Uandi

Owner: David Strong

Area: UK-Chiltern

Hull

Folkestone Beach Boat. Construction: Clinker elm on oak.
Built 1914 by L. Sands at The Stade, Folkestone
LOA: 17' 6", LWL: 17' 0", Beam: 5' 6",
Counter stern, maroon. Registered Official No. 63415.

Boiler

Blackstaffe type 3-drum WT Built 1987 by Derek Willaims at Newport
Pressure: 150 psi, Grate area: 1¼ sqft, Heating area: 18 sqft,
New SS casing by owner, steam drum 4" dia, mud drums 3" x 20" long. Wkettle, brass funnel.

Engine

Propeller

14" X 24"

History

Built by L Sands, The Stade, Folkestone in 1914 and Registered in 1919 (Official Number in the Register of Shipping: 63415) -the name of the first Master was Everden James Wimshurst of Pinehurst, Radnor Cliff Cresecent Folkestone. Purchased for by their father George & Don Mills in 1935. She was sold at the outbreak of WW2 to an unknown owner. Reputed to have been towed to Dunkirk for the evacuation in May/June 1940 -there is photographic evidence Uandi was moored in Folkestone harbour prior to WW2 and afterwards until at least 1961. Like many beach boats she may have been rafted-up and towed across the Channel to Dunkirk -there is anecdotal evidence from Folkestone that this is what happened to Uandi, returning under her own power, but unfortunately, to-date, no documentary evidence which supports this. Hull found by current owner in a ditch near Reading in 1988. Re-planked and re-ribbed 1988-96 by Pip Guest and John Fuge, Fowey . Fitted out and upper works by owner 1996-7. First steamed June 1997. Ref: Funnel 95. Engine formerly in COLUMBINE 1980-1987 and late 1950’s a dinghy SUE at Shaldon. Boiler formerly in BROWNIE.

(Richard Hayne) Lac de Bouget, France, 1998

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