DEACONS Boatyard at Bursledon is undertaking a substantial modernisation programme which will provide better facilities for boat owners.

The yard is one of the longest established on the Hamble River and at one time built fine wooden yachts.

Nowadays the main business is split between imported boat sales, brokerage sale, on-site business tenants, berthing and hard standing.

"This substantial investment in the future of our yard is necessary to upgrade facilities in order to provide an efficient and competitive service, and to ensure compliance with potential environmental, health and safety legislation,'' said Sean Fuller, managing director of parent company Fuller Developments which has owned the boatyard since 1964.

Already a new quay wall has been completed, with raised ground levels, eliminating tidal problems, and sub-stantially increasing hard standing and car parking for boat owners and business tenants. It has also done a great deal to improve facilities for yachts ashore, and to enable lifting and launching. A new hydraulic lift has been installed for boats up to 15 tons, and a slipway for bigger boats has been built.

"We also aim to exploit our position at the head of the Hamble, in the UK's pre-mier sailing area and our good accessi-bility via the M3 and M27 motorways,'' said Mr Fuller. The yard was founded by Francis Deacon in 1922, and in the 1960s and 70s built many fine wooden yachts, including Deb 33, design by Olin Stephen, for Sir Eric Drake, then chair-man of BP. In the 80s Deacons built and sold Trapper yachts.

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