 In 1838 £ 15 @,@ 000 in wages alone was spent on constructing a 150 @-@ ton steamer in Leith to ferry workers and materials out to the reef . The difficulties should not be underestimated . Although Skerryvore is a dozen miles from Hynish it is 50 miles ( 80 km ) from the mainland . The first work to be undertaken on Skerryvore itself was the construction of a six @-@ legged frame on top of which a wooden barrack to house 40 men was placed . The building was created in Gourock before being dismantled and re @-@ built on site . 
