YACHT & POWERCRAFT DESIGN SERVICES

The Thames Boat Show 2005

2

3

4

5

6

1

Yacht & Powercraft Design Services Ltd
 Email:  info@yacht-designer.co.uk
Tel. 44 (0) 1489-583346   Fax. 44 (0) 1489-583346  Mobile  07803-724317

7

With its unique blend of enthusiasm for traditional boats, exquisite craftsmanship and interesting new developments the Thames Boat Show held in June 2005 was an enjoyable day out, despite indifferent English weather.  With a new name but still at Beale Park, Pangbourne, this boat show has an attractive setting and an informal feel.   

Making its debut at a boat show was the newly developed Drascombe Drifter Mk 2 (1), by Stewart Brown and his team at  Churchouse Boats.  Still in prototype form the new design was being carefully inspected by many current and former Drascombe owners.  Without being finished it was difficult to tell whether any of the magic and character of the original Drascombe designs by John Watkinson has been captured in the new design.

The new river launch (2) by Cumbrian boatbuilder Openworld is an impressive piece of work with excellent fairness and a fine finish.  The hull is strip-planked cedar, but interestingly much of the deck construction is in native Cumbrian hardwoods instead of the usual teak or mahogany.  This looks magnificent as well as unique.

Using two sets of pedal wheels with the two people facing each other, the bicycle-powered boat (3) made an impressive speed of approximately 5 knots when it was taken around the lake.

Lathams, the Broadland-based restorers of wherry yachts, had brought along a lovely 1893 steam engine (4) which seemed to be in perfect working order.

Unfortunately this pretty little ply-planked double-ender yacht (5) by Simmons and Broome was rather hidden by its advertising banner and protective marquee.  But it should look lovely on the water when complete.

Always lovely to see at a Thames event are the classic launches. A Riva Olympic (6) with genuine historic value was there with a For Sale notice on it - but no price given, so I had to let it go. (dreamer!)  And on the water a classic fan-tailed launch (7) was setting a standard of finish and upkeep that many of us would love to achieve.

Altogether this event was a good day out for traditional and wooden boat enthusiasts.