Trawler Renovation on our Doorstep

We have a new project on our horizon here at The Royal an Lochan.

For those that have stayed or dined with us recently, you may have noticed the fishing vessel that has taken up anchorage outside the hotel. Local residents, Stuart and Yvonne and their children (Gemma, Ashley and Cameron) have bought this wonderful boat to renovate and convert into a spacious, comfortable family cruising boat.

Fishing boat Jasper moored in front of the Royal an Lochan.

The boat’s original name was Jasper, and although it has had a number of other names Stuart will be going back to its original name. So we would like to welcome Jasper into the stunning views from the hotel by keeping a blog on her progress. Progress may seem slow to start but Stuart has a five year plan to complete the renovation, which includes doubling the size of the existing wheel house and converting this 59’ long and 18’ wide vessel to the eight births he has planned.

Jasper was built by Alexander Noble and Sons of Girvan, a company founded in 1946 and were one of the finest boat building companies in Scotland. Jasper was launched in 1968, weighing some 30 tonnes; she was set to work as a ring-net vessel, fishing for herring during the boom times.

For those interested in the technical stuff, so far I have learned from Stuart that it has a 230 horse power Gardner 8L3B engine which he hopes to fully restore back to its original condition.

Trawler Jasper in her new Kyles of Bute home for the summer

Jasper’s next trip in a few weeks time will be to Ardmaleish Boat Yard, based at Port Bannatyne on the isle of Bute, where she will stay in dry dock for 3-4 weeks undergoing work to her hull, propeller and work to re-sealing her deck. Then she will be back outside our hotel for a month or so until she goes to her winter mooring further north past Rhuban.

We wish Stuart all the best with this renovation and look forward to updates from him, which we shall pass onto you in our blog.

Christine