'Last in line' wooden fishing boat to be restored
BBCThe final wooden fishing boat to work from Hastings beach is to be saved after thousands of pounds were raised towards its restoration.
So far, £5,400 has been donated to fund "modifications and repairs needed to ensure the long term preservation" of retired vessel RX58 Felicity, which was built in 1980 and deregistered two years ago.
The plan is to transfer the boat, described as "a proud reminder of the town's ancient working maritime tradition", to its new home outside The Dolphin Inn on the seafront.
Campaigner Peter Carney, from volunteer group Hastings Wooden Boats, called the 32 ft (10m) long Felicity "the last of her line in so many ways".
Carney said: "She was built in Rye by well-known firm H J Phillips back when the old-time craft of boat building was being threatened."
He said Felicity's manufacture had even been the subject of a BBC About Britain documentary in the early 80s.
"Back then, most were moving over to fiberglass or steel, rather than wood," he said.
Carney added that the boat - also known as a "lugger" due to its asymmetrical, four-cornered sail - was initially named Our Pam & Peter, after the wife and son of its original skipper.
"However, her owner after that renamed her Felicity, after his own wife, which I think earned him lots of brownie points," he said.
"And, since then, the name has just stuck."
Collaborating on the restoration project with Old Hastings Preservation Society and The Hastings Fishermen's Museum, Carney said putting Felicity on display in Hastings' maritime quarter would "keep her heritage afloat for all time".
He said the boat's revamp involved "mostly stabilising what's already there" and "a lot more work" would be necessary were the plan to make it sea-worthy again.
Meanwhile, Carney called on people to keep the donations rolling in to also help "benefit the museum's outdoor exhibits, provide opportunities for volunteers and contribute to the regeneration of the area".
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