Fedoa Team Members

Patrick Moreton

Patrick set up Moreton Marine in September 2005, soon after moving to the Isle of Wight.  The classic yacht scene has always been lively in the Solent area and particularly in Cowes, which has kept Patrick and the team at Moreton Marine busy on various projects from full classic restorations to repairs and maintenance on boats from 13 ft to 100 ft, as well as the woodwork on more modern yachts.  Have a look at www.moretonmarine.co.uk for more details of the projects they have been involved in over the last 8 years.

Prior to moving to Cowes, Patrick and his wife Anna lived on board their own classic yacht, sailing around the Caribbean, Atlantic and back to Europe before settling in Cowes.  This itinerant life provided some interesting work experience, including 2 years boatbuilding in the Naval Dockyard in Bermuda, four months in English Harbour, Antigua working on visiting yachts including J-Class and Super yachts, and a year in Cape Town building and fitting out two new build yachts.

Before becoming a boatbuilder, Patrick was a ship broker in London, having graduated with an Honours Degree from Plymouth University in 1997.  Although interesting, the office environment soon lost its appeal, and he spent a year in Suffolk at the International Boatbuilding Training College (IBTC) doing a traditional boatbuilding course having always had an interest in Classic Yachts and some boatbuilding experience from part time work while at University.   Patrick is also a helm on the Cowes RNLI lifeboat.

Adrian Brooks

Adrian completed his apprenticeship with W.A.Souters of Cowes in 1975, and has been a self-employed boat builder since then.  Projects with Souters included boats for the Aga Khan and Sir Max Aitkin, as well as gun boats, lifeboats and customs launches.  During the 1980's Adrian worked on major refits and rebuilds in Cowes, including the Alfred Mylne designed "Kelpie" and a Looe Lugger - "Our Boys".

More recently Adrian spent 2 years as lead shipwright on the keel up rebuild of "Zoraida", a Dixon Kemp gentleman's cutter built on the Thames in 1888.  SInce 2008 Adrian has been working as a shipwright in Yarmouth where Simon Miskin had already been working for a number of years, where projects have included rebuilding a 1930's cruiser, as well as making a new topmast for "Elenora", from timber to being rigged in 7 days!

Adrian also finds time to run a small holding and is a fully trained steel fabricator.

Adrian and Simon have both joined Moreton Marine specifically to work on the Fedoa Restoration.

Simon Miskin

Simon also started his boatbuilding career in Souters in 1986 and remained there for 5 years.  He then moved to Yarmouth and worked for Harold Hayles Boatyard doing restoration work on various boats including Donald Campbell's "Bluebird", and Sigrid, another large Gentleman's Cruiser built by Camper and Nicholsons in 1920.  Hestayed in Yarmouth and worked at Yarmouth Marine Services for 12 years, working on projects including Camperdown, building the newbuild Yarmouth 23s as well as various other restorations.  Last year he build a wooden scow from scratch.

Simon is a fisherman, kayaker and sailor, and like many Islanders spends plenty of his spare time on the water.

Steven Sheath

Steve joined us at Moreton Marine in 2011 as an apprentice looking to move into Woodwork and traditional boatbuilding.  He had previous marine experience with a boat haul out facility and a commercial boatbuilders.  Since joining us he has picked up many useful skills and is proving to be a very useful hand.  He has now finished his apprenticeship and is a useful member of our team.  Steve claims to be an excellent fisherman going out into the Channel, although we are yet to see evidence of these claims!

Paul Graves

Paul joined us in April this year, having recently completed a one year practical boatbuilding course at the International Boatbuilding Training College in Suffolk, from which he graduated early this year with a distinction.  This is an intensive traditional boatbuilding course encompassing everything from lofting out plans right through laying a keel, planking and fit-out, to finishing a classic yacht.

Since working here he plunged straight in and has already contributed to both classic and new-build projects, and is now full time on the Fedoa project.

Prior to entering the world of wooden boats Paul was a tree surgeon, as well as having an Honours Degree in Agriculture.   He is a keen climber and musician.

Martin Nott

Martin has entered the World of Boatbuilding as a second career after 30 years working on Motor Racing Magazines.  He still works as a publishing consultant to a number of magazines including Classic Boat.

He graduated from Lyme Regis Boatbuilding Academy in 2011, where he built a replica of a Charles Sibbick designed half rater from 1897. He also owns Witch, a 36 ft Sibbick yacht from 1902 which he has been restoring while working with us at Moreton Marine.  Projects he has helped with since joining us in early 2012 include Restoration work on a 50' Rhodes Yawl, interior furniture for a 65' newbuild and replanking on a 40' river launch.