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.


Lady Susan

Status: Steaming

Owner: Lord Forsyth

Area: UK-Scotland


New boat built to owners specification. First steamed August 2003 refurbished 2024


Robyn

Status: Active use

Owner: Alastair Maciver

Area: New Zealand



PEGGY

Status: Steaming

Owner: Hermann Metz

Area: Germany


Now resident in Cologne, Germany


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


Lightning

Status: Undergoing restoration

Owner: Jim Huntley

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

Area: UK-South West


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.


Pauline

Status: Sold

Area: Germany



NY 7676 EF

Website: http://www.aldunlop.com

Area: USA


A great learning experience over several years. Charlie Roth was my mentor.


Dancer

Status: Active use

Owner: John Olsen

Area: New Zealand


The engine build was started in 2001, the boiler in about 2004, and the hull in about 2007. The hull was launched for the first time in February 2017 with boiler and engine in place. First steamed October 2018.


Rose

Status: Active use

Owner: Murray Etherington

Area: USA


Original ‘Rose’ hull from which GRP ‘Rose’ class hulls used to be available from Beckman in Rhode Island. Originally fitted with electric motor, later owned David Hogan who fitted her to steam in 1987. The hull was rebuilt in 2004 and fitted in her current configuration.


Trevor

Status: Steaming

Owner: Alan Waters

Area: UK



Graculus

Status: In Service

Owner: P. Miller

Area: UK-Wales


The original wooden hull (date built unknown) was found by Derrick Mills and used for a plug mould by Bossoms boatyard. They made many GRP copies of the "Nell" hull in various colours. From 1992 to 2001 this one was owned by John Page and known as Egalité and steamed between1994 and 1997. Purchased by current owner in 2001 the original Anthony Beaver, boiler No.31, 3 drum WTB 165 psi, paraffin, was scraped in 2002 but she was returned to service in 2004 as S.L.Graculus. She has since steamed infrequently and mostly in Wales and the boarders.


Blank



Obsidian

Status: Active use

Owner: Russell Clement

Area: UK-North



Firefly

Status: Active use

Owner: Mike Potts

Area: UK-South West


Previously owned by Malcolm Skevington of Leighton Buzzard


Kathleen

Status: Under Construction

Area: UK-Midlands



Quetzal

Status: Steaming

Owner: Alan & Verona Davis

Area: UK-South West


Quetzal was originally built as a Torbay Handicap Class racing yacht . She has a racing history in Torbay dating back to the 1930s .Purchased by me in very poor condition in April 2011 lying in a farm yard near Totnes South Devon . Totally rebuilt and converted to accept a steam plant by owner .Restoration/conversion completed September 2014