Published: September 13, 2008
Burnham's former pilot boat returns to water as renovation is completed

A project to renovate Burnham-On-Sea's former pilot boat was completed on Saturday evening (September 13th) when the familiar orange vessel was hoisted out of the town's boat yard into the River Brue.

The boat was a familiar sight in Bridgwater Bay for over 30 years until it was taken off service in 2006 (as reported here) to make way for a modern £50,000 pilot boat.

However, Burnham-On-Sea Sailing Club acquired the boat and its members have spent many hours working on it to make it seaworthy again.

The Sailing Club's Graham Wills told Burnham-On-Sea.com the project had costed around £2,500.

"A lot of work has been put in on strengthening the boat's hull and giving it a full revamp. It's great to see her afloat again."

The club now intends to use it for race marshaling and maintenance of the pontoons in the River Brue.

A huge crane was used to lift the boat out of the Sailing Club's boat yard, as pictured here, and then lower it into the river estuary besides the club's pontoons. The work came almost exactly two years after the pilot boat went off service.

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