Queen Boadicea II | National Historic Ships

Registration number 339

Status Registered

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QUEEN BOADICEA II - travelling on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. Port side.

Details

Function Passenger Vessel

Subfunction Excursion

Location Gloucester

Vessel type Excursion

Current use Commercial Activity

Available to hire Yes

Available for excursions Yes

Web address www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Construction

Builder Thornycroft, J I & Co Ltd, Woolston, Southampton

Built in 1936

Hull material Steel

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Diesel

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

15.70 feet (4.79m)

Depth

3.61 feet (1.10m)

Length: Overall

63.57 feet (19.39m)

Tonnage: Gross

45.00

History

Built in 1936 by Thornycroft, Southampton, QUEEN BOADICEA II is a passenger vessel with a steel hull and a Gardner 6LX diesel engine. She has the capacity for 145 passengers. She was built for work on the River Thames between Richmond and Hampton Court.

She was commandeered by the Navy in 1940, and took part in the Dunkirk evacuation. She remained in Admiralty hands until 1945 on harbour duties, then returned to the Thames where she worked until 1976. George Wheeler Launches subsequently bought her for use on the River Dart in Devon. She was later sold to Tamar Cruising, Plymouth and worked as a ferry.

She was bought by the National Waterways Museum Trust in 1991 and sailed to Gloucester.

She is significant as a fine example of a steel sub-divided Thames boat.

Sources

Brann, Christian, The Little Ships of Dunkirk: 1940-1990, Collectors Books Ltd, 1989
Hamer, Geoffrey, Trip Out 1995/6 - A Guide to the Passenger Boat Services of the British Isles, G P Hamer, 1995