Home

Harbour Marine Services Ltd is a specialist in the construction, restoration, refit and repair of both traditional and modern boats. We undertake works to all types of craft including yachts, commercial and powerboats in all materials from wood, GRP and steel to ferro and aluminium. Established in 1988, the company employs 14 skilled craftsmen, a marine engineer and electrician and has on-shore storage facilities for 60 vessels with 700sq m of covered workshops, chandlery and moorings.

LATEST NEWS

PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED - We are pleased to announce that Harbour Marine Services have been successful in their planning application for joining the Southwold Boat Yard and our existing shed together, rebuilding and extending the slipway and extending their offices.

RESTORATION OF THE YEAR - We are also pleased to announce that although we did not win Classic Boats Restoration of the Year award we were nominated and short listed and were one of only two boatyardsin the UK to have two vessels short-listed. The vessels were the Saunders and Roe “Gralian” owned by Jonathan and Helen Lewis and the Yachting world five tonner “Dynamene” owned by Vicky Platt and Rhodri Davies. Gralian is presently wintering in Sicily and Dynamene is in St Catherine’s Dock.

 BLUE WATERS THORNYCROFT T.S.D.Y -This lovely T.S.D.Y built in 1934 and owned by Len and Ann South was brought into our boat yard for works to her forward sheer-strake, foredeck and gunwhales. Whilst she has been in our care she has also had her coachroof and wheelhouse roof replaced along with new associated hatches, and a new transom. The bronze and brass deck fittings are being cleaned and polished by her owners. The final stage in this restoration will be to paint and varnish, repair her bilge keels, fit davits and falls for her clinker tender and, of course, fit the new Gin seats. 

COMMERCIAL SURVEY/WINDFARM CATAMARAN “NORFOLK SWIFT” - This vessel was brought to us by Norfolk Marine Ltd who are based in Ireland. Our challenge was to design and build an extension to her wheelhouse to create seating for a further six persons and a survey table. Plugs and moulds were made as required and along with some rewiring, new deck lights, new headlining throughout, a new cabin sole, holding tank, along with new seating throughout the end result is on e of a very serviceable and adaptable craft that can operate as a windfarm vessel, survey vessel, crew transfer vessel, dive boat or general workboat. The works are now complete and she will be soon back at work. (www.norfolkmarine.ie)

WOODEN SPOON-  a Peter Duck class ketch owned by Trevor and Carolina Gordon Pullar came to us from the Hamble for a refit and new rigging and masts. The masts have been transplanted from Maggie May which we converted to a cutter rig some seven years ago. These are now stripped and ready for varnish and a new mast crane has been manufactured for the main mast. The repairs to the decks, new bulwarks, sections of beam shelf and deck beams have been completed and the new chain plates installed. The rubbing strakes and capping rails are now re fitted and splining and repairs to the coachroof sides is complete. Varnishing and painting next. The Yanmar inboard has been stripped by our engineers and rebuilt and once the new bronze keel bolts were fitted has been refitted to the vessel and connected up. 

LEILA - The fourth oldest yacht in existence, built in 1892, was brought to us by the Leila Sailing Trust for a full restoration. We are pleased to say that her new deck beams, hanging knees, lodging knees, beamshelf and blockings are all complete and the bulkheads fitted. The new sub deck was laid after pre fitting and pre painting for obvious reasons last week and after laminating over with the West system the new Iroko covering boards and Pitch Pine decks will be laid. She will be launched this April.  

SPIRIT - Owned by Henry and Amy Walker this lovely Nicholson 39 ketch is nearing completion of a major refit which has included a new Beta inboard, new headlings, new hatches, revarnish of interior, respray of superstructure and new Kiwi non slip deck paint, new teak decks, davits, hatches, windlass, capping rails and new steering system. We have worked alongside her owners who have rewired and re plumbed the vessel whilst also helping with the removal of all the deck fittings underlying our firm belief that owners should, if they so wish, be encouraged to work on their own vessels when they in our care. 

KALULA - This lovely J51 aluminium sloop was brought in last year by Toby and Helen Keppel Compton for a general refit and particular attention to her decks which were teak on  plywood on aluminium. Once the old deck was removed it was discovered that the aluminium decks were paper thin. The cure was to purchase the same grade aluminium as she is built of and using a mix of mechanical fastening and welding lay a new 6mm deck connecting to her knees, stringers and deck beams. Following this all the upperworks were stripped to bare aluminium  and sprayed with Awlgrip after which the non slip areas were coated with Kiwi. The aft cockpit has now been laid with Dek King and the new flush hatches are being fitted to the midships cockpit. Dek king will then be applied here also. A new heating system, pressurised hot water system, new heads, windlass along with a topsides respray and clean up of her underwater sections will see her fit for many more years to come. 

STARUNNER - This lovely fero cerement sloop has had much work carried out over the last ten years since father and son team Toby and Rod fisher purchased her in Brighton. She first arrived by road but now is brought to us from her home port in Chichester whenever works are required. Over this winter we have fitted a new Northern Lights Generator, a new Lewmar windlass and rebuilt the anchor locker. We have also upgraded her bilge pumps and made some alterations to her forward cabin and galley. She will soon be collected and return to Chichester from where she will cruise this summer around Northern France and Jersey. 

PURRFECT ESCAPE - This Jeanneau power catamaran has been brought into us predominantly for refitting to code her for Charter work suitable for six persons 30 miles from safe haven. In carrying these works out to MCA regulations and fitting the required safety gear some of her wiring will be upgraded, new rubbing strakes fitted and her engines overhauled. T.S.D.Y. 'BLUE WATERS' - This 1934 Thornycroft is having her saloon, wheelhouse and foredecks replaced along with a new mahogany transom. Her coach-roof sides have been extensively repaired and will over the next few weeks be re varnished. The stem and breast-hook have both been replaced along with some of her beam-shelf and planking.

 KAJANUS - This steel sloop was purchased by Steve Tingle late last year and is presently undergoing a refit to prepare her for cruising in Northern North Sea and the Baltic. The foredeck and the anchor locker have been cut back and made good with a new anchor locker sole and bulkhead. She has been treated to a new cabin sole which gives full access to her bilges, a new galley fitted, new sprayhood and cockpit cover and she will be rewired. New insulation and headlining along with a Davey stove to keep her and her crew warm along with a new paint job throughout will complete this transformation.