VROOM VROOM or Softly Softly - Mike King

Sketch drawing from John Leather's wonderful book, Smacks and Bawleys, depicting Endeavour motoring with another cockler under sail.
Sketch drawing from John Leather's
wonderful book, Smacks and Bawleys,
depicting Endeavour motoring with another
cockler under sail.
When Endeavour was built in 1924 she was the first Leigh cockle boat to have an engine fitted. This was to enable her to return to the cockle sheds as quickly as possible after the harvesting – the other boats would be slower because they relied on the wind, which might not be friendly. Thus, she marked the transition, in Leigh, between fishing under sail and by motor.

Back first, on the steam train to Fenchurch Street, first at Billingsgate fish market secured the best price, and the cost of the engine soon paid off.

Committee members view the newLister engine provided by Marine Engine Services Ltd (Lister Petter).
Committee members view the new
Lister engine provided by Marine Engine Services Ltd (Lister Petter).

When she was restored we were fortunate to get an engine from the same manufacturer Lister, and this has given us excellent service, and we rely on it for the passages we make.

However our lady looks at her most graceful with the brown and white sails up, and the peace that follows the engine being stopped is wonderful.


Steve Hall hand stitching one of Endeavour’s jibs.
Steve Hall hand stitching one of Endeavour’s jibs.

Her rig is exactly as it was in 1924 with the main, staysail and jibs all excellently made by Steve Hall of North Sea Sails - research into their configuration was done by Steve and John Leather, now sadly no longer with us.

One feature of the mainsail is that it is ‘loose footed’, which means that there is no boom along the bottom of the sail. This enables the skipper to ‘brail up’ the sail alongside the mast so that it is out of the way when working on deck. Brailing up can also be used to reduce the sail area – similar to reefing – if the skipper needs to slow the boat. She is well balanced whether one or two headsails are aloft.

Yes, she is a lovely lady, at her best with all sails set, quietly slipping through the water, with no thudding engine breaking the dream.

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