UK Men’s Sheds Association have been contacted by the Britannia Sailing Trust and a family, looking to join forces in helping to get some unfinished projects back afloat.
The Family
From Bedfordshire, a family sadly lost their father recently. He was building a cabin cruiser, which remains unfinished. They are hoping to find any Sheds interested in helping to complete the project. The cabin cruiser is currently in Bedfordshire waiting to be given another chance at going cruising one day!
The cruiser is approximately 20ft long. It is currently on a trolley and would need to be moved onto a trailer for towing. It has potential for a great whole-Shed project for any Sheds who are interested in taking to the water!
If your Shed is interested in talking to the family email us admin@ukmsa.org.uk.
The Britannia Sailing Trust
“Our wooden sailing ship is undergoing restoration (in a Big Shed) in Winkleigh, it has a core group of volunteers, mostly retired men. Our objectives are to get Britannia sailing again, and hopefully to refloat her sometime next year.
In the meantime, there is much work to be done, at various skill levels, and we were thinking that perhaps what we are doing may appeal to some of your Men’s Sheds members. A large wooden sailing vessel is quite an impressive sight, especially when you are walking underneath it.
We can offer people the opportunity to join our team for the day, try out some traditional boat-building techniques and learn how these magnificent vessels are put together. Britannia is the last example of her kind – a class one East Coast Smack – with a long and interesting history. Some of her original timbers are over 400 years old and all the current work on her hull has been undertaken in the traditional manner.”
Visit the Trust’s website here
To help, contact Vicki Samuels -Chair of the Britannia Sailing Trust
Email: britannia1915@gmail.com
Phone: 01837 680036