Training Projects

James Caird

Students are building an authentic replica of the "James Caird", famous for the epic open boat voyage by Sir Ernest Shackleton. The original boat was built at the Isle of Dogs in London in 1913. The replica will be used for the same journey crossing the southern ocean from Elephant Island to South Georgia. Explorer Tim Jarvis and his team will undertake the expedition in 2011 using authentic clothing and traditional navigation methods, no modern aids!

Leila

Designed by William Fife, and built in 1912 at the Fife yard at Fairlie on the west coast of Scotland. She is the oldest Fife 6 metre class yacht in existence and is undergoing a major restoration most notably having her entire backbone replaced and being restored to her original open cockpit layout. She was found by her present owner in the corner of a timber yard in Norway and shipped back to Britain two years ago.

Germaine

A major restoration project of a Camper and Nicholson designed and built gentleman’s gaff yawl dating from 1883. With this project we started with the original Germaine; took her lines and then rebuilt her using as much of the original as we could. At 44 feet on deck, long counter and plumb stem she has much the same lines as the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters of her day. The interior layout is as original with the owner's cabin aft and the main companion way half way down the starboard side of the coach roof. The only real diversion from original is the engine which fitted in the cockpit area, with a hydraulic drive in order to leave as much space below as possible.

Madison

While exhibiting at the Henley traditional boat regatta, we met one of the men who built her, which was fascinating and helped get the details right. This boat is a 15' Fen and Wood built runabout from the 1950's. We have replaced the bottom and deck of the boat and sheathed her with glass cloth and epoxy up to deck level. The deck is laminated with mahogany and ash and varnished, and all the fittings have been re-chromed. The engine which is the original marinised twin carb 100 E has also been restored and repainted.

Other Projects

"Annie"
Restoration Cam built rowing skiff
"Archelle"
Restoration Italian Built one of gentleman's yacht
Beach Boat
Restoration Lowestoft beach boat
"Blue Shark"
Restoration 1952 Fred Parker TSDY
"Black Sylvia"
Restoration clinker sailing yacht
"Cloud"
New Build 1912 design Albert Strange gaff yawl
"Cora"
Restoration of an early International 12 (1936ish)
"Eleanora"
Restoration 1929 Camper & Nicholson TSDY
"Fiona"
Restoration 1920’s Thames Estuary One Design
"Gleam"
Restoration Wanderer class Laurent Giles 1946 built as an open cargo vessel for the Falklands.
"Jura"
Restoration Alfred Milne 1926 Scottish Island Class
"Martha Miller"
new build Wanderer class Laurent Giles
"Maxwell Cutter"
new build Kaufman designed gaff cutter
"Ortolan"
Restoration Broads Cruiser 1950's
"Patsy"
Restoration pre-war harbour launch
"My Girl Penelope"
Restoration Lowestoft beach boat
"Pinta II"
Restoration Dragon Class built Sandbank 1948
"Profundis"
Restoration Admiralty Pinnace 1900's
"Queenie Jack & Jim"
Museum Restoration Henry Bloggs Hoveller, Cromer crab/beach boat
"Scullion"
New Build clinker motor launch
"Teddy"
New build River Deben Pilot Skiff
"Teddy II"
New build of modified Deben river skiff
"Tern"
Restoration clinker day boat
Wanderer Ross
New Build Wanderer class Laurent Giles
"Welcome"
Restoration 1920’s Walter Woods Broads cruiser
"Wyona"
Restoration Early McGruer gaff cutter

Various 9' & 12' new build clinker dinghies.