East Coast Pilot author Dick Holness has been in touch with a question about these two photos taken at Conyer, just off the Swale off the North Kent coast – and I’m hoping that readers can help.
Here’s what he says:
Hi Gav:
An old contact of mine in the IT industry got in touch recently, she sails a modern boat down on the South Coast, and had found some photos of her uncle, Professor Alan Bishop.
He had a boat, Welcome II based at Conyer in the 1960s. Currently a book is being written about him to which she will be contributing, and one chapter is to reflect his sailing, which was also quite key to his work as he had monitoring equipment in the Thames estuary in preparation for the enginering work on the Thames Barrier.
She would really like to know if the boat still exists somewhere.
Her understanding is that her uncle bought the clinker hull after it had been used during WW2. He then got a cabin, new engine, centre board drop keel, ballast and rigging done at a boatyard.
She thinks the boat would have been in use by her uncle from around 1956 or earlier. It was painted light blue hull with cream cabin and deck, and had a gunter or gaff rig with sails the same red colour as a Thames sailing barge. She also remembers it was very heavy to raise the mainsail.
Kind regards, Dick
Dick suggests the boat looks like a cross between a harbour workboat and a Dauntless, and that the Dauntless yard might have done the conversion all those years ago.
If you have any information, please email me at gmatkin@gmail.com and I’ll pass the message on to Dick and his friend.
Hi Gavin,
As a previous owner of Welcome II I have sent you some info to your email.
The hull form, shape of her transom and fendering at the stern are typical of an RN Cutter or Seaboat. She was probably originally an open boat and was decked in when converted to a yacht. There is a chance that she may have been a pulling boat as built and her engine may have been offset? Perhaps a previous owner can confirm?
Bill
Yes, 32? pulling cutter, next size up from 27? Montague Whaler. She was bought from the Admiralty small craft disposals and shipped by train from Portsmouth to Whitstable (2 tons @ 6/- per ton) for conversion. Engine (2 cylinder Petter) not offset. I owned her for a while in the late 80’s. When last seen she was converted to a canal boat, no mast or rigging and painted black. Nice inside though and knowing how she sailed (centreplate had been removed) probably a good move.
Ah, love the above two answers – far greater knowledge than myself – thanks Paul & William. My immediate thoughts were a naval ‘pinace’ rison conversion post WW2 and Paul’s ownership caps all…
Thanks everyone, very much, for the info provided and also for the pics which came separately. Brilliant response and very helpful.