The hull is of clinker build of Mahogany on Canadian Elm risings and stringers.
Sail Area:
-
Date Built:
1964 (213/216/1964 and 1965 (27/216/1965)
Boat Yard:
All dockyard construction
Fig. 1 (on left) - Whaler Number 213/64
afloat on Mast Pond prior to refit
The photograph Fig. 2.4 shown here is of the most recent acquisition to the trust. She is a Montague whaler, 27 Feet overall and clinker built using Mahogany planking on Canadian Elm ribs / frames and risers. She was built in 1964 at the Apprentices school at Flathouse jetty at Rudmore in Portsmouth and was one of the last in service with the Royal Navy. This whaler is currently undergoing a small refurbishment programme due for completion in early 2002 at which time she will go back onto the mast pond for display purposes and being in very good condition she will also be available for demonstration use.
The smaller photographs shown below, demonstrate some of the early stages of work being carried out, namely replacement of the starboard rubbing strip and a forward section of capping, one thwart and several knees and gratings.
Figs. 2, 3 & 4 - Restoration work underway
The trust also has a second whaler that it has owned for several years. This boat was built by shipwrights in Devonport Dockyard in 1965. She is shown below at an early stage in her program and as can be seen is undergoing some extensive refitting. At present stage, today, she has had about half of the projected work completed.
This involved the replacement of several of the ribs, 280 foot of planking, the gunnels, rubbing strips and all of the capping. In addition much of the internal fitting has also been rebuilt with a lot of work in progress. The photographs below show the bow section being planked and as she is today following some of the fitting out
Figs. 5 & 6 - Whaler Serial Number 213/216/1965 during early stage
restoration and current stage of the bow section rebuild
Restoration started in 1997with work suspended for some 18 months, now the planned completion is later in 2002 when she will also be put afloat on the mast pond for display and exhibition use.
Both whalers will be fully rigged for sail when completed.
