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Beacon Boat Yard

Located at Borstal just up river from Rochester Bridge, 14 miles from the mouth of the River Medway, Beacon Boatyard is a traditional boat builder which specialises in the restoration of wooden and steel classic vessels, from large classic motor and sailing boats to small clinker built dinghies.

All restorations and repairs are carried out sympathetically by using a mix of traditional and modern, materials and methods, which are decided upon to suit the type of boat being restored, bringing the boat back to life, but also keeping the integrity of the vessel.
Beken of Cowes

Handmade photographic prints
Cachalot Home Page

Beverley and Steve report on the history and renovations to Dunkirk Little Ship 'Cachalot'
Classic Yacht Brokerage

Yacht brokers specialising in the sale of classic motor and sailing yachts on both inland and coastal waters.
Hire Dunkirk Little Ship Princess Freda

A long established family company operating passenger boats on the Thames in London. Colliers Launches have amongst other boats, the DLS Princess Freda available for private hire.
Dunkirk Little Ship Trimilia

Built in 1925, “Trimilia”, or “Prudential” as she was originally named, having been paid for by The Prudential Assurance Co., saw service with the R.N.L.I. at Ramsgate for 28 years, saving 330 lives and, manned by her own volunteer crew, had a major role to play in the British Expeditionary Force evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940.
Dunkirk Revisited

John Richards has spent many years producing a comprehensively researched account of the Little Ship Naiad Errant's four-day involvement in Operation Dynamo. Available to down load at no charge from this website. A must for any serious scholar of Operation Dynamo.
Margo II

The story and images of Margo II
Michael Dennett Boat Builders

The Craftsman at Michael Dennett Boat Builders have been caring for and restoring wooden boats in Chertsey since 1988. They are dedicated to the needs of their clients whether that be preparing a vessel for water, restoring the paintwork or even building a bespoke boat. Many Members of the ADLS are regular clients of Michael Dennett Boat Builders.
Sea Scout Boat Minotaur - A Dunkirk 'Little Ship'

An excellent description of the exploits of the, now lost, Little Ship Minotaur.
In 1940 Minotaur was owned by Mortlake Sea Scouts and her exploits at Dunkirk probably inspired the book by Percy Westerman 'Sea Scouts at Dunkirk'.
Motor Yacht Glala

Follow Simon Richardson's restoration work on the Motor Yacht Glala.
Although Glala will not be joining us for the 2010 Return to Dunkirk Simon assures us she will be there in 2015 to celibrate her 100th birthday!
National Historic Ships Committee

Lists ships which are regarded as important to our Heritage
Newson Boatbuilders

Boatbuilders in Wood, Steel & Fibreglass.
Restorations, mast making, surveys and engine installations.
Newson's carry out all types of hull repairs specializing in double diagonal, carvel and clinker planking, from keel up repairs, frames and floors and decks.
New timber decks laid, along with traditional caulking of hull and decks using Oakum and pitched seams where tradition would have used them, cotton and Red/white lead and putty when appropriate.
Modern methods of caulking seams also used where customers require, Arbokol and Sikaflex to name just two.
Vintage and Classic Boat Restorations, repairs or total rebuilds there is no job to large or to small. All work can be tailored to suite owners requirements and budget.
Highly experienced staff take great care to ensure you will come back and in some cases we will come to you if the job requires it.
All work is carried out to a professional standard that meets all relevant current regulations in order to get your vessel - large or small - back in the water in the shortest possible time. With our Marine Engineer and qualified Electrician on site we have no time wasted waiting for outside agents to attend.
Ocean Waves

The Royal Navy Heritage section
Medway Queen Preservation Society

The Medway Queen is the last estuary pleasure paddle steamer in the UK.
Built in 1924 on the Clyde she saw service on the waters of the Thames and Medway in her early years and then on active service with the Royal Navy as a minesweeper in the English Channel. During her war years she became famous for her record number of crossings to the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 rescuing 7000 men in seven trips.
With the support of the The Heritage Lottery Fund restoration is now progressing and this can be followed on the official web site.
Thames Traditional Boat Rally
Naiad Errant

This website is dedicated to the Dunkirk Little Ship Naiad Errant and the part she played in British history as well as her subsequent restoration.
The Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust

The Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust was formed to acquire Dunkirk Little Ships in danger of destruction and remove them to a place of safety and to encourage the boatbuilding and conservation skills necessary to restore the Little Ships to a high standard with a view to ensuring their continued useful life.
MTB 102

MTB 102 is the last remaining Royal Naval ship which participated in Operation Dynamo. Now owned and operated by an active Trust, MTB 102 can be seen at several events throughout the year.
Massey Shaw Fire-Boat

Massey Shaw was built by J Samuel Whites of Cowes, Isle of Wight in 1935. She was built to a design of the London County Council, who wished her to be able to go under all the bridges of the Thames and her tributaries at any state of the tide.
The Massey Shaw's finest hour came in May 1940 when she answered a call from the Home Office asking her to take part in Operation Dynamo. The Massey Shaw made three trips to the beaches with her volunteer crew of Firemen, rescuing some 500 troops from the beaches and bringing back a further 110 to Ramsgate. In addition on her return to London the Massey Shaw rescued thirty French merchant seamen after their vessel, the "Emil de Champ", had hit a mine.
On her return to her home port, the Massey Shaw was heavily involved in fire fighting operations during the Blitz. Her fire pumps provided vast amounts of water to quell the large number of fires in the Docks and surrounding areas.
The National Small Boat Register

The National Small Boat Register (NSBR) is an online database which records all nationally and regionally important small craft of 33ft LOA and under. Vessels ove 33ft are recorded by the National Register of Historic Vessels. The NSBR is managed by the National Maritime Museum Cornwall based in Falmouth.

Recording your boat on the register helps keep track of the important craft in the UK and could lead to funding to help preseravtion of these historic vessels for future generations.

Registration is free and can be completed on line by follwoing the link. Look for NSBR under Research on the home page to submit your entry on-line.

George Hogg, Coordinator Natioanl Small Boat Register is available to provide advice and assitance if required.
Project Dorian

Follow how Tim Golding's work on the restoration of Dorian is progressing.
THE STEAM TUG CHALLENGE

CHALLENGE is the last steam tug to have worked on the Thames.
She is listed on the National Register of Historic Vessels "Core Collection".
She took part in Operation Dynamo in May 1940 to evacuate British and French troops from DUNKIRK.
A small and dedicated group of volunteers keep her in full working order today.

Challenge is owned by the Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust
The Thames Vintage Boat Club
Traditional Boat Supplies

For all your maintenance and renovation requirements including shipwrights tools, paints and antifoulings, traditional caulking and seam fillers etc.