Over the years, we get many varied and interesting boats into the yard for winter overhauls, or longer, for restoration. Some have great historical significance and are full of history often dating back to well over a century. Maria, a beautiful fishing smack, is just such a boat. Built by Harris Bros at Rowhedge, in 1866 for a Mr Gunn of Wivenhoe, she had a reputation for speed, primarily because she was narrower than the other smacks. This reputation gave her a charmed life. She has been abandoned twice to become a near-rotten hulk and she has been saved both times over the years. After 152 years’ she now lives in Brightlingsea, on the River Colne, this time with a very long career ahead of her, sailing and racing successfully in her home waters around the Thames Estuary.

She will be in the Morgan Marine yard until May, having a full re-paint, spars out and re-fit.

Interestingly, anyone can experience what it’s like to sail aboard Maria as she is owned by the Tall Ships Restoration Company, of which Paul Winter is a director, and will be available for charter work out of Brightlingsea at very reasonable rates-  A day aboard will be like a step back in time, to the days of the Essex Smacksmen when in the early part of the 20th century, the year round battle of fishing and dredging for oysters was only broken crewing on the big racing yachts berthed around Brightlingsea during the summer months. Look at this clip to give you an idea! https://youtu.be/8doyGCt4RbY

Maria has her own website, a fantastic source of her history, up to date news, race results, blog and how to get on board! It really is a fascinating read. Please do take a look: http://ck21maria.co.uk

If you would like more information on our yard rates for storage, or to work on your own boat, please call Ric or Steve Morgan at Morgan Marine on 01206 302008. All yards are secured every evening and we have 24hr CCTV. There is also a toilet and shower block on site as well as ample parking.

We were recently lucky enough to acquire two lovely pieces of Naval history with a view to offering to our customers.

Siemens Brothers of London, Ship’s Brass Telegraph, twin hammerhead design and independent handles. Ship’s commands include: ‘Hard, Port, Steady, Course, Steady, Starboard, hand written on one head and Let Go, Slack Away, Not Clear, Make Fast, Heave In, Stop Winch’ and ‘All Clear’ on the other head. Removed from a 1940’s Royal Navy destroyer, similar to the Hunt Class Escort Destroyer shown in the first image.  Very heavy and exceptional quality. A lovely piece in highly polished brass with working handles.

Also:

Aluminium fluted spot light, on stand, was originally from a German merchant navy ship, circa 1970’s. Again, very strong and heavy design. Beautifully made and a real feature for any workspace/living area. The lamp has been converted to tale a conventional bulb with inline switch.

In addition: The wooden ships wheel was ordered new by us in 1985… and has remained with us as an ornament, until now. Beautifully made and ready to be used for its intended purpose – or as an ornamental.

Some great Seafaring Memorabilia here and hopefully we will be adding to our stock over the coming months,

Available to view in the Morgan Marine shop at Waterside Marina, Brightlngsea. Due to the size, weight and nature of these items the buyer must collect. We may be able to arrange local delivery at cost. Call 01206 302008 and speak to Ric Morgan for prices and further details.

Undoubtedly one of the most talked about yachts over the past few years…

Sailing Yacht A has drawn global attention for her unique form, massive size and well-known owner. Built for Russian billionare yacht owner Andrey Melnichenko, the boundary pushing Sailing Yacht A is a natural head turner. Launched in 2015, the vessel is a sail-assisted motor yacht built in Kiel by Nobiskrug.  Her propulsion consists of a variable-speed hybrid power plant with two-line shaft controllable-pitch propellers, that is sail-assisted by a three-mast fore-and-aft sailing rig.

On its launch the yacht boasted the tallest carbon masts in the world, each measuring in at more than 90 metres long. The masts host sails that are larger than a football field. The vessel also features an underwater observation pod in the keel with 30 cm (12 in) thick glass. It is the largest private sail-assisted motor yacht in the world.

Have you seen her in the flesh? Would love to hear your views on this one!

Find some of the worlds other grandest yachts here, some truly great photography as well!:
https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/the-register/top-50-largest-sailing-yachts–25057

MTB (Motor Torpedo Boat) 102 is shown here in Brightlingsea in 1946 is being decommissioned after serving throughout the second world war. (The boat in the foreground is ‘My Orthia’, built by James & Stone of Brightlingsea in 1946).

MTB 102 was originally launched in 1937 making her the first MTB of the that era. She was crewed by two officers and eight men and during 1939 and 1940 she saw active service mainly in the English Channel, armed with 2 × 21 inch torpedo tubes

During ‘Operation Dynamo’, the evacuation of the British Force and Allies from Dunkirk, she crossed the channel eight times. When the Destroyer HMS Keith was disabled by a bomb from a Stuka dive bomber, Rear Admiral Wake-Walker transferred to MTB 102, using her as his flagship for the last two nights of the operation, directing the incoming and outgoing vessels at Dunkirk. (As she carried no Rear Admirals flag, one was created with an Admiralty dishcloth and some red paint!)

She had a top speed 43 Knots fully loaded, powered(originally) by three Isotta Fraschini 57 litre petrol engines, each producing a whopping 1100hp. No surprise this made her the fastest wartime British naval vessel in service.

After the war, like so many navy vessels, she fell into civilian hands and her condition slowly spiralling downhill, eventually being found by Norfolk Scout Group in 1973. She very poor condition, but had finally been saved.

102 is one of few surviving motor torpedo boats that served with the Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy in the Second World War and today, is looked after by a Trust which finds sponsorship and donations to look after her.

She is a regular at Brightlingsea Regatta in the Spring/Summer thrilling adults and small boys alike! You only have to look at her to know she is something special…

If you would like to know more please take a look at http://www.mtb102.com where you can also find events lists and newsletters.

Brightlingsea church – honouring lost seafarers for well over two Centuries.

Brightlingsea’s connection with the sea is not just illustrated by shipbuilding or sailing. All Saints Church, parts of which date to the 13^th century and situated just outside the town contains unique memorials to parishioners who have lost their lives at sea – 213 memorial tiles, to be exact. Each tile placed in a frieze which runs around the nave wall.

The tiles were started by the Reverend Arthur Pertwee, who was particularly concerned with the welfare of the sailors and fishermen. He served Brightlingsea for 50 years, from 1872-1912 and even in his old age was well known for rushing to the church and climbing the tower to raise a light to guide fishermen safely home in a storm. In March 1883, however, there was a terrible storm in the North Sea and he was shocked to hear of the loss of over 200 sailors across the counties that bordered the North Sea – and 36 of them were from his own parish of Brightlingsea.

Reverend Pertwee decided that a tile should be made in memory of each one of his parishioners lost at sea. Not just for that tragic event in March but right back to 1872, when he had begun his incumbency at All Saints Church. The first tile is dedicated to William Day and his son, David. The ship they were working on went down off the coast of Hartlepool.

At first these tiles were limited to mariners by occupation, but this eventually changed to include anyone from Brightlingsea who lost their lives at sea. Hence, you can see a tile commemorating Sidney Siebert, who was not a fisherman but was lost in the wreck of the Titanic in 1912. There are now over 212 tiles, each unique, each telling a story of tragic loss but leaving an enduring memory. It’s a reminder of how closely the people of Brightlingsea have historically been tied to the sea. The last tile is dated 1988 and is dedicated to David E. Clifford who lost his life while on duty on the M.V. Union Jupiter.

Reverend Pertwee’s idea was supported by the churchwardens, and then continued by their successors. The number of new tiles has reduced decade by decade, due to improvements in safety at sea and boat design but the tiles will always remain as tribute to not only those Brightlingsea men and women lost at sea but one man who dedicated his life to caring for and remembering his seafaring parishioners.

After a recent conversation with a regular costomer, we felt it was worth asking – when was the last time you had your system inspected by a registered marine gas engineer? The regulators themselves have a life, likewise any rubber hose sections. Placement and storage are important, as well as end use. If you spoke to your boat insurer you would be surprised how often they would like to see a gas inspection on-board. Think it’s a storm in a tea cup? On average, there are 89 fire related accidents and injuries on boats every year…

Take care. Get it inspected – regularly.

Hopefully(!) you will have noticed our new website, which along with our recent branding overhaul, should serve Morgan Marine well for many years to come. You will find all the existing content from the previous site on here but in a far easier to navigate format as well as plenty of content not seen before. One thing that is no longer available is the online shop. Whilst our chandlery continues to operate with a whole host of parts, spares, supplies, clothing, safety equipment, watersports and gifts, we can no longer offer online purchasing and are dedicated to local and walk in custom. We can still take telephone orders and arrange delivery of goods but can only take payment via bank transfer. We no longer accept credit or debit cards for telephone orders.