Steamboat Register

Pickle

Status: Active use

Owner: Jim Huntley

Website: http://www.youtube.com/steamandthings

Area: UK-South West

Known as Lightning, new hull fitted out and plant installed by first owner Brian Smith, first steamed 1985. Acquired 1997 by John MacMillan and used in Scotland. Acquired by Mark Fensome. Purchased by the present owner in a derelict state on 27/10/24. Restoration began 20/03/25 and was re-launched as Pickle on 18/07/25 at the Bristol Harbour Festival.

Anachronism

Status: Steaming

Owner: Dr John Knapton

Area: UK-North East

Anachronism was built over many years by former owner John Marrison of Benfleet -on-sea, Essex. Sadly he passed away before fully completing the project though he did manage to launch her under steam before he became ill. I purchased the boat to fulfil a long term dream to own a steam launch having being interested in boats since my school days. On purchasing the boat I had the opportunity to install a replica of a Belliss High Speed Steam Launch Engine which Mr J Maltby happened to have in his workshop. This replaced a home built Leak Compound. The original boiler had had little use and thankfully passed hydraulic and ultrasonic inspection. There was no steering gear so I subsequently installed a binnacle to accommodate Vetus hydraulic steering gear. Along the way we required various items to be cast or fabricated including a new wet ashpan, cast iron firebars, steering wheel and cover, brass oiler and Steam condenser. We utilised the CAD 3D design skills of my son to produce various patterns and DXF files and have learned new skills along the way. First launch on Windermere was successful with several 'sea trials' completed. There is still work to do!

Michelle

Status: Steaming

Owner: Richard Cooksley

Area: UK-South West

Original boat design and concept by Mike Bell with lofting drawings and calculations by Paul Fisher. Sister launch "Etna" built by Roger Heise. Michelle launched 7th September 2017 Bristol

Picnic

Status: Active use - refurbished engine awaiting installation

Owner: John A. Frampton

Website: http://Johnaframpton53@gmail.com

Area: UK-South West

Steam plant removed from Bucephalus Steam Bicycle, it was originally designed to power a Steam Canoe. Mounted on a lift-in bearer, and fitted with a new gas firing system. New piping was made up to suit boat installation, and improvements to fittings were made. Construction was started in April 2020, flotation testing, July 2020, and construction completed in April 2021. Currently frequently in use with outboard motor as boiler is not yet certified, although it is steamable.

Jaunty Green Tara

Status: Undergoing restoration

Owner: Dan McFarlane ; Andrew Nicholson

Website: http://jauntygreentara.co.uk

Area: UK

Uncertain

Dalmore

Owner: Ken Henderson & Scott Johnston

Area: UK-Scotland

Believed originally named PUNCH and may have been a sailing vessel as a step for a mast still exists. Rebuilt in Norwich during the 1950’s when named SILVER HERON. The hull was fitted with an internal combustion engine probably at this time. 1980’s came to Harry Watson to partner his LADY ROWENA on Loch Awe. Subsequently sank and became derelict. 1994 acquired by Bob Smith. Completely rebuilt and steam plant fitted 1997-99. First steamed August 1998. Engine believed formerly to be in a launch named MAY. Thames Vintage Boat Club Register No. 28. 2004 acquired by Graham Lyle. 2005 reacquired by Bob Smith. 2012 acquired by Ken Henderson. Fitted with large capacity batteries for stand-by electric outboard, and other on-board electric loads. Steam bilge ejector, and electric bilge pump. Webasto Diesel cabin air heater. Dalmore now sails regularly on Loch Katrine, Loch Lomond and occasionally on Windermere.

Luna

Status: Steaming

Owner: Alec Collyer

Area: UK-South West

New as "UNA of Shaldon" fitted with 5A and Clarkson WTB by Ken Slater in 1981. Then "LUNA" with Barry Hughes, Northam, N. Devon. 1992 to Robin Macgregor, fresh steam plant in 1993, renamed again "S L LUNA", laid up 1997-98. Oct 1998 to Bill Findlay , Thames. Then via Derek and Janet Mills to Alec Collyer MBE (Present owner) in 2000 ?? busy still steaming !!

Missfire

Status: Fettling needed

Owner: Mark Williams

Area: UK-Cambridgeshire

Built by Borwick Boats of Bowness-on-Windermere in 1955 for the Bowness Bay Marina Boat Hire, as a clinker built wooden hull on frames, it was fitted with an inboard Stuart 2-stroke petrol engine made by Mike Smith of Fleetwood. As "Boat No 5" of their hire fleet, it doubtless served them well as it remained with them until 1996. Purchased in 1996 by a Lake Warden (John Wood, 1936-2014) on Windermere, she was renamed "Swan Song" and used as "Ferry Tender No 1936" by him, with the original engine used until an outboard was fitted (presumably when the original expired), until 2001. Nick Lancaster of Fleetwood then acquired her and embarked on a full refurbishment of the hull, including the addition of striped mahogany topsides, and conversion to steam power by removing the original engine and fitting the current steam boiler and engine. Renamed by Nick as "Missfire", unfortunate health issues intervened and two friends, Roger Squires and Jim Booth, acquired her in 2016 to complete final finishing work. They did so in April 2017, when "Missfire" was tested/approved by C J Davies of the SBA; accompanied by Nick, "Missfire" was successfully returned to water in August 2017 at Lake Coniston. This revealed that some fettling was needed to the drive coupling arrangement, but loss of storage meant that time was against them. Hence, a new custodian was sought and she was acquired by Mark Williams in September 2017, with whom she now resides in Cambridgeshire. Fettling has continued as time has allowed and it is hoped that she will be back on water and steaming on the River Great Ouse come summer 2025.

Bluebell

Status: In Service

Owner: Eileen Wallace

Area: UK-North West

Bluebell Was launched in 2013 and named in 2014 (see Funnel edition Summer 2014). She has been steamed regularly on Windermere until the end of 2022. John, her chief stoker and steamer became seriously ill and died in May 2023 so she remained in barn storage for the 2023 season and was fitted with twin electric pods and relaunched for the 2024 season. Her boiler was steamed and inspected by John Maltby in June 2024 but little use of her was made that season.

Shamrock

Status: In Service

Owner: The Shamrock Trust

Website: https://www.shamrocktrustuk.org/

Area: UK-North

Built by Shepherds of Bowness 1906. Originally fitted with a Sisson Triple. Owned by W. Birtwistle until 1929, C. Ashley 1930-4. Converted to motor 1948, used by Bowness Bay Boating Co. for tripping. Acquired, derelict Nov 1976, restored and new plant fitted by Roger Mallinson 1978-9. Engine built in 2001 by Roger Mallinson. The boiler came from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway River Irt, and was shortened and converted to side firing. After Shamrock was badly damaged in the floods of 2009, The Shamrock Trust was formed to raise funds for repairs. She was again damaged in the floods of 2015, and repaired under insurance. Shamrock is a member of the National Historic Fleet, certificate no 65. She is formally owned by the Trust, but continues to operate under the management of Roger Mallinson.

Melita

Status: Dismantled

Owner: Jim Huntley

Website: http://www.youtube.com/steamandthings

Area: UK-South West

Fishing boat hull purchased at Blyth Northumberland. Timber keel, Kelsons drafts and rubbing strakes renewed and steam plant fitted by owner, Ian Whatley.

Woodbine

Status: Steaming

Owner: Joël Druel

Area: France

Built and fitted out by first owner Geoff Thurston as WOODBINE for use on the River Lee. Design based on Weston Farmer’s "Feeble" published in ‘The Rudder’ Dec 1943 in the USA. Originally fitted with Stuart Turner 5A engine. First steamed 1990. About 17 hulls were taken from the mould before it was decommissioned. Featured in Classic Boat magazine, August 1991, pp55-57. 1993 sold to Thomas Fraser, Leicester, renamed CEFLEX. Later owned by Frank Dell, Barnet and name reverted to original. Oct 1997 to Bob Shearer. Nov 2000 to Mike Tester. 2005 to TJ.Cornelius. Feb 2008 to Joël Druel, France. Since 2008, Woodbine has totaled 994h and traveled 3547km

Smut

Pickle

Anachronism

Michelle

Poseidon

Picnic

Jaunty Green Tara

New Jersey

Dalmore

Luna

Ardbeg

Missfire

Lady Susan

Robyn

PEGGY

Bluebell

Shamrock

Melita

Woodbine

Pauline