Jeanneau Leader 40 with Volvo D4-300 DPs – the optimum balance of efficiency and performance

Fitted with Volvo Penta’s ultra-reliable D4-300 diesel engines, this high-specification boat strikes the optimum balance between performance and fuel efficiency. The D4-300 is an in-line 4-cylinder, 3.7-litre cubic capacity engine with common-rail fuel injection, double overhead camshafts and turbo blending rock-solid reliability with super performance and excellent fuel efficiency. Morgan Marine believes the Leader 40 fitted with Volvo D4 engines strikes the optimum balance between performance and efficiency. When compared to the same boat fitted with the larger D6 engines, the official test data provided by Jeanneau supports this view.

In displacement mode, when the boat is not planning, there is little difference between the D4-300 and the larger D6-370 engines as the boat’s performance is generally governed by something known as “Hull Speed”. To substantiate this, at 1500 RPM both the 300HP boat and the 370HP boat produce a hull speed of 9.1 knots at 1500 RPM. Identical speeds then, but – and this is an important but – each 300HP engine will be consuming 18.5 litres/hour of diesel whereas each 370HP engine will be consuming 25.6 litres of diesel – a 38% increase in fuel consumption for no gain in speed.

In planning mode where the “Hull Speed” is overcome by the power available, the planning speed is related to hull resistance and power to hand. Both engine boats will start to plane at around the same speed. The reason why Morgan Marine determines the 300HP engine to be the optimum engine for power and efficiency balance is down to the difference in top speed between the two boats and the fuel consumption between the two engines. And I think we can say with certainty that diesel isn’t going to get any cheaper!

From Jeanneau’s official testing figures, the top speed of the 300HP boat is 32.4 knots, and the top speed of the 370HP model is 36.9 knots – a difference of just 4.5 knots or 13%. But…

At this speed, the 300HP boat will consume 116 litres per hour whereas the 370HP boat will consume 156 litres per hour – an increase of 35% for the bigger engines.

Most people that we engage with in our business will testify that 30 knots + in a 40ft boat is more than enough!

At a more comfortable cruising RPM of 2,800 the 300HP boat will be doing 23.2 knots, whereas the 370HP boat will be doing 25.8 knots – an 11% delta, but practically little difference at 2.6 knots. But…

Fuel wise, the 300HP boat will be consuming 72 litres/hour whereas the 370HP boat will be burning through 89 litres/hour – a delta of 24%.

Therefore, we at Morgan Marine say that the D4-300HP engines are the optimum balance between performance and economy. You still can break the 30-knot holy grail and you do so at considerably less fuel burn. The maintenance costs we be lower, the spares will be cheaper (because there are more of the 300HP engines produced) and so on.

The official data is to hand – substantive data and not subjective option.

This new boat is available now and can be secured for a one-time winter offer price ready for the new season ahead. It is an unusual opportunity as this is the highest-specification new Leader 40available in the UK being offered at significantly less than list price.

This boat has the added advantage of Jeanneau’s 7/5/3 warranty plan which was only introduced for 2019 model year boats onwards. This means that the boat comes with a full 7-year structural warranty, 5-year blistering warranty and 3 years’ warranty on all other boat options. The engines come with 5-year warranty. Because the boat is brand new, and because it is yet to be registered, the clock has not started ticking on any of these warranties giving long-term piece of mind!

Our boat is finished in the ever-popular white maximising re-sale value, and it comes with full joystick control. A further unusual inclusion is the benefit of a 12,000BTU air conditioning system meaning guests will be comfortable on boat during hot days and nights.

This boat will sleep up to seven without even making use of the cavernous upper cockpit! She is equipped with a master cabin, and triple cabin and a large double converted from the internal dinette.

Interested buyers are very welcome to view this boat at their convenience. We are open seven days of the week from 9am to 5.30pm. We can also arrange private viewings outside of these hours by appointment.

This superb boat is available at an excellent price inclusive of almost £130k of ‘must have’ factory fitted options. The list price of this boat is £421,544, but we are offering it at a very special price of £319,000 inclusive of VAT. The discount offered thereby more than pays for the significant upgrades.

Please contact Oli, Graham, Ric or Steve in the Morgan Marine Sales Office on 01206 302008 for more details. Finance and Part Exchange available. We can supply this boat fully prepared and anti-fouled, with a full handover at Morgan Marine in Brightlingsea, Essex, or any other Marina in the UK or Europe. Worldwide delivery also available.

For the full specification of our boat here at Morgan Marine click here: morgan marine

For some footage of a D4 equipped boat in action click here: https://youtu.be/9-gHgiJSlBw

The all new Cap Camarat 12.5 WA takes the Cap Camarat range into the world of large, luxurious, outboard day cruisers. This outstanding new model is making its debut at the Nautic Paris Boat Show in December!

With a maximum length of 11.90m and a width of 3.58m the new Cap Camarat 12.5 WA offers well-defined living spaces and perfect ergonomics in a new approach to the outboard powerboat…

Key features of this fantastic new model are the forward lounge area with facing seats offering exceptional additional living space. The cockpit ‘terrace’ also adds to the living space at anchor. The easy to use multi-configuration galley becomes the central point on board. Down below the Cap Camarat 12.5 WA boasts a spacious full-beam aft cabin, with a king-size berth and a separate shower compartment. The materials used give a very high quality feel to the interior with no expense spared on ergonomics. There are also large windows onto the sea helping to open the interior living space up and provide plenty of natural light.

Last but by no means least, its fast! A maximum power option of of 900 HP, (2 x 450 HP or 3 x 300 HP), and a V-shaped hull designed by Michael Peters, one of the world’s top specialists, guarantees performance meets every expectation – around 50 knots!  Initial sea trials confirm this along with remarkable cruising comfort.

We’re expecting the Cap Camarat 12.5 WA to really make some waves on its debut (pun intended) and demand will be high for this model. To discuss availability please contact Oli, Graham, Ric or Steve in the Morgan Marine Sales Office: 01206 302008.

For other Jeanneau (and Cap Camarat) models go to: https://morganmarine.com/boat-ranges/

We can supply this model fully prepared and antifouled, with a handover at Morgan Marine (or any other Marina in the UK or Europe). Worldwide delivery also available.

Started in the lakes of America, the concept of Park & Ride was an easy way for people to get into boating! Back in the 60’s companies had set up looking after peoples’ boats so they could drive out to the lakes on a Saturday morning, spend a few hours touring around or doing water sports, then go home again without a worry about having to take the boat away or even get the boat back onto the trailer. It alleviates the need for antifouling hulls and greatly reduces maintenance (i.e anode replacement, corrosion etc.). Also, boats left on moorings, with constant weather changes can suffer from rough days and nights…. a boat constantly moving and jarring is wearing away its gel coat, fittings, paint, covers etc. The great thing about the Park & Ride concept is the boat sits still on a trailer, out of water and not experiencing this potential wear and tear.

In the 70’s, Ric Morgan (of Morgan Marine) was talking to the owner of Abersoch Land and Sea – a similar type of business in North Wales – one evening at the Southampton boat show discussing the merits of this American innovation and decided to start the first Park & Rides in the UK at their respective dealerships. Morgan marine, because of the 18ft tidal range, decided to use their new 50ft wide slipway, which drops into water at a ratio of 1 to 10, to offer its Park & Ride service to clients on their own trailer, OR a Morgan Marine supplied trailer, rented on an annual basis. Using its own tractors and staff, Park & Ride boats stay in a secure yard with seven days a week access and all boats are launched on arrival within 20 minutes. Conversely, when a client wants to come out of the water the tractor operator is called on a dedicated number who gets the boat straight out of the water onto the trailer, where he is then put safely ashore, using the yard services – for flushing the engine of salt water and a quick rinse off of the boat with a supplied hose. Then it’s just a question of lock up and go home and know the boat will perfect and be ready to go for next time!

In the first-year Morgan Marine attracted over 70 boats for this service and to this day it has never been less than that figure. It is immensely popular. You will now find this service under various names throughout the country often with several launch sites in the same town. On the south coat and some lakes, they offer the service using a large forklift that can lift the boat to heights of 30 feet but equally below ground level (-30ft). This innovative procedure works very well and has the benefit of being able to stack boats on steel racking three or four high. In areas were land is precious this means Park & Ride can handle sufficient numbers to sustain a business in a limited area. Morgan Marine have 10 acres and therefore plenty of room for many Park & Riders!

In conclusion, Morgan Marine believe the benefits of Park & Ride are numerous. To dealers who like ex Park and Ride boats, with clean gel coats and nice shiny hulls holding better residual values, to the owners, who have little worry about the boat when in storage, easy access to the water in a controlled environment, friendly camaraderie with the Park & Ride operator as well as other customers and much lower operating costs through clean hulls. (This gives greater drive efficiency on the water, i.e. faster speeds with greater fuel savings and lower servicing costs due to lower corrosion issues/anode replacement and scrub-off charges). Owners also like the safe and controlled launch and retrieve process – they don’t even get their feet wet or need boots! They also love the higher residual value their boat ends up with…

This is certainly the best way for newcomers to start boating!

Take a look at this video to see how simple it is!
https://youtu.be/eiODt4YhL80

Morgan Marine Park and Ride
We have up to 100 spaces for our renowned Park & Ride Service with a dedicated launch team who are expert tractor drivers and boat handlers, we promise to get your boat ready and in the water in approx. 20 minutes of your arrival, launched from our own private slipway – from 9am to 5.30 (outside these times by arrangement). You can stay out for as little or as long as you want. Just call us as you are coming in and we will be there to get you out of the water – again without any need for you to get wet or muddy.

Park & Ride is the answer to carefree boating, so simple and easy to use. Your boat will be stored in the dedicated East Yard. We will launch and retrieve your boat by tractor when you are ready. Our service pontoon provides safety for your crew to get on and off the boat – you don’t even get your feet wet! Costs are very simple. Morgan Marine are very competitive in the Park & Ride market:

Up to 7 metres: £1,325 + VAT Per Annum

7 – 8 metres: £1,425 + VAT Per Annum

You can visit your boat at any time, to work on, clean or just relax! There are no restrictions.

As this is a very popular service please do call for availability – 01206 302008

With almost 50 years of trading, Morgan Marine has built-up a solid reputation within the leisure marine industry, maintaining our vision of being the best small boatyard in the UK by far.

We are now embarking on exciting expansion plans that will form part of our journey in earning our place amongst the best small boatyards in the world. We are looking for a hardworking, energetic, driven and self-motivated junior yardsperson to join our existing Yards team to assist with boat movements and general maintenance around our boatyard.

Reporting to the Senior Yard and Grounds Technician, and working as part of a small and dynamic team, the role will comprise:

• Carrying out various tasks to help organise the land- and water-based storage facilities that exist within the boatyard

• Setting-up boat cradles and blocks for boat storage

• Hoist operation, once suitably-trained

• Tractor duties, once suitably-trained

• Fork Lift Truck duties, once suitably-trained

• Waterborne activities to do with maintenance of pontoons and moving boats

• Daily pontoon and boat security inspections

• Site presentation through tidying, weed management, litter and waste stream management

• Power washing, boat antifouling, valeting and polishing

• Upkeep of presentation of new and second hand boats

• General maintenance to buildings and plant

• Presentation and upkeep of yard stores and yard restroom/engineers office

Through living and breathing our mantra of “best in boating”, we are individuals who promote the values of passion, respect, innovation, determination, and excellence.

You’ll possess an awareness of health and safety procedures, and be able to demonstrate that you work to the highest standards. An uncompromising approach to quality of work and customer satisfaction is essential, as well as an unequivocal commitment to assist with the strengthening of team spirit within our boatyard whilst respecting Company policy.

Normal hours of work are 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, however you’ll be flexible in your approach and be prepared to work additional hours during peak periods including weekends.

Location: Brightlingsea, Essex

Full-time position.

Salary: circa £14,000.00 to £20,000.00 p/a  – dependent on experience

Please apply by emailing: oli@morganmarine.com with a covering letter (and CV if possible).

No callers at this stage please.

As winter is nearly upon as again many boat-owners will start talking about winterisation …for those unsure of what exactly this is, then read on! 

Mid October may feel a little early to consider the prospect of ‘setting-up’ your boat for the winter. However, November is just around the corner, frosts are on their way and therefore now is the time to consider what needs doing regarding winterisation.

Winterisation is an end-of-season process that must be carried out if you’re not using your boat over winter.  It is a vital part of servicing to maintain your valuable boat and engine through the harshest months. In the past, springtime was often a disaster for owners waking up to cracked engines and water tanks etc. With Morgan Marine’s winterisation programme, it should be a thing of the past. This programme helps prevent catastrophic damage caused by freezing and basically puts your boat ‘to bed’ for the winter, then ‘revives’ it again for the spring. The process includes:

• Batteries put on a trickle charge (craft with shorepower charging n/a)
• Protect the engines by running up to operating temperature with internal and external inhibiting fluids
• All water tanks/calorifiers are fully drained and apertures closed off
• At spring time, the process is reversed and engines are run up with correct fluids. Systems are checked and the boat itself visually inspected

Morgan Marine’s winterisation programme helps your boat and machinery to be in good order come the spring. Please call Steve Morgan or Oli Miller on 01206 302008 for more details and to book your boat in.

There are additional things though that a responsible owner should be doing:

Firstly – Think about where you’re going to store your boat – in or out of the water?

In the water – Water retains heat longer than air. If you choose to keep your boat in water you reduce the chance of ‘sudden freeze’. You will however, increase your risk of sustaining storm damage, hull blisters, theft or sinking. Also, if there is a really cold snap and the water freezes around your boat, this may crack or rupture the hull – unlikely but a risk all the same.

Out of the water – If you are keeping your boat ashore, you should consider winterising earlier as the lower temperatures will impact it earlier than in water. Out of the water solves all the inherent problems with leaving your boat in the water. Investing in a good quality boat cover is an economic form of protection. Covers should keep water out but allow air to circulate to prevent condensation build-up leading to rot, mould and corrosion.

Protect everything from moisture damage.
Fighting against mould and rot in a marine environment is always hard work. The only way to combat this is through ventilation. Leave all doors, drawers and – most importantly – fridge doors open, throughout the whole boat. Do not close anything as you need air to circulate.

Also, store all fabrics such as linen, clothing, blankets, curtains etc away from the boat and it goes without saying, remove all valuables!

If the boat has a history of developing condensation and mould growth over the winter, wash all exposed surfaces with a mould repellent. However, this shouldn’t be necessary on a boat that’s properly ventilated.

To help with condensation/damp you might consider putting a small greenhouse style frost-preventing heater in the engine bay and cabin. These very low consumption heaters are no substitute for correct winterisation servicing as unreliable marina power can leave engines vulnerable to frost. If you are going to leave your boat connected to shore power it is advisable to make sure it’s isolated from all the other boats on the same shore power circuit, otherwise they might start to use your anodes when theirs are exhausted. Such heaters are very effective at reducing damp and condensation, but do need to be carefully mounted to ensure they cannot be covered or otherwise contact flammable materials.

While you are at it: safety and emergency gear

The complete inventory should be examined – check the expiry dates on flares and EPIRBS as well as booking services for the life raft and lifejackets. Jackstays and harness lines should be checked for chafe and if the jackstays are more than 10 years old (five years for boats kept in sunny climates) they should be replaced due to likely UV degradation. 

The best bit about laying-up, even though it may feel a little tedious, if you’ve done your job well then, your spring fitting out will be a walk-in-the-park. So, remember every hour invested now will be saving you lots of time and money in the new year!

For more details on Morgan Marine’s winterisation deal please call Oli, Ric or Steve on 01206 302008 or take a look at this link:
https://morganmarine.com/workshop-parts/

Press Gangs and the Kings shilling!

The practice of impressment (also known as shanghai-ing or crimping) was common in all the world’s ports until about 1820, and was widely used by Britain’s Royal Navy to maintain crew numbers on its warships.

Press gangs (derive from the term impressment, which can be defined as, the act of coercing someone into government service) were used by the Royal Navy as a crude and violent method of recruiting seamen into naval service, often against their will. Recruiting sailors voluntarily was difficult as the conditions on board ship were poor and serving in the navy, especially at time of war, was, well dangerous! 

The practice was at various times given parliamentary authority. Impressment was vigorously enforced during the naval wars of the 18th century by Acts passed in 1703, 1705, 1740 and 1779.

The press gang, normally a group of 10 – 12 men, led by an officer, would roam the streets looking for likely ‘volunteers’, merchant seamen were particularly prized as they already had seagoing experience and needed less training.

Certain groups were theoretically exempt from the impressment process, i.e apprentices and officially foreigners could not be impressed, although they could be persuaded to volunteer and there was an age limit 18 to 55 years. But the rules were very often ignored so that the press gang could earn their reward, as they were paid by the head.

Often men were knocked unconscious or threatened and it was common for violent fights to break out, fuelled by alcohol, as groups tried to prevent friends or work mates being impressed into service by the despised press gangs.

A recruiting sergeant of the time once wrote:
…your last recourse was to get him drunk, and then slip a shilling in his pocket, get him back to your billet, and next morning swear he enlisted, bring all your party to prove it, get him persuaded to pass the doctor. Should he pass, you must try every means in your power to get him to drink, blow him up with a fine story, get him inveigled to the magistrates, in some shape or other, and get him attested; but by no means let him out of your hands!

Not surprisingly corruption was rife, many wealthier men escaped impressment by simply bribing the press gang, other men would play the very dangerous game of taking the King’s shilling and then running away often repeating the act elsewhere if they weren’t caught and knocked unconscious first! 

It wasn’t all plain sailing though! In 1747, a British Commodore began kidnapping sailors and working men in Boston, (Impressment extended to all the colonies) and the people of the city wouldn’t stand for it.  Three days of violence followed, in a riot that pitted the working class of Boston against the Colonial government and Royal Navy.

It worth adding that aside from ‘official’ press gangs, it wasn’t unheard of unscrupulous merchant and even pirate captains to use a more…’streamlined’ system shallop we say, where unwitting conscripts woke up to find themselves on board a ship miles out at sea with a lump on their head and the prospect of not seeing land again for many many months!

After 1853, the need for press gangs diminished, at this time the navy introduced continuous service for sailors with a more structured career and a pension on retirement, this led to more men joining on a voluntary basis and reduced the need for impressment.

The Royal Navy grew from 270 ships in 1700 to about 500 in 1793 and almost 950 vessels in 1805. The larger size fleet required more seamen. In peacetime, the numbers were much less than in today’s Navy and varied from 12,000 to 20,000 men during the Eighteenth Century. In wartime, strength increased from 40,000 in the Wars of 1739-1748, to 150,000 at the peak of the Napoleonic Wars.

Shown here is c1770 in date naval midshipman’s pressgang tool. This rare item would also have been used during naval boarding attacks and keeping sailors in line. The head is lead filled and the sailor hand stitched and tarred the surface. The spiral shaped handle is made from whale Baleen (the filter-feeder system inside the mouths of whales).

With over 40 years experience on the water, we are always well aware of the need to stay safe when boating. So, it was fitting that our special winter promotion should focus on your safety.

We are offering a FREE Morgan Marine safety kit, which comprises:

• 4x life jackets (These can be for an adult, child or dog – in any combination)
• A First aid kit
• A Fire extinguisher
• A Fire blanket

This safety kit will be offered with any new Jeanneau motorboat, purchased OR ordered before the 31^st of January 2020 at no extra cost. This offer is exclusive to Morgan Marine and offered across the entire Jeanneau Motorboat range. Terms & conditions do apply and the safety kit cannot be exchanged for cash.

For more information on our winter promotion or for further details on any Jeanneau model, please contact Oli, Graham, Ric or Steve in the Morgan Marine Sales Office: 01206 302008.

For the full range of Jeanneau models go to:
https://morganmarine.com/new_boats/jeanneau/

Or view our new Jeanneau boats in stock

Our stunning Jeanneau Leader 40 Sport top also has a special promotional package offered to any new owner. See here for more details on this stunning boat:
https://morganmarine.com/news-events/leader40-arrives/

The Cap Camarat 6.5 Centre Consul (CC) – Series 3, features a new hull designed by Michael Peters, with all the inherent seaworthy qualities of the Cap Camarat range but with this latest evolution the entirely redesigned hull is far more stronger and more dynamic in its abilities. It can now be equipped with a 200 HP outboard, giving sparkling performance, excellent for all watersports, with the new hull design cleverly balancing ease of handling and comfort on board.

A sporty, family boat by nature, the Cap Camarat 6.5 Centre Consul (CC) – Series 3, features a particularly comfortable ergonomic cockpit design. The living space is expanded, with an L-shaped bench seat, contributing to the relaxing and inviting atmosphere on board.

With this new design, the dashboard also features the latest evolution of the range. The forward bench seating is the perfect place for relaxation, and it opens directly onto an interior storage compartment. So, this very practical model features dual access to the console. Very large flush swim platforms also further contribute to ease of life and leisure on board.

Basic specification:

Length overall – 6.86 m / 22’6″

Hull length – 6.11 m / 20’1″

Hull Beam – 2.52 m / 8’3″

Weight – 1020 kg / 2249 Lbs

Fuel capacity – 170 l / 45 US gal

Water capacity – 50 l / 13 US gal

Available Engines – 200 CV (HP)

CE Category – C8

Up to seven years’ warranty available. ISO 14001 and 9001 Certified.

To order this stunning new Cap Camarat 6.5 Centre Consul (CC) – Series 3, or for further details on this or any other Jeanneau model, please contact Oli, Graham, Ric or Steve in the Morgan Marine Sales Office: 01206 302008.

For the full range of Jeanneau (and Cap Camarat) models go to: https://morganmarine.com/boat-ranges/

Perfect to keep here at our Park & Ride service in Brightlingsea, Essex, or we can supply this model fully prepared, antifouled, with trailer and ready to go with a handover at Morgan Marine (or any other Marina in the UK or Europe). Worldwide delivery also available.

For some great video footage of the Cap Camarat 6.5 CC take a look here:

https://youtu.be/CXsqISCqvbg

New Jeanneau NC 37

The New Jeanneau NC 37 boasts all the usual refinements and build quality you would expect from Jeanneau combined with an outstanding hull design from Michael Peters, guaranteeing smooth, comfortable cruising, with reliable handling and great seakeeping. The NC37’s styling is very open plan – allowing more of the ‘outdoors’ in and vice versa! Recessed side decks provide a greater level of safety on board as well a side access door to the helm.

With an L-shaped, modular aft cock- pit that transforms into a sundeck, the NC 37 offers absolute comfort on board, perfect for families or couples alike. A large sliding glass door fully opens the aft cock-pit to the outside making the the NC 37 offer a vast indoor- outdoor living space between the spacious interior saloon, the central galley and the large cockpit.

The panoramic view through windows in the roof and the large opening sunroof afford maximum natural light into the interior. The NC 37 offers immense freedom of movement about the boat. Designed on one level, life on board is very easy. True to the NC spirit, the co-pilot bench seat can pivot to transform the space into an L-shaped lounging area in the saloon.

The good distribution of interior space follows through below decks, allowing for the guest cabin, with its generous standing headroom, to be nearly as large as the owner’s cabin. There is also a large storage area which if needed can be configured as a third cabin. Jeanneau’s new NC37 is obviously equipped with an attractive head compartment with an entirely separate shower, a unique feature on a boat of this size and category.

Just take a look at these great videos for the NC37:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_6EqF0gTuc
and
https://youtu.be/x61FTooqTFM

KEY FEATURES

• Life on one level
• Recessed side decks
• Large aft swim platform
• Modular, L-shaped cockpit
• Side door and side access to the helm
• Bench seating at the helm
• Cockpit bar
• Fully opening sliding glass door aft
• Two large double cabins + large storage space OR third cabin
• Bathroom with shower compartment
• Entirely separate head compartment

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

Overall length – 11,47 m / 37’ 8’’

Hull length – 9,86 m / 32’ 4’’

Overall beam – 3,59 m / 11’ 9’’

Draft – 1,07 m / 3’ 3’’

Air draft –  3,02 m / 9’ 8’’ – 4,26 m / 13’ 9’’

Water capacity – 200 l – 300 l / 53 – 79 US Gal

Displacement – 6.832 kg / 15.061 lbs

Fuel capacity – 650 L / 172 US Gal

Engine power  –  VOLVO 2 x D3-220 DP (2 x 220 CV /Hp)*

or – VOLVO 2 x D4-270 DP (2 x 270 CV /Hp)*

CE Category – B-8 / C-10

*Available with Joystick

To order this stunning new for NC37, or for further details on this or any other Jeanneau model, please contact Oli, Graham, Ric or Steve in the Morgan Marine Sales Office: 01206 302008.

For the full range of NC models: https://morganmarine.com/new_boats/jeanneau/nc/

We can supply this new model fully prepared, antifouled, and ready to go with handover at Morgan Marine (or any other Marina in the UK or Europe). Worldwide delivery also available.

The Fighting Temeraire

Here at Morgan Marine we love all nautical history and being a relatively small island surrounded by water much of this history is Naval.

One such piece of history is the story of the The Fighting Temeraire…immortalised by William Turner at the 1839 Royal Academy exhibition, which was to become one of his best known works. Now residing at the National Gallery in London https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk this is one of Turner’s best-preserved pictures, probably because he used a relatively standard oil paint mix (instead of the experimental materials he sometimes tried which tended to be unstable and deteriorate over time).

This is no ordinary painting though because unusually it shows the Napoleonic warship HMS Temeraire, affectionately known to the public as The Fighting Temeraire being dragged to her death at a Rotherhide breakers yard. The tug towing the old ship was powered by steam, something that was starting to replace wind in many new navy ships. The sun sets behind the ship (even though they are travelling westwards up the Thames) to underscore the end of an era.

Turner chose this particular ship because the Fighting Temeraire was a celebrated gunship which had fought valiantly in Lord Nelson’s fleet at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.  The Temeraire was a 98-gun, three-decked ship of the line that had been launched in 1798, during the French Revolutionary War. Her name is a French word that means bold or fearless.

On 21 October 1805, after a relatively undistinguished career, she eventually had a chance to live up to her name, under the command of Captain Eliab Harvey. The occasion was non other than the Battle of Trafalgar. When Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory came under heavy fire from the French, the Temeraire came to her defence. After a series of daring manoeuvres, and savage fighting she not only saved Nelson’s vessel, but also captured two French ships. Nelson famously died, but the British won the battle. The part played by the Temeraire made her the only ship specifically mentioned in Admiral Collingwood’s despatch on the battle, commended as ‘most noble and distinguished’.

At the end of the battle, the ship was in a dreadful state. She had lost all her upper masts, both quarter galleys, and her poop deck had been badly damaged when the main mast of the French warship Redoubtable fell across it. A long stretch of her hull had been stove in, her rudder-head had been shot away, and she had suffered well over a hundred casualties. She returned to Portsmouth to a hero’s reception however – her exploits had truly captured the nations imagination. Repaired, she served on until 1813, but her hull never really recovered from the damage received in the battle. She was eventually retired from active service, first becoming a prison hulk, and then a ship housing new recruits.

Whilst the painting depicts an event which happened in real life, it didn’t aim to be an accurate record of the Temeraire’s last voyage. Turner wanted viewers of his painting to think about how the Temeraire had served her country in the past, and how Britain now seemed to have turned its back on her.

When he exhibited the picture in 1839, he included these lines in the display:
The flag which braved the battle and the breeze,
No Longer owns her.

Indeed, the Temeraire didn’t fly the union flag any more. Instead, a white flag flies from the mast of the tug showing that the ship was in commercial hands.

However, it also makes the Temeraire look as if she’s being brought in under a flag of surrender, a further insult to her memory.

In reality, the Temeraire looked very different to how she was shown in the painting. Her fighting days had been over for some time. By the time she was auctioned off for the value of her timber, everything that the Navy could recycle had already been removed, including her three tall masts. However, Turner decided to depict the ship with the masts and rigging still in place. He also used white and gold paint, rather than the darker yellow and black that she was in real life. He wanted to show her as a shimmering, noble vessel, fading not just from view but from history.

The Fighting Temeraire was broken up long ago, but her image, name and exploits are captured forever in this oil painting at the National Gallery. Appropriately, the main entrance to that building opens onto Trafalgar Square.  https://www.nationalgallery.org.

For more information on Turner the artist, click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._M._W._Turner

(Just as an interesting aside for any James Bond fans, it’s in front of ‘The Fighting Temeraire’ painting in Skyfall (2012) that 007 and his latest new gadgets expert ‘Q’ meet for the first time. The image of the old boat being pulled along by new technology is a significant one within the story of the film. As well as the image of the old boat being tugged along to be eventually broken down referring to Bond’s older age and increasingly precarious role as an agent within MI6! I wonder what Turner would have thought of this, all these years after his painting was first shown?!) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/