Ian Standingford has been in touch to say that there’s an Essex-built example of the American-designed Seagull design up for sale on Apollo Duck.
Here’s what he says about it:
‘Hi Gavin,
‘Browsing on “Apollo Duck” I see there is one such for sale.
‘Boy Martin is well known in the Benfleet and Leigh area and seems to be in nice order… I would be tempted to buy her myself but have others to look after!
‘I note she was built by Leslie Warland, whose yard was on Leigh marshes, near the bridge over to Two Tree island.
‘As a lad in the 1960s, I loved to wander around this ramshackle place, which was home to several barges…one I think was called Edith & Hilda, and there was also a Dutchman or two, and many yachts of all descriptions in various stages of decay. No trace remains now. Does anyone else remember it?
‘Best wishes, Ian’
Thanks Ian!
It brings tears to an “Old Leigh Bouys” eyes, “Boy Martin” was a long standing fixture on the waterfront back in my far distant youth. Memory tells me she was blue back then but I may be wrong of course! My Father wintered his boats at Les Warland’s yard too and I well remember sneaking in to see what was building and to breath in those heady aromas only boatyards seem to have…Happy days.