MERVA  40'  1932 Pilothouse Cruiser, built by F. W. Morriss

• Berths:  3 (one forward, two aft)
• Fuel: 2x40 gallon diesel tanks
• Electrical:  New 12 vlt with shore power and inverter/charger for 110 ac/dc
• Water:  2x40 gallon freshwater with electric/manifold heat, hot and cold pressurized
• Waste:  15 gallon holding tank with electric head, macerator, diverter valves and pump-to-shore all in compliance with current US and Canadian  waste-water handling code
• Heat: hot-water bus-heaters with fans in forward berth, amidships, and aft in the salon
• Galley:  Vintage Sea King diesel oil stove, hot and cold water, icebox and enamel sink. 110 outlet

Some History and a Description:

This is the history of Merva as written, for the most part, I believe by Peter Harvey the gentleman I bought Merva from.

Merva’s history begins with a remarkable journey by sledge, drawn by a team of horses, from Mr. Morriss’ yard to the water’s edge for launching.  Afterwards she cruised the waters around Victoria for many years during the 1930‘s and 40‘s with the Morriss Family, making frequent stops at Sydney Spit and Musgrave Landing.

After finally being sold for reasons I am not aware of, she remained in BC waters for some time, until after another sale, she made another remarkable journey, this time across the continent by truck to the Great Lakes (Oakville, Ontario), where she cruised for many years. She was transported by truck once again (same owner), this time to Florida (West Palm) where she  stayed for just a couple of months. The owner had changed his mind and had Merva sailed from Florida back to Oakville. A woman named Judy MacKay skippered Merva on the trip back for the owner via the inter-coastal water way.

Later still, Merva was sold and once more and transported across Canada, this time back to British Columbia, her home waters. That she survived the indignity and danger to a wooden vessel of these multiple overland journeys in remarkable condition is a testament to Mr. Morriss’s abilities as a shipwright.

Donell McDonell purchased Merva late in 2008 after she had spent some months at the SALTS facility in Esquimalt, BC. She had been donated to SALTS after her most recent owner could no longer care for her himself, and attempts to sell her had failed.  Donell hired Abernethy & Gauden to do major upgrades on Merva at their Brentwood Bay shop. This included among many other things a new engine, new canvas on the cabin roof and complete electrical and mechanical ungrades. Donell was very kind to Merva over the 10 years he owned the boat but his priorities changed.

Nash, Harvey and Associates purchased Merva in the spring of  2017. They promptly moved Merva from her Granville Island berth (where she was kept under canvas cover) to a new home in the Tillicum Bay Marina North of Vancouuver.

In 2021 she came up for sale and I bought her from Peter Harvey and his wife Valerie Nash. Presently Merva is located at Marshalls Cove Dock in Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island while I look for covered moorage.