All the McIntosh built Zulus were constructed under cover in either the shed at Peterhythe, Portessie, or the shed on the point at Ianstown. The early boats (1888) were around 65ft o'all, increasing steadily to the 80ft o'all models, as the last were built in 1903 - 1904. (The Steam Drifters were built in the open on the beach).
It is unclear when the yards began using mechanically driven saws, but in 1900 the Portessie yard had a '12H.P. Oil Engine, Band Saw Machine and Saws, Roller Saw Bench and Spindle, 4 Circular Saws, a Saw Mill and Engine Shed'. It is again unclear how many men were employed in the building of a Zulu, but probably significantly more than the six men & five apprentices employed by the business in 1851.
Edgar March in 'Sailing Drifters' received information from Mr. William McIntosh of Portessie who had commenced work in his father's yard (Ianstown) in 1894.
He recalls building a Zulu took around eight weeks, costing the buyer £500 for the hull & spars.
'Keel was beech, stem and sternpost oak, frames - oak mostly, a few boats had larch - were bolted to apron and sternpost aft, and beams were Scotch fir - - - - Hull and deck planking was larch 2in. thick, and about 2,000 super ft. were required to plank a big Zulu, fastenings being 4½in. galvanised nails; - - -
Masts were of Norwegian white wood, - - yards were larch - - - The biggest foremast Mr. McIntosh remembers was 6ft. 9in. circ., or about 26in. dia., and these immense masts stood unsupported by any standing rigging, the halyards and burton on the weather side being the only stays.
Ballast was some 30 tons of stone from the seashore - - - Carrying capacity was approximately 80 tons.'
After completion in the shed, the launching must have been accomplished by the construction of a temporary slipway, as exposure to the open ocean would have procluded the construction of any permanent structure. This was achieved later by Jones Buckie who purchased the Ianstown business in 1918, by the construction of breakwaters.

During the transition from the Scaffie, the sail configuration of the Zulu changed little, the main difference being the increase of their size. They were still made of cotton canvas and required periodic dressing (tanning) with cutch to help preserve them. (Synthetic material was not invented until the 1950's).
The mainsail was still a dipping lug & the mizzen a standing lug. The mainsail had six reefing points (not sure about the mizzen), the jib only being used on longer trips &
'It wis an unwritten law wi the sail boats that fin ye wis sailin in the daylicht with three sails up jist afore it cam doon dark ye took the jib that pult in the boat because tae work it at nicht wis dangerous, ye see.'

Although far less complex than the Steam Drifter, there was still much work to be done ashore to hopefully ensure the Zulu a successful fishing trip.
Sails had to be dried at every opportunity and periodically dressed with cutch (tanning) to help combat rot. Nets had to receive the same care as they were also made of cotton. Coal had to be loaded periodically to fire the vertical boiler which drove the capstan. Provisions consisted of 'hard biscuits, potatoes, salt beef for the season, condensed milk, sugar, oat cakes, turnips, tea & tobacco'. ('Sailing Drifters')
Being a sailboat, the fishing trip was very much dependent on the wind. If there was little or no wind, or blowing from the wrong direction, the Zulus couldn't fish. They were equipped with six large oars and two 36ft. long 'wands' mainly to assist in harbour manoevering.