Jump to content




Watchful - BA124


  • Owner: Guest
  • Uploaded: May 24 2009 12:28 PM
  • Views: 3,491
  • Category: Scottish Boats
Watchful - BA124

Watchful - BA124 seen here on permanent display at the Port of Ayr (Scotland) - 18th May 2009.

She is meant to be a memorial to all Fishermen who have lost their lives at sea.

Built in by Weatherhead and Blakey at Port Seton during 1955. A ring-net herring boat until decommissioned at Campbeltown in 1995.
Homeport was Maidens.




    Hugh Paterson
    Jun 01 2012 07:26 PM
    Jesus, would someone give that old girl a tin o paint ffs

    Jay Cresswell
    Jun 01 2012 07:55 PM
    I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is an appalling example of so-called maritime preservation. A memorial to lost fishermen? Well, if she is then there needs to be respect. That appears to be absent, judging by her appearance and condition (even though Watchful has been tarted up a bit since this pic was taken)

    bryan DE127
    Jun 01 2012 07:57 PM
    sad to see her in such a poor state no wheelhouse or riggin,you would think there would be funding some ware to put her back to the way she was in her heyday at the ringing.

    Hugh Paterson
    Jun 02 2012 07:52 AM
    I have to agree with you Jay, the Scottish Maritime museum at Irvine also has a "collection" of vessels that were in a woeful condition the last time I paid a visit, we just dont seem to do it right in Scotland although the fisheries museum in Fife has a lot going for it. If the Carrick had a small percentage of the monies that the Cutty Sark has had spent on her she wouldnt be in the nick shes in either. Now I see the MOD are considering scrapping the Caroline in Belfast, shes a poitive time "warp" inside.....some Maritime Nation we are??

    Jay Cresswell
    Jun 02 2012 09:57 AM
    Hugh
    Quite
    It really is time to shake things up
    I had no idea about the threat to the Caroline
    That she be scrapped would be nothing short of criminal
    As for Carrick, that was botch after botch after botch
    At least the Australians appear to value the old gal
    Turning to the SFM, don't forget that the preservation of the zulu Research was also botched ... BIG TIME
    WTF is wrong with us here in not just Scotland but the UK as a whole?
    Cross to the other side of the North Sea and, by and large, they do a good job ... even in France, which did trail for many years
    That said, Douarnenez is cash strapped and has had to put vessels into the graveyard just a few hundred metres from the collection
    But back to Watchful ... memorial? That's got to be a very bad joke
    The best memorial to the ring net men right now has to be Shemaron
    You've got to admire Chris for his tenacity
    And she's a beautiful boat

    Hugh Paterson
    Jun 02 2012 06:56 PM
    Aye Shemaron is where we want to be in a couple of years but a lot of graft required before thats a possibility.
      Were not going in the same direction however, it was never our intention to maintain the Gem as a "retired" fishing boat.... were relocating the wheelhouse forward and adding a Deck saloon behind it. Down below the fore peaks going to be a double cabin, same to stbd in the fish hold, to port "steerage" accomodation for the occasional guests (bunk room). We replaced the vertical ladder today with a 24" stair case for improved access, new bulkheads going in soon to divide the hull and allow for the 3 cabins a shower and toilet. Grey water tank in the bilge, 2 new fresh water tanks, a reconditioned hydraulic anchor winch (save oor backs), a 9-10 KVA genset, solar panels on the saloon/bridge roof . Dinghy chocks on the saloon roof and a hoisting boom added to mast to chuck it up there to save towing it. Meanwhile were still doing deck and frame repairs. The bulwarks and frame heads might get chopped to be replaced by stanchions and new Bulwarks over the next couple of years in slow time. Were trying to salvage em first and replace the dodgy ones as required, (watch this space)?? Im ex R.N. and RNR, I know the Carrick and the Caroline very well.....both make my blood boil, as does the Unicorn up in Dundee. Chopping wooden MFVs that have years of use left in them when they are no longer fishing makes me want to cry. Wooden boats have a soul, and dont deserve either a chain saw or static rot like the watchful. The Historic register should have access to more National lottery monies, that could go a long way to saving a few "speciman" craft. Static museum craft like the Cutty Sark, Victory and a few others shouldnt be in dry Docks they should be FLOATING, time is running out to pass on the traditional skills required from current wooden boatbuilders/shipwrights to teach a new generation required to maintain, never mind build large scale craft or ships....The  Cutty Sark is a case in point.....scientists required to reverse galvanic corrosion of the composite construction in the hull, from previous ill advised conservation techniques????
    Rant over......where are you with slipping your own boat?
    Shugster

    Jay Cresswell
    Jun 02 2012 07:58 PM
    Hugh, the Gem is already a credit to you and you will do an excellent job of the conversion; I've little doubt of that
    Sequoiah is getting dragged out in the hoist at Inverness ... five days for bottom and topsides fettle ... basically a good belt sanding and recoating ... plus the niggling concerns like a transducer and checking shaft. All anodes were renewed middle of last year. Need to recoat the guardrails and stuff like that too (spent small fortune on Jotun paints and three-year antifouling ... as one does)
    I also need replace a mainmast spreader (make template, cut a new one and fit the thing) and possibly decklights

    Hugh Paterson
    Jun 03 2012 05:49 AM
    Were using Teamac paint + international antifoul Jay, as you say got a fright at the price of the foul,  25 litre tins aint cheap anymore. Were off out today to "source" some timber for the deck and cap rails, will need to close up the hole below the wheelhouse sole when we move it forward. Alan gave me the contact details of the fella he got the Oak from but im looking at some Larch and pitch pine today.....have fun, hope the weather holds out for u to crack it quick.
    later

    Jay Cresswell
    Jun 03 2012 06:45 AM
    Hugh
    Make sure you use the likes of pitchpine or oregon for your deck bits ... stable and doesn't shrink, etc like oak
    good luck!

    Hugh Paterson
    Jun 03 2012 08:34 PM
    Thats the plan for the pitch pine Jay, I also used pitch pine for the plank repairs a couple of months ago in lieu of Larch (came free with boat), thats the best kind.