Beautiful old boats rotting in Maldon

dylanwinter

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I am slowly posting all the KTL films up for free now that the subscription idea has pretty much fallen apart

and I had forgotten about this one

http://youtu.be/gV1r3cb9J4w

it was a bittersweet tour around a boatyard in Maldon - beautiful, melancholic.

Why do people own old wooden boats and then just let them rot away. I remember an old Caprice I saw moldering in the corner of a yard in Bembridge. The man pays the £150 a year for the space and comes to see it once a year. The boatyard owner did ask why he keeps it - the answer "to keep the dream alive."

but to have a dream that is falling apart is such a sad thing.

Dylan
 

Poignard

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"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; etc"


Anyway, it wouldn't be a proper boatyard without some old boats mouldering away. :)

ps And old owners too. The sort who are going to get the boat sorted out 'one day' and then take off for that dream voyage.
 
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r_h

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I remember an old Caprice I saw moldering in the corner of a yard in Bembridge.

I have a feeling that's my old boat - I bought it when I was 17 and replaced the decks and transom. I sold her three years later to a carpenter who took really good care of her, but he moved on to bigger boats and it was sad to she her a few years ago looking in a sorry state.
 

dylanwinter

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no pix no proof

This is but nothing.

Go and look at Iron Wharf Faversham.

Perhaps someone will have some piccies to post.

love to see some pix or a video tour

the old boats are a series of moldering time capsules

as for the plastic boats - immortal - they eventually get cut up after some-one has plundered the ballast

Dylan
 

Spuddy

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There's one of those oh so cute Hillyard 2 1/2 tonners at the back in Hoo. I'm told it was OK a few years ago but just been left for seams to gape and timber to rot. Apparently owner pays the yard fees
 

maby

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Probably very few, most will still be going strong. The abandoned ones will be the crap designs, all the lovely classics will find new carers. And don't try & tell me there are no lovely old GRP classics, cos there are loads!

I've had a long standing ambition for one of our friends to buy a beautiful classic wooden yacht - that we could sail on without all the hassle of keeping it afloat and looking beautiful. :)
 

dylanwinter

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As a cameraman and boat lover

As a cameraman and boat lover I am so pleased that there are blokes who are prepared to dedicate their lives to wooden boats

it is a bit frightenign though to go into a boat yard in June and there they are - sweating away in their boiler suits while us tupperware owners have been on the water for six months

but my journey around the UK would not be the same without some of these exceptional boats

we are very lucky to have such a rich sailing heritage


all big free films by the way - just click on the titles rather than the mini films


http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/category/boat-archive/yachts-and-workboats/

and

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/category/boat-archive/dinghies-and-dayboats/
 

millbeach

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To be honest, most of the old rotting boats are owned by older chaps.
They hang on to there boats, in the belief that they will one day get back on the water.
Truth is, they think if they get rid of said boats, they will be finished for ever on the water.
Some would have trouble climbing into there boats, let alone sailing them.
Will come to us ALL one day..:(:(
 

Paul_G

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upmarket

thank you Dylan, Maldon has gone extremely upmarket since we had a boat on a mud berth there with a very rickety jetty (!) some 40 years ago, it brought back memories :)

P
 

AntarcticPilot

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One problem with many of these 1960's boats is that they aren't restoreable; they were built of plywood and the plywood has deteriorated to the point where the only feasible method of restoration would be to completely dismantle the boat and use it as a pattern for a new one.
 
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