Historic boat handed back to Conwy

Jul 14 2011 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

A HISTORIC boat called Emma was handed back to the town of Conwy last Friday by the students who helped restore her.

Since last September students from Coleg Llandrillo’s marine department have used their newly acquired boat building and marine engineering skills to restore the 1920s harbour launch to her former glory.

The completed vessel will be used as a support boat for the 43ft Helen 2 nobby boat which is also currently the subject of a restoration project on Conwy Quay.

James Lehane, supervisor for the marine course, said: “When Emma arrived she was in a sorry state but the students have worked hard to renovate her.

“They have replaced planks, ribs and deck boards, and lockers have been added fore and aft.

“We have also replaced the seized engine and installed a new fuel system. The vessel has also been rewired and the navigation systems updated during the course of the year.”

Emma will be on display during Conwy River Festival. Once the restoration of the nobby boat is complete, both vessels will continue to benefit the community as training vessels.

Alan Sharp, from Llandudno RNLI, contact the Weekly News to tell us more about Emma’s interesting history.

Alan said: “This little boat has an interesting history and was at one time owned by our RNLI mechanic and crew member at Llandudno lifeboat station, Les Jones.

“The boat, then unnamed, was used as a safety and work boat on the Menai Straits during the reconstruction of the fire-damaged Britannia Bridge, work which was completed in 1970.

“She was then stored out of use, together with another similar craft, in a shed in Bangor for a number of years.

“By the 1990s she had entered service as a club launch with Conwy Cruising Club, after which she was acquired by Les, our mechanic, who named the boat Emma after his daughter.

“Les kept the craft at Conwy Marina for four years, using her for sea fishing trips and family outings before deciding to sell her.”