Current Owner's Comment - 18m MV Maureen

The vessel Maureen was in very good condition when the current owner purchased her in Inverness in November of 2011. The pictures on this site are from the site advertising the boat for that sale.

Recent pictures of the damage to the boat can be seen at: https://www.info-express.us/maureen/images/.

The current (now deceased) owner paid £140k for the boat and planned to convert it to a commercial marine survey vessel to use in his business. He had minor repairs done and had it inspected and certified as a workboat.

Shortly after that the boat was moved to Royal Quays Marina in Newcastle, where it has remained to this day.

After the move the owner, who lived in Wales, hired someone to tend to the boat. That person did so for several years, and then died. The owner was having health issues of his own and didn't hear about the death. The boat sat at the dock for several more years with no attention. The current owner then died and the boat remained at the dock, with no attention, until an administrator of the estate was appointed a year or so later.

By that time the boat had suffered substantial damage due to neglect. The hull and main deck are wood, and as the paint and other protective coverings peeled off the deck seams opened and rain water started leaking in. This went on for at least a year, and the boat started settling in the water. The marina manager fortunately noticed this and broke into the boat and had it pumped.

The leaks damaged some things inside the boat and the bare wood on the outside of the boat began to rot, allowing more rain water to seep in.

The estate, when notified of this by the marina, took action to keep most of the water out and to keep the boat pumped down to a reasonable level. Considering what a lovely boat it was in 2011, it is very sad to look at it now.

The estate does not want to deal with this, and would rather sell it for very little than expend the time and money to fix it up and sell it for substantially more.

This is an opportunity for someone with the proper skills to pick up a boat with a lot of potential. It could be brought back to life and you could cruise on it for years. It would make an excellent liveaboard. There is a lot of potential here for the right person.

Be advised that the insurance and moorage will be paid through the date of the sale. The moorage at the current location is approximately £5800 per year. Insurance is approximately £600.

Feel free to send questions to [email protected].

Previous Owner's Comment - 18m MV Maureen

I was attracted to this vessel because she had been very lightly used and unusually the hull and deck was planked in Iroko hardwood rather than in softwood which would be more usual for a Scottish M FV type. Also the engine is fairly new having been replaced in 1999.

Following purchase in autumn 2008 the vessel was wintered afloat at Inverness and refitted under cover at Corpach Boatbuilding Co Ltd during 2009 with the intention of commissioning it for passenger charters.

After a detailed survey report the vessel was repaired as required after the hull was stripped back to bare timber. The deck gallows, hydraulic crane and deck winch were removed. Some aesthetic alterations were made to the superstructure with the skip added around the wheelhouse roof and the deckhouse roof extended aft to provide shelter over the afterdeck. The transom swimboard and ladder was added.

The operation of the generator was not satisfactory and a new generator was installed, the DC electrics were upgraded with a 3 kW charge/inverter installed and a battery management system incorporated.

The after section of the deckhouse was stripped out and rebuilt in all new materials to provide a comfortable saloon and all electric galley.
During refit all through hull valves were overhauled as required.

The vessel was originally coded and was surveyed during refit by MCA under Category 2 of the Code of Practice for Small commercial Motor Vessels, it remains for the final afloat survey to the completed prior to issue of a Category 2 certificate.

The vessel is only now for sale as my ill health prevents my operating the vessel as intended.