Name Veronica

VERONICA was built as a seine net or ring net fishing boat in 1932 by William Weatherhead of Cockenzie. Her two sister ships were LOTHIAN QUEEN and MARGARETTA. Her hull is carvel built with pitch pine planking on oak frames, fastened with iron nails. She has a typical pointed stern and a pointed bow with a raked curved stem.

She was commissioned by the Sloan Brothers of Maidens in Ayrshire to fish both the east and west coasts of Scotland. The brothers were Thomas (born in 1892), James (born in 1894), John (born in 1886) and William (born in 1888). Their father and brother Matthew were drowned in 1902 in the loss of MAIDEN’S LASS.

On 8 December 1949, VERONICA was bought by John Marshalls Donaldson of 9 Elcho Place, Port Seton, East Lothian and re-registered as LH45.

She remained at Port Seton until May 1975, when she was sold to Donald Peacock. At this time, she was converted by the firm Weatherheads, which was run by the nephew of her original builder. The work included new oak beams and an iroko deck, a pitch pine coach roof, a new pitch pine wheelhouse, new bulwarks, new spruce masts and various planking repairs. Before completion, Weatherheads went into receivership after one hundred and fifty years of boatbuilding. As a result, VERONICA was not finally ready until May 1977, when she was transferred to Glasson Dock.

During July and August 1977, the engine and gearbox were entirely removed along with the propeller and shaft. Twenty per cent of her planking was renewed and refastened, raked and caulked.

In January 1979, the engine was altered to an electric start, then rebuilt and refitted on new bearings. She also had a new cast iron ballast keel in October 1979.  

In 1994, VERONICA was sold for use as a houseboat, based in Ocean Village Marina, Southampton. More repairs were carried out including; the starboard coaming, carling and covering board of the saloon; both the starboard and portside coaming and covering board on the aft cabin, and the starboard side rubbing strake and boards under the bulwarks. She is rigged with a loose footed gaff main and a Bermudan mizzen. The engine is the original inboard Gardner 5L3 diesel, with five cylinders, 15 litres and 88 horsepower, from 1932.