The Schools Marine Challenge is an exciting project that introduces students to the world of Marine Engineering, whilst giving a great context for the delivery of technology-based subjects.  This highly successful project has been running since 2002 and currently operates in the South West and South East.

Schools Marine Challenge

3 Painters in a Boatshed... Watching the River Flow was featured on ITV Westcountry News on Wedsnesday 4th September.

Rita Smith, one of the featured artists of the exhibition, and Mike Hooton, joint owner of Weir Quay Boatyard  were both interviewed and many of the works could be seen with some of the scenery that inspired the artists.

Boatyard is Focus for River Paintings
by Bill Simpson

On viewing a bustling boatyard employing several skilled men, it’s natural to appreciate the hard labour required for each completed commission, gently slipping into the water when complete. It is busy, noisy and open to the elements and, while cold during the winter months, has a freshness about it during the summer from the river water all the men appreciate.

Seago 150 and 175 Newton Lifejackets including Junior Lifejackets

Updated Safety Notice – Additional Information

We have become aware that some Seago 150 and 175 lifejackets including Junior lifejackets may have a defect which could result in serious injury.

This led to a number of lifejackets being recalled in May 2008

By Jane Honey

STUNNING images of the Tamar Valley are to be displayed in a highly unusual setting in West Devon at the end of this month.
The exhibition is to be staged inside the workshed at Weir Quay Boatyard, to be cleared of boats, timber, paintpots, varnish and a lot of dust specially for the purpose.
The boatyard has been transformed during the last seven years by its present owner, Michael Hooton, and is now a profitable business employing seven local people.
The exhibition idea was sparked by the illustrated tide tables the boatyard has been producing since 2001.
The tables have featured work by Tavistock-based Ian Heard, Richard Allman and most recently by Tamar Valley artist Rita Smith.
The tide tables have now become a valued and distinctive booklet for the sailors and yachtsmen navigating the Tamar estuaries.
Michael said: ‘We believe this is the first time that the visual arts have been used to add brand value to a company in the marine industry and it’s certainly the first time in this country that the arts have been used to enhance the presentation of hydrographic information.
‘It may be that our example will be followed elsewhere and that increasingly, people will try to develop creative ways in which to present dull tables of figures.’
Michael said having given and received commissions from three Devon artists, it seemed appropriate to provide an opportunity for the boatyard customers, local mariners and the community at large to see more of their work.
The two-week exhibition is called ‘Watching the River Flow’.
Michael said: ‘The boatyard is making available its workshed for the purpose. At the moment it’s still full of boats, until a week before the exhibition, when we are taking them out and getting the vacuum cleaners into the workshed, putting up panels for the paintings and lighting.
‘The artists have been asked to provide between 12 and 15 paintings about the river, so there will be a total of about 40 original works.
‘September is the only month of the year when it is commercially possible for the boatyard to clear its shed in this way — there is a brief pause in the time-table between completing the servicing and re-fit work on local yachts and hauling out the boats again for the winter lay-up from October.
‘The timing also coincides with the open studios programme of the ‘Drawn to the Valley’ artists, to which all three exhibiting artists belong.’
The exhibition will enable the artists to work at the boatyard during the exhibition and introduce visitors and members of the viewing public to their work and how it is produced.
Michael said ‘Watching the River Flow’ was part of the boatyard’s continued drive to revitalise the historic Tamar Valley.
‘The Tamar was one of the busiest rivers in the country in the middle of the 19th century — it was busier than the Mersey,’ he said.
‘Anything we can do to start bringing a bit more life and regeneration to the river is a good thing, otherwise it will ultimately just silt up.’
‘Watching the River Flow’ at Weir Quay Boatyard runs from Saturday August 30 to Friday September 12, between 10am and 6pm daily.

With Solent boatyard bills soaring, YM's production editor Kieran Flatt explains in Sea change (p58) why, over the years, he's downsized from posh marina to swinging mooring. This year, he reckons he'll save another £1,000 by moving his yacht 170 miles west from Portsmouth to the rural idyll of Weir Quay, on the River Tamar.

Here, his boat will serve as a country cottage for weekend getaways. As an extra bonus, Kieran is looking forward to exploring a whole new cruising ground on his doorstep. Every sailing trip will feel like a 'proper holiday' he says.

Of course, there are drawbacks, as well as plus points. It's a long drive to Plymouth and he can't just pop down to check the boat before a gale warning. But making savings demands sacrifices. Sailing, after all, is a luxury. But we mustn't get trapped into feeling guilty at enjoying the Great Escape - casting off to leave behind our land-bound woes.

Exhibition of Paintings about the Tamar River

Saturday 30th August - Friday 12th September
10am - 6pm daily

Private View Friday 29th August 6pm - 8pm

Having given and received commissions from 3 separate regional artists with very different individual styles for our tide tables, it seemed appropriate to provide an opportunity for the WQB customers, local mariners and the community at large to see more of their work. Accordingly, we have invited the Tide Table artists to produce marine work and specifically work on and around the Tamar River for a 2-week exhibition at the Boatyard entitled ‘Watching the River Flow’.

IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING

Seago 150 and 175 Newton Lifejackets including Junior Lifejackets

Seago Yachting have become aware that some Seago 150 and 175 Newton Lifejackets including Junior Lifejackets may have a defect which could result in serious injury.

The lifejackets are marked with a manufacture date in roman numerals, for instance the last quarter of 2005 is shown IV/05. The quarters concerned are:

IV/05

I/06

II/06

A 70-year-old gaff cutter that has had a major refit was blessed and renamed at Weir Quay Boatyard last Friday. The boat was built as Rowan IV on the Clyde in 1938 for a Glasgow surgeon, Dr RB Carslaw, who kept her all his life. She is now owned by retired veterinary surgeon Nelson Bowden, of Bere Ferrers.

She was featured in Dr Carslaw’s book, Leaves from Rowan’s Logs: Cruising the Western Isles and West Coast, and is a Loch Fyne skiff fitted out as a private yacht. She is mahogany-planked, splined above the waterline, on heavy oak frames iwth a teak dog house and superstructure.

The local rector, the Rev Nick Law, performed the blessing on the boat, which was dressed overall, and she was then renamed Darcy Patricia by Mr Bowden’s daughter in the presence of approximately 50 of the owner’s friends and family. She was later launched.