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/

Why Jeanneau? A brief history…

Jeanneau have been building boats since 1957… there is a huge wealth of passion, experience and knowledge, gained not just from motorboats but also building some of the best sailboats in the world. That understanding of what works on our oceans around the world translates across all models and types – whether motor or sail.

The Jeanneau ‘story’ begins in a relatively modest way in 1957. Henri Jeanneau, already passionate about aeroplanes and automobiles, had just discovered a new passion – for powerboating!  One that began as he watched a boat speed past his window. Soon afterwards, in Les Herbiers, France, he began building a wooden hull with which he participated in the six-hour Paris speedboat race; the largest national race at the time. He was first across the line, and this gave the momentum he needed to turn a newly found passion into a trade.

In 1958, the Jeanneau shipyard built its first fibreglass hull. This (then) new material, a petrochemical based product, created a technological breakthrough.
“In the beginning, we built three boats a week. It was very specialised and like a group of craftsmen, we built everything from wooden preforms, from the keel to the ribs?. With the advent of fibreglass, it was necessary to demonstrate to customers that the fibreglass would perform as well as wood. The first model was called interestingly, “Sport polyester.” Then came the “Mirage” and the “Prélude.” Fibreglass, of course, became the material of choice when building boat hulls.

1963 saw Jeanneau produce its first ever production-line powerboat, the Sea Bird. The idea of a production line at this time was very innovative. Other builders were still working on a hull by hull basis for individual orders…

Jeanneau entered a single-handed Transatlantic Race In 1976 with a  ‘Melody’ yacht; helmed by Yves Olivaux. This significant event, demonstrated quite simply, that a production model boat could be sailed across the Atlantic; single-handed.

That same year saw the launch of the typically French named ‘FLIRT’.  It received rave reviews among the 6-metre model yacht ranges available. It was solid, well-made and had very good attention to detail

1980 was another landmark year as Jeanneau enters POWERBOAT RACING again alongside transport company, Transports Graveleau. For several seasons, the Formule 1 Inshore or Formule 3000 (1984) catamarans, helmed by Michel Rousse, would dominate the competition with their more solid, and again innovation leading, Kevlar hulls. This success gave rise to the first of the all new Cap Camarats from Jeanneau, with the Cap Camarat 575. Called “the 4 x 4 of the seas,” its seafaring qualities were such that that it  carved a unique segment from the marketplace. Today, the Cap Camarat range has become an international force in powerboats for sport and leisure.

This success spurred Jeanneau to winning the first three places in the Nyamey-Bamako Rally in 1981, a test of endurance covering 2,000 km. A specially constructed Cap Camarat Niger 510 made of Kevlar, destroyed the competition in this African adventure, piloted by Gérard D’Aboville. This same year and possibly prompted by its recent successes, Club Med chose Jeanneau to resupply its fleet of powerboats for water skiing.

Between 1982 and 1998, Jeanneau was the exclusive supplier for the Sailing “Tour de France”, with three generations of sailboats

1987 – Jeanneau cements its international leadership in the world of powerboat racing, beating the world speed record for production model engine (at a stunning 170.21 Km/h) and for endurance over 24 hours. Jeanneau also took victories in the 24-hour race of Rouen four times, in the 6-hour race of Paris, as well as races in Great Britain and in Singapore.

1989 saw the birth of the 1st Prestige luxury motorboat, designed by Garroni Design. It immediately won hearts as well as awards with contemporary styling and exceptional seaworthy qualities. This launch signalled Jeanneau’s arrival on the market of luxury motor yachts. Today, over 2500 Prestige motor yachts cruise the oceans.

During 1990, aboard her “Groupe Pierre 1er” trimaran, Florence Arthaud completed an incredible race and was first to finish, ahead of Fleury Michon and RMO. It was a triple win for Jeanneau, who built all three boats on the podium.

In 1991, the Jeanneau One design (JOD) replaced the Sélection as the official boat of the Sailing Tour de France.

1995 saw the first Sun Fast make its debut with the production of the Sun Fast 52, a Jeanneau racer-cruiser sailboat designed by Philippe Briand in collaboration with Philippe Poupon.

1996 saw an important milestone: the creation of Jeanneau America, in the United States.

2000: With the Sun Odyssey line, the 2000s would see dynamic growth in a line of sailboats featuring signature Jeanneau qualities: elegance, comfort, innovation and seaworthiness.

In 2005 the Jeanneau production site dedicated to the construction of larger Jeanneau models is expanded. Jeanneau would now have the world’s largest shipyard for the construction of production-model boats, extending over 40 hectares.

Named European Yacht of the Year in 2008, Jeanneau launched the Sun Fast 3200, designed by Daniel Andrieu.

2011 saw the creation of the Asia Pacific Jeanneau subsidiary in Hong-Kong.

Jeanneau offers the first production yacht over 60 feet in 2014: the Jeanneau 64! It is a bold move made possible by the experience and capabilities of the Jeanneau team, and one that was very well received by customers. Customer loyalty continues to be an essential source of motivation, enthusiasm and confidence, as it has been since 1957!

2015 Jeanneau’s Sun Fast range of yachts dominates the podium in 3 out of 4 divisions, and 10 are among the top 12. Outstanding results for this range that combines speed, performance and technology.

By 2016 Jeanneau has become market leader in inboard powerboats. Continually renewing their products and creating new product lines that immediately find their audience: with Leader, Velasco and NC lines each offering their share of innovation.

In 2017 production of the NC 895 (Merry Fisher 895 in Europe) begins in the U.S, in Cadillac, Michigan. This is the same factory facility that Four Winns, Glastron, Scarab, and Wellcraft are built!

Jeanneau hits a major milestone in 2017, celebrating 60 Years of boat building! A major achievement and testimony to its positive customer feedback and quality of product.

Jeanneau introduces a new concept for cruising sailboats in 2018 – the walk-around deck. Starting with the launch of the Sun Odyssey 440 followed by the Sun Odyssey 490 and 410, these sailboats have won international awards all around the world.

2019 sees not only the Sun Fast 3300 arrive, the newest addition to the extremely successful Sun Fast line but in addition, the inboard and outboard motorboat range goes from strength to strength with larger, award winning models, from both Cap Camarat and Merry Fisher, with the new Merry Fisher 1095 Flybridge promising to be very popular.

2020 promises to be a very exciting year with more new models on the horizon and even more potential Jeanneau owners taking to the water and enjoying all that 60 plus years of passion, experience and knowledge can produce!

For further details or technical specifications on any Jeanneau motorboat model, please contact Oli, Graham, Ric or Steve in the Morgan Marine Sales Office: 01206 302008.

Many customers will remember Kamil Wiktorowski (known as Kam) from just over three years ago when he used to run the Morgan Marine Park & Ride service as well as look after hoisting and yard operations. After building up heavy lifting and crane experience with a major local company, he is now back at Morgan Marine full time with the title of Chief Ground Technician. Kam will take responsibility for all yard operations, including Park & Ride, hoisting, blocking up etc, as well helping with bringing boats into the workshop from the pontoons etc.

Kam started on Monday (the 16th) and was straight in almost as if he had never been away! With his usual big smile, Kam was eager to tell us “I am really looking forward to moving forward with Morgan Marine under its new ownership and have quite a few ideas to improve customers’ experience as well as yard efficiency”. Kam will be supported by Morgan stalwarts Jeff and Tony, who will continue their great work. Kam will be the guardian of the Park & ride phone along with Jeff and Tony.

Below are just a few examples of projects Kam has worked on as the crane operator:

Kam is Polish by birth, leaving his home country over 15 years ago to come to the UK and has gained many friends and acquaintances. He has an excellent ‘can do’ work ethic and really does go the extra mile to keep customers happy and make sure a job is done properly. We are all very pleased to see him back and look forward to a long future with him here at Morgan Marine.

Qualifications:
RYA Powerboat Level 2.
Mobile crane operators licence – Blue card holder (Quinto crane and plant ltd) 40-ton crane.
Health & safety trained.
Qualified Slinger/Signaller (Banksman) 3 years.
NVQ.
HGV class 2 license.
Qualified Accountant NVQ level 3

On a personal level Kam used to play ice hockey at amateur level for Chelmsford Mischiefs and is a bit of a wizz on the tenor Saxophone! Maybe he’ll bring it along to the next Showboat event here at Morgan Marine!