1940 British Power Boat

CONSTRUCTION: Double diagonal mahogany

YEAR: 1940

DIMENSIONS: LOA 63′, BEAM 16′ 4″, DRAFT 4′

COLOUR: White with red antifouling

INTERIOR: 3 berths (plus 4 occasional berths) in 3 cabins plus heads and galley

ENGINE: Twin 120 hp Perkins diesels

EQUIPMENT: Internal: The vessel has a large wheelhouse, with central steering position, windows all round and her navigation station. The latter is situated aft of the steering position and provides a chart table, storage (including for charts), radio, etc. The companionway leads down via a central passageway to the galley (to starboard) and thence to the main saloon (forward) or aft to the sleeping quarters and engine room. The galley has a fitted worktop, sink-unit with pressurised hot and cold, full-size domestic cooker, fridge, cupboards and other storage plus a drinks cupboard/bar. Going forward from here, the saloon has a settee to either side (lockers under) plus built-in cupboards, etc. Lighting comes (a) from electric lights and (b) from a skylight in the foredeck plus opening ports. A further door leads into the focsle, which is used for additional storage, wet locker and so on. The vessel’s bathroom leads off the galley and has a full sized bath, hand basin and shower. Going aft, there is a double sleeping cabin to port and a single to starboard (both with fitted berths and storage units), and a separate toilet. Going aft again, is the engine room with it’s twin diesels, central heating boiler and other equipment (for example, there is currently a fitted washing machine but it is thought that this is not part of the sale). Aft yet again, there is access to the steering flat. Headroom throughout (even engine room and steering flat) is about 6′. Navigation equipment includes: Kent Clearscreen, binnacle compass, MFSSB Sailor radio, VHF, radar, Decca navigator, auto-pilot and Digiplot chart plotter, searchlight, navigation lights and much more. External: The boat has galvanised stanchions and guardrails, two masts, lifebuoys, etc. Other equipment includes shore power, a 6KVA 240 volt generator and 24 volt DC system, and oil fired central heating.

REMARKS: Originally laid down for the Royal Norwegian Navy, this vessel was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1940 prior to being transferred to the Polish Navy where she was given the number S3 (“Fast Hunter”) class and named “Wyzel”. In 1943 she was returned to the Royal Navy as Motor Gunboat 45. Her Polish War Diary, amongst other things, records that she took part in 97 English Channel patrols and 5 enemy engagements. Although nowadays used primarily for living aboard, she is still mobile (though restricted to 12 knots) and recently attended a gathering of similar vessels at Teddington. Consumption, bearing in mind that she has two engines, is good – she used less than 10 gallons to complete the 60 odd miles down to her base at Benfleet. She carries about 250 gallons of fuel giving her a range in excess of 1000 miles.

OUR OPINION: A well presented, spacious and interesting historic craft, which has the added advantage of being able to move reasonably quickly around the coast, or across the channel and into the French canals.