Searider Rib Upgrade Work

5 May

Phoenix Returns To Service

We’re really pleased to share that our refurbished Avon Searider is now back with the club and nearly ready to return to the water.

Many members will remember that this 4m Searider was once the club’s sole safety boat before being replaced by the Humber in 2021. Since then, it had sat unused in the dinghy park, with ageing tubes and an engine no longer practical for club use.

Thanks to support from the Coastal Communities Challenge Fund, we’ve now been able to give the boat a complete new lease of life.

The boat was taken to Ferry Marine for re-tubing, fitting of a new seat and installation of a new 30hp Yamaha engine. Before heading away, club volunteers also carried out refurbishment work on the hull and paintwork, helping transform the boat into what now feels like a brand new addition to the fleet.

Introducing “Phoenix”

We’re also pleased to officially announce the boat’s new name.

Following suggestions submitted by members back in March and a vote by the committee, the Searider will now be known as Phoenix — a fitting name for a boat that has been brought back to life and returned to active service at the club.

Why this matters

This project has always been about supporting growing activity at the club.

Over recent seasons we’ve seen increasing participation, particularly from younger sailors and affiliated organisations. Busy sessions often require multiple safety boats on the water, and until now we’ve sometimes had to rely on borrowing additional cover.

Having Phoenix back in service means we can:

Increase safety cover during busy sessions
Better support events and training activities
Provide resilience if another club boat requires maintenance or repair

It also strengthens our ability to support affiliated organisations, larger events and future training opportunities at Peterhead.

Looking ahead

We’re now looking forward to getting Phoenix fully kitted out and afloat for what is shaping up to be another busy summer on the water.

With a new engine, new tubes and extensive refurbishment work completed, we hope the boat will serve the club reliably for many years to come and continue supporting opportunities for sailors of all ages and abilities.

Thank you

This project was supported by NESFLAG and funded through Aberdeenshire Council’s Coastal Communities Challenge Fund.

A big thank you as well to the volunteers who helped bring the project together.