Morgan Giles Monaco 38

Francis Charles Morgan Giles was a boat designer based at Hythe. In 1920 after the Great War, in which he served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, he purchased Teignmouth Shipyard, renaming it Morgan Giles Ltd. It quickly gained a worldwide reputation for its very high standard of workmanship. In 1939, a new shed was built that could take vessels to 100ft and the yard won many Admiralty contracts for military launches. Morgan Giles launched the Monaco range of fast motor boats in the 1950s, many of which campaigned in the Cowes-torquay race.

INTERIOR

Another aft-cabin layout taking full advantage of the length of the vessel, the Monaco 38 has two single berths and a small ensuite back aft of the open-backed wheelhouse. The forward accommodation is very simple, the main saloon has settee berths either side and a heads and galley in its aft corners. A separate forward cabin has vee berths. The shape of the Monaco 38 is absolutely classic 1960s motor boat styling, with just enough curves to its otherwise set squareshape profile to give it real elegance. Ergonomics in the ’60s weren’t what they are today – note the throttles positioned on top of the helm console!

PERFORMANCE

Hard chine planing hulls and multidiagonal glued mahogany plywood planking on mixed sawn and laminated rock elm frames kept the weight down (comparatively anyway) and the speed up – these were proper planing boats. Top speed with the twin Perkins 145hp diesels should be about 18 knots – super fast by ’60s standards!

SEAKEEPING

The Monaco range of boats came with racing pedigree as standard; these were designed to be proper offshore boats.