In this episode, Alan, our seasoned boatbuilder, shares the story behind the meticulous restoration of our classic vessel’s transom—the structural and visual backbone of Jinnie. From assessing years of wear and water damage to selecting the right timber, nails, and techniques, he walks through each stage of the process with precision and respect for traditional craftsmanship. Blending practical expertise with a deep appreciation for maritime heritage, this restoration reveals not just how a transom is rebuilt, but why it matters. Whether you’re a boat enthusiast, a craftsman, or simply curious about life on the water, this is a detailed look at the care, skill, and patience required to bring a historic old oyster skiff like Jinnie back to life.

After a well-earned winter rest, Charles Harker — Pioneer CK18’s trusty tender — is on her way back where she belongs: the water. Fresh from maintenance and a smart new paint job, she’s looking better than ever and ready to be reunited with Pioneer. With another season ahead, full of promise and adventure, Charles Harker is set to once again play her part in the journeys to come — supporting, exploring, and making memories along the way. Here’s to calm waters, open horizons, and many more exciting days out on the water. Welcome back, Charles Harker ⚓ #pioneersailingtrust #pioneerck18 #charlesharker #boatlife #boattender

In this Episode, boatbuilder Alan and Pioneer Sailing Trust apprentice Jamie work on Jinnie's aft knee, the structural, triangular bracket that reinforces the connection between the transom (rear), hull sides, and deck beams to prevent wracking and twisting. The aft knee is essential for structural integrity, particularly at high-load points, and is installed using mastic in Jinnie's case. To see the rest of Jinnie's restoration journey, please subscribe to keep up to date with our most recent progress. Thank you to National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting our marine heritage restoration projects.

In Episode 4, we continue the restoration of Jinnie’s keel. Alan is back in the workshop, guiding us through the process in greater detail and explaining the careful work involved in restoring Jinnie’s original keel. Alan talks us through glue, shoe, acetone, and keel bolts, highlighting how the team must work quickly due to the rapid curing time of the epoxy. Alan and Jamie then bring the keel up and lift it back into Jinnie, marking a major milestone in the restoration. Some of the materials featured in this episode include @WestSystemEpoxy from our friends at @Marineindustrial4334, general-purpose oil-based mastic, and Jamie's much-loved Snap-on spanners. If you’re interested in traditional boatbuilding, restoration, or the craftsmanship that keeps historic working boats alive, this mini-documentary is for you. 👉 Subscribe to follow Jinnie’s restoration journey.

Happy New Year, and welcome back to our mini-documentary series! 🎉 In Part 3, master boat-builder Alan Fuller takes us deep into the heart of Jinnie—the keel. Jinnie is an old oyster skiff we’re restoring with the hope of getting her back where she belongs: on the water. In this episode, Alan walks us through the condition of Jinnie’s original keel, revealing years of wear, damage, and hard use. We document the challenging process of dropping and removing the keel from the rest of the boat, and Alan explains exactly what a keel is, why it’s so critical to a vessel’s structure, and what happens when it fails. With the old keel badly worn, accurate measurements became a real struggle—but those measurements are essential. The new keel must be perfectly sized to fit the boat, and even small errors could cause major problems. Alan also shares insights into the wood selection for the new keel and the traditional methods he and the apprentices will use to build it. This is a process that demands patience, precision, and experience—truly a job of blood, sweat, and tears. If you’re interested in traditional boatbuilding, restoration, or the craftsmanship that keeps historic working boats alive, this episode is for you. 👉 Subscribe to follow Jinnie’s restoration journey and see the new keel come to life in the next chapter.

Thank you to Kevjayphotos for capturing this beautiful footage of Pioneer CK18 from above.

Discover more about Jinnie’s anatomy and the materials we plan on using in her restoration, along with a quick look into the history and purpose of clinker-built boats.

#pioneerck18 #sailing #thepioneersailingtrust #marineservices #apprentices #boating #brightlingsea #sailing #heritageengineering #historicrestoration #historicvessel

#thepioneersailingtrust #sailing #pioneerck18 #brightlingsea #boating #apprentices #fishing #oysterskiff #merseaisland #historicvessel #historicrestoration #marineengineer

One of a series of short films on how to set up Pioneer, a classic sailing smack.

One of a series of short films on how to set up Pioneer, a classic sailing smack.

One of a series of short films on how to set up Pioneer, a classic sailing smack.

One of a series of short films on how to set up Pioneer, a classic sailing smack.

One of a series of short films on how to set up Pioneer, a classic sailing smack.

One of a series of short films on how to set up Pioneer, a classic sailing smack.

One of a series of short films on how to set up Pioneer, a classic sailing smack.

One of a series of short films on how to set up Pioneer, a classic sailing smack.

🌊✨ Day trip or sleepover? Why not BOTH?! Come sail Pioneer CK18 and make history your adventure. 🚤⛵ #TrySomethingNew #SailAway #HeritageFundUK #ThePioneerSailingTrust #PioneerCK18

Just left school and wondering what to do next? 📝 Finished your qualifications, but still not found what suits you? 🧑‍🎓 Wondering what your next adventure could be in life? 🤔 Why not look into becoming a Heritage Engineering Technician with us here at The Pioneer Sailing Trust? 🤗⛵️ To find out more information about gaining a Level 3 apprenticeship with us, please feel free to drop us an email at training@pioneersailingtrust.org.uk #apprenticeship #apprentices #heritageengineering #jobs #furthereducation

🎉 Hog pattern? Completed it, mate! 👊⛵️ Alan’s back with the latest on Jinnie and she’s looking 🔥 as the restoration sails ahead! Big love to the legends at @HeritageFundUK and all the National Lottery players – you’re making history happen! 🙌💙 #RestorationGoals #BoatTok #JinnieReturns #HeritageHeroes #BeforeAndAfter #HogPatternMastered #Brightlingsea #HeritageFundUK #ThePioneerSailingTrust