Each paint name has a story behind it – every colour we produce is inspired by someone, somewhere or something
Col. 705 – Pioneer
This paint name holds a special place in the Colourman family as it is named after Rachel’s husband’s boat, Pioneer. A real labour of love, Andy has restored the boat from a wreck back to a beautiful sea faring sailing boat.
Rachel tells us more, ‘In the early 1980’s Pioneer sank in a storm in Newlyn harbour and was left to rot. Jim Richardson, a local retired haulier, bought her and spent the next decade restoring and sailing her with his young family. Jim sadly fell ill, so having sat on a dry dock for several years, in 2019 Andy bought Pioneer who was looking very sorry for herself.
Not knowing what he was letting himself in for, Andy faced the huge task of restoring her in a field in Devon
Being on the historic ships register, Pioneer has a great history that people felt they wanted to continue. Friends rallied round and were keen to help. After two and half years of hard work and questioning “Why did I do this” she wintered in @exmouthmarinaltd where her sails were made and put on by @rowsellsails. She spends her days anchored in front of @powderhamcastle in the Exe estuary looking very loved and beautiful
The paint Col.705 Pioneer is inspired by the boat’s rich grey woodwork, its warm undertones make painted pieces look smart and well loved.
Early Pioneer facts
- Pioneer was one of the first boats to have a steam engine in Cornwall
- After a working out of St Ives for the first part of the century, Pioneer moved to Penzance and ran sea excursions for holidaymakers through the summers of the 1920s.
- Pioneer was instructed for war service from Falmouth, completing various jobs for the military.
- A motor replaced Pioneer’s steam engine in 1947, which was updated in 1952, and is still in full working order.
- Pioneer became an extremely successful fishing boat and later after being sold in 1966, was used as a diving boat for crawfish and used for salvage work on wrecks.
- Pioneer had her new red sails made by @rowsellsails and fitted in @exmouthmarinaltd.
- Her refurbishment is down to the wonderful craftsmanship of the local boat builders.
