Boat Maintenance - Help Wanted

Work Parties are on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Anyone interested, please contact Peter on 01702 711 958.

 Boatbuilding

Leigh-on-Sea is a fishing port which in 1564 had a fleet of 31 ships crewed by 261 Leigh mariners. Boat building has always taken place in the town and the Endeavour is the last remaining Leigh-built commercial craft. Leigh also built ships for the Royal Navy and the Mayflower is said to have been constructed in Leigh. Endeavour was the first cockle-boat to be launched with an engine fitted in addition to sails and so marked a transition in fishing boat use when she was launched in 1924.

At the moment, Endeavour is undercover and being worked on by professional boat builders who specialise in restoring old fishing boats. In 2004 we hope that she will be replanked have her interior fitted out and a new deck installed. Then she will be ready for volunteers to do the less skilled work “under supervision” and then be back in the water in 2005.

For more information on Old Leigh, please visit www.oldleigh.com.