Volunteers needed to restore Conwy Nobby boat

Feb 25 2010 by Eva Ketley, North Wales Weekly News

VOLUNTEERS are needed to help restore a historical Nobby boat back to its prime.

The community project has been put together to complement the current redevelopment of Conwy Quay which aims to reinforce the Quayside’s links to Conwy’s maritime heritage.

The current ‘interim’ phase of the works covers demolition of redundant buildings and opening the Quayside up to allow further restoration of the town walls and to provide a fisherman’s compound, an event space and an interpretation area.

The Nobby project utilises an area of the event space and will be fenced whilst allowing public viewing of the restoration works. Conwy Council has provided £25,000 as initial funding to create the initial infrastructure, and to set up the Jamie Roddick Morecambe Bay Prawner Restoration Trust. Jimmy Roddick, the previous owner of the boat, is an experienced restorer of Nobby boats.

Students from Coleg Llandrillo will help to restore Helen 2, the 40ft long classic sailing boat built from oak in 1910. The students based at Coleg Llandrillo’s new £8.2m marine and built environment centre will use traditional skills to restore the vessel.

The prawner will need painstaking restoration work, and it’s thought the work will take two to three years to complete.

Tony Mead, Conwy’s harbour master and secretary of the charitable trust, said: “The boat is in a pretty dilapidated state but it is recoverable.

“I would like to see more volunteers to help with the restoration work, anyone who has an interest in maritime history.

“Any youth groups would also be very welcome.

“Nobby boats are famous for being sea kindly boats, there are quite a few left in Conwy, but only one is still used as a shrimpping boat.”

Once the boat is restored it will be available for community groups.

Tony said: “Ten people at a time will be able to go out in her.

“They will be able to learn a range of maritime skills.

“But at the moment that’s a long way off because there’s a massive amount of work to do.

“The first thing is to put a roof over her and as soon as she’s protected from the weather we can get on with it.

If anyone would like to help with the restoration of Helen 2, call Tony Mead on 01492 596253.