Video

Description

St. Nessan was the pilot boat for Cork Harbour, Ireland, from 1973 to 1996. She was the back-up boat and lightly used. When sold out of service, her first owner extended her wheelhouse and made a few other changes appropriate to her new life. However she remains as solidly constructed for purpose with iroko planking, stem, keel etc., on oak frames. The deck has been covered with epoxy coated plywood and sheathed over with cloth in epoxy.

After service she remained with her first owner for 20 years until sold to the yard manager of the boatyard where she was kept and maintained. Sadly he passed before being able to enjoy the boat and I bought her in 2017 from his children. Since that purchase I’ve used her regularly for day trips or long-weekends around the Firth of Clyde and its various lochs, through the Crinan Canal or round the Mull of Kintyre. She’s proved reliable and seaworthy.

As with any boat, and particularly wooden, maintenance is ongoing. But in addition to the regular painting, minor repairs etc., I’ve undertaken a refabrication of the wheelhouse with the port side completed and an extra door added in 2023, the starboard side in 2024, and a forward part of the roof still to do this year. Among other items, new deep cycle leisure batteries were replaced in 2023. The Gardner 6LX was overhauled by Seaward Engineering in 2018 and oil and filters have been regularly changed according to schedule with the reverse gear hydraulics refurbished by Tangent Engineering in 2022.

Not long after I bought her, I came to the conclusion that she was over-anoded with the result being some softness around two through-hull anode bolts. I now believe I have the balance correct with just one main and correctly fitted anode on the rudder, and all softness around the old anode repaired. Similarly I’ve repaired a persistent leak that originated at the port bilge keel and St. Nessan is now remarkably dry. I’ve installed a solid fuel (wood or coal) stove fire which is just grand for the cold nights.

When the engine’s running there’s a remarkably efficient heat exchanger which provides hot water, or if you have access to shore power, an equally efficient immersion heater. A shower drains into a shower tray which is emptied with an electric pump. The toilet is Lavac Marine with recently serviced sea cocks (both in and out), seals and pump diaphram.

Not so good things? Right now she looks a mess with different colours and painting unfinished, a deck that needs repainting, panels on the inside of the wheelhouse refitting, a fridge and gas cooker that both work but should be replaced, and rust streaks visible on her hull. The list can carry on, but as her fastenings are galvanised this latter maintenance will be a continuous process for any owner.

Good things? I believe, and in my experience have found, that she is fundamentally a sound and seaworthy vessel for sale at an excellent asking price. Her use is adaptable (continued leisure, work boat, live-aboard?) and with much potential.

She's currently afloat at the Holy Loch Marina by Dunoon, Argyll. If desired, a swinging mooring at the head of the loch is available by separate negotiation.

Copy & paste link below for 5 x short videos of St Nessan 2023 - 2025

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLT69VZAQ9IzfOzKYfVGGZ4TYcZOX1LMb

Specifications

Accommodation

22/04/25 Saloon looking forward, port side: solid fuel stove, table lowers, joins bunk & converts to double berth

22/04/25 Saloon looking forward, strbd side

22/04/25 Saloon looking aft, port side: galley

22/04/25 Saloon looking aft, strbd side, fridge, access to wheelhouse

22/04/25 Heads (Lavac), port side

22/04/25 Heads, shower, port side

22/04/25 looking forward, double berth

22/04/25 Looking aft from frwd double berth

22/04/25 Looking aft from frwd double berth

Engine(s)

11/07/25 Port side

11/07/25 Strbd side

11/07/25 Looking frwd just inside hatch

11/07/25 Port tank gauge

11/07/25 Primary filter

11/07/25 look aft from prt side

Location Map