Mary Jane | National Historic Ships

Registration number 2824

Status Registered

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Details

Function Fighting Vessel

Subfunction Launch

Location South Dock Marina

Vessel type Admiralty Pinnace

Current use Private use

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Info required Yes

Construction

Builder Admiralty, Place Unknown

Built in 1926

Hull material Wood

Rig None

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 2

Primary engine type Inboard diesel

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Length: Overall

42.75 feet (13.03m)

Breadth: Beam

13.00 feet (3.96m)

Depth

3.50 feet (1.07m)

Tonnage: Gross

17.20

History

MARY JANE was built in 1926 as an Admiralty Pinnace and is a vessel of teak double diagonal construction. In 1936 she was converted to a motor yacht by Joe White of Fulham. Uffa Fox wrote of her two years later: "A yacht where the owner's wife shares the joys of cruising has a restfulness and peace which is lacking in vessels used entirely by men, so that one constantly expects to see a cat curled up by an inviting fire. Mary Jane is one of the cosiest yachts I've ever slept aboard".

During the Second World War she took part in the Dunkirk evacuations. In 2010 she took part in the 70th anniversary of Operation Dynamo and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant in June 2012.

The vessel is now used as a houseboat. She is under new ownership as of January 2023. Anti fouling is currently (March 2024) being undertaken along with other essential repairs and maintenance, updated images will be sent once the work has been completed. There have been no changes to the internal facilities or decor.