Atrato (1898 Thames Sailing Barge)
Location: Battersea, London
Price: £150,000 negotiable
https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/191/atrato
The 1898 Spritsail Barge ATRATO is being reluctantly offered for sale for the first time in 45 years. Her present owner bought her out of trade in 1980 and has used her as a liveaboard on the Thames while carrying out long-term conservation. Changing circumstances mean the owner will not be able to complete the re-rig so is considering selling her to someone enthusiastic and capable of getting her underway again.
History:
Built 1898 by Forrest & Sons Limited, Wivenhoe, ATRATO is a Thames Sailing Barge with a steel hull. She was first owned by Hughes at Greenwich and then by the London & Rochester Barge Company from 1923, when she was converted to a motor barge. In 1943 she was rebuilt with single hatch and wheelhouse by Pollocks of Faversham and fitted with a Kelvin K3 66hp engine which she still retains today. For most of her working life she carried general cargo from the Thames and Medway around the coast. Bought out of trade in 1980 by the present owner, she has since provided a charming home on a beautiful mooring on the Thames at Battersea whilst undergoing a slow but thorough restoration to her original rig.
Spec:
- Current engine: Kelvin K3 66hp (1944). Has been completely rebuilt with electric start and indirect cooling, and has all the Kelvin optional extras including deck wash pump run by friction wheel off the flywheel and bilge pump run by a belt from the flywheel, with optional hand operation.
- Ruggerini 9kva generator in soundproof cabinet fitted new in 1981 supplies the boat with 240volt power and lighting circuits. Total 6,500 running hours, Alternator rewound recently.
- Completely rebuilt 1960’s Yanmar NT65 water cooled 24 volt battery charger, hand or electric start, charges banks of Nife batteries for lighting, or 24 volt AGM batteries for engine starting and domestic use.
- Watertight and fireproof bulkhead with watertight door divides the hold in half, stiffening the hull and providing enough buoyancy to remain afloat should one compartment become flooded.
- Hull and bottom plating all sound. Plating below the water line all doubled. Bilges dry.
- Work includes reinstatement of mast deck, fabrication of new masts, spars and rigging, and mast cases. New rails fitted and hatch coamings altered back to 2 hatch layout.
- Winches and steering gear all rebuilt, davits reinstated with aluminium barge boat and Seagull outboard motor. All newly fabricated fittings have been galvanised.
- Ready to go to sea under engine, but she has no sails, and leeboards need to be replaced in order to complete her return to sail power. All blocks and new cordage for running rigging available.
- Interior conversion incomplete. There is a large workshop. Bathroom with water supplied by gravity from overhead tank so not reliant on pumps. Bath, basin and toilet all pump out by hand. Small but very adequate galley in focsle with multi-fuel stove for water heating and a certain amount of cooking. Calor gas cooker and fridge, washing machine off 240 volts.
Price:
Asking price of £150,000 based on valuation at last survey and negotiable depending on what new owner might require in terms of additional equipment, materials and spares which are available for completion of refit and continuing upkeep of engines. A December 2021 survey is available.
Click the vessel record link at the top of the page for more photos and details.
Interested parties should contact Rupert Ashmore at rupertashmore@gmail.com
Zone
South East