MRF
New member
Hio, I've just joined the forum and wonder if anyone can give any information on the houseboats that used to be at Burnham.
Having an appalling memory for names I cannot remember the two boats at the front of the queue. I owned and lived on Vanity, an 1886 plank on edge cutter originally Mary. In front of me was Willow Wren, restored by Steve the toolmaker on a lot of overtime and ferro-sheathed and front of her was a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, which also went off for ferro-sheathing at Bradwell.
She was owned by the enigmatic Brian Kingston who owned a chain of butchers' shops around Essex.
In front of that was an older cutter, about 1870-ish which I think might have been Nada. It always looked like her back had hogged badly.
So, we have Nada, blank, Willow Wren, Vanity, then the MTB sailing school, plus Anne Marie which was a Mulberry boat, entirely concrete.
Can anyone help with details of the Pilot Cutter and Vanity?
I know Vanity went to Bristol, next to the Great Britain and has a new owner, but she must be in a state by now. Alex Laird sold her through his one time International Marine Investments brokerage.
I am working on a radio controlled model of her. I'm using Cara's lines as they were almost identical in size and style.
All info on the above would be very welcome.
Thankyou.
MRF
Having an appalling memory for names I cannot remember the two boats at the front of the queue. I owned and lived on Vanity, an 1886 plank on edge cutter originally Mary. In front of me was Willow Wren, restored by Steve the toolmaker on a lot of overtime and ferro-sheathed and front of her was a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, which also went off for ferro-sheathing at Bradwell.
She was owned by the enigmatic Brian Kingston who owned a chain of butchers' shops around Essex.
In front of that was an older cutter, about 1870-ish which I think might have been Nada. It always looked like her back had hogged badly.
So, we have Nada, blank, Willow Wren, Vanity, then the MTB sailing school, plus Anne Marie which was a Mulberry boat, entirely concrete.
Can anyone help with details of the Pilot Cutter and Vanity?
I know Vanity went to Bristol, next to the Great Britain and has a new owner, but she must be in a state by now. Alex Laird sold her through his one time International Marine Investments brokerage.
I am working on a radio controlled model of her. I'm using Cara's lines as they were almost identical in size and style.
All info on the above would be very welcome.
Thankyou.
MRF