, will probably, but whatever the case, the two things we are increasingly be skilled boatbuilders to employ by the end of the process.

MAGYAR

Here’s one they did earlier. The TSDY Magyar, 45ft (13.7m) of teak motor yacht magnificence, built in 1939 by Saunders Roe, before they went on to build hovercrafts, guided missiles and so on.

MAIMONDE

Maimonde is a sisterhip to Magyar, the other boat in this photo. They are both to the ‘Medina Class’ of which eight were built.

JORVIK BETHAMAR

McGruer designed and built, 1950, 42ft (12.8m) TSDY. The owner, who was also at the yard when we visited, remembers his grandfather taking him down the Yorkshire Ouse on this when he was just four years old. He’s sailed all his life, but has wanted Jorvik back in the family for a long time. That dream came true in spring 2020 when he bought her in a terrible state and took her to HMS. This will be launched soon for a summer of trials, then phase two will be in winter. This is how John likes to do things, ideally. The boat will live in Salcombe, Devon, once fi nished.

KINGFISHER

The 1935 John Baine-designed TSDY, built by James Silver to the Silver Leaf class, 42ft (12.8m) long and featured in our March issue (East Coast cruise). The engines were out of alignment with the shaft logs and stern tubes, stopping the engine reaching full revs. “A complete mess,” says John. The yard has rebuilt the break of the sheer, refurbished or replaced deck fi ttings, steering gear and lot else – too much to list, in fact.

Built by John Adams of Guorock to William McBryde design in 1938, this is a 41ft (12.5m) TSDY. She fi rst came here fi ve years ago for a di cult engine refurb. Work has been going on piecemeal since then.

ELIZABETH GREEN

This is the 43ft 6in (13.3m) twin-engined Dunkirk Little Ship built in 1935 by H Milland of Twickenham and one of the fi rst to rescued Allied troops o the beaches of Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo in 1940. She’s also the bare hull that will, all things being well, be restored by four new apprentices. They are going to have their work cut out!

RUMMER

First of 10 to the ‘Rummer’ design by Kim Holman, this 33ft (10m) yawl, will soon be entering the shed for a lot of work

HIPPOCAMPUS

Ex Travis McGee. Bates Starcraft 33, built 1960. “Britain’s answer to Chris-Craft,” says John. Rotten mahogany cabin sides and decks were replaced and she was fi tted with an outdoor helm that blends into silhouette. A lot of work to the interior was carried out in this refi t as well.