News & Events

Saving Vigilance BM76 – Part 3

Bulkheads gone, planking removed to show the floors

Works begin in earnest – January and February 2023
By early February the bulkheads had been removed, the engine lifted out and ballast removed. Tingles used to carry out repairs to the hull were removed – a 3” soft-shell crab was found living in one of the cracks revealed. The first four planks were taken off, fully revealing the floors. In order to retain the shape, alternate floors were removed. It became apparent that the floors had sagged by approximately 2 inches along the whole of the starboard side, though it is impossible to know at what stage in her life this happened. She certainly would not have been built like that! For this reason the boat framing has been patterned from the Port side and the patterns butterflied so that Port and Starboard are the same shape.

It would be fair to say that these weeks, removing rather than replacing parts of the structure, did feel somewhat destructive to all who visited, though obviously necessary.

Ready to find out more?

Visit our About Vigilance page for information regarding the accommodation on board and what to bring to enhance your voyage

Welcome Aboard

VIGILANCE IS A GAFF-RIGGED KETCH

Still classed as a "Brixham Sailing Trawler" although no longer fishing. She was the last of a long line of beam trawlers or smacks built at Upham's Shipyard in Brixham in 1926. As a heritage vessel of national importance, she is part of the UK Historic Fleet.

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STUNNING 78FT BRIXHAM BUILT SAILING TRAWLER -
DAILY SAILING PROGRAMME OR AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE CHARTER