Price Details

Asking Price: £375,000 GBP
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk GB
Make: Thames Sailing Barge
Year: 1895
Condition: Continually well maintained and working.
Category: Traditional Sail
Keel Type: Flat bottomed with Leeboards

Description

Sailing Barge Victor is a majestic, traditionally rigged 19th century sailing vessel with comfortable, facilities for guests. She has a wooden hull, flatbottomed with leeboards and a Traditional Spritsail rig. She is kept fully certified and surveyed for use as a passenger charter vessel. She is to be sold along with her successful charter business, the online booking system, the Wi-Fi facility, card reader plus generous support of ABP Ports, Ipswich for her continued mooring and domestic services.
She is charged the standard rate for  entering/ exiting the lock into the wet dock.
From 1895 – 1946 she carried cargoes to and from London. During WWII she was requisitioned to carry munitions to Warships, afloat off the Kent coast. She was released from her war work in 1946.

In the 1950’s, she was converted to a motor barge to carry on working carrying cargoes between the ports of the East Coast. In 1974, she was re rigged and converted into a Commercial charter barge.
From 1995, she operated as a 40 passenger charter barge and floating office, located was mainly at Beaulieu, Hampshire in the summer and at Butlers Warf, near Tower Bridge, London in the winter.
A new ownership and present ownership in 2005-6.  She underwent a major overhaul both in the ports of in Mistley and Maldon. A new Doosan 180hp engine was installed. The works included a new mast, sprit, running and standing rigging, and refurbished decks. The interior was gutted and new electrics, water and heating systems..  New water and fuel tanks, re fitting of her saloon, the cabins, the galley and the heads were all installed.
Today, Sailing Barge Victor is used as a successful charter business, offering sailing trips on the River Orwell, giving clients offers a truly memorable and affordable opportunity, to experience living maritime history. The Barge is fully qualified as a commercial passenger carrying vessel for up to 40 persons. All scheduled cruises are available for private charter or corporate events, licensed bar on board. Viewing can be made by appointment only.

 

Measurements

Nominal Length: 24.99m    Length Overall: 25.05m    Beam: 6.40m   Draft: 1.22m
Air Draft: 26.52m     Draft: 1.22m     Leeboards lowered: 3.96m

Specifications

Fuel Tank Capacity: 1200ltrs
Holding Tank Capacity: 1000ltrs
Water Tank Capacity: 1000ltrs
Displacement: 68tons
Cruising Speed: 6 knots
Engine Power: 180hp   Number of Engines: 1

Accommodation

Potentially Berths: 17,   Cabins: 5,   Heads: 3    Passenger Capacity: 40 plus 5 crew

Builder/Designer

Builder: Horace Shrubshall of Ipswich.    Barge Name: Victor

Engine

Engine Model: Doosan LO66TI  Fuel Type: diesel.  Sited port aft of saloon keelson, A separate metal plated sound proofed engine room bulkhead and access doors.
6 cylinder engine installed new to the barge during her last major refit and refurbishment. Lowered in through the two removable hatch boards.
Shaft driven to a 4 bladed fixed Bronze propeller. PRM2/1 gear box cooled by a saltwater heat exchanger. A Morse single lever controls from the deck helm position.
A new in 2021 generator, occupies the same Engine room space.

                   

Construction:

A Traditional double skinned displacement wooden planked hull, wooden decks, superstructure, companionways, bulkheads fixtures and fittings. A metal keelson runs the full length of the flat bottom.
A pair of wooden lee boards, manually  winch controlled, are utilized as her keel, when tacking. A continuous programme of replacing keelson and chine bolts. ( documented progress.)
Domestic services and electrics were updated and replaced during her last major overhaul. 2005/6. Hatch boards have been insulated and secured. Two remain hinged, so that large equipment can be lowered into the hold.
Engine room has been metal clad. Vessel annually dry dock and re antifouled. Self surveyed for general condition and inspected for the MCA exemption certification.

Accommodation:

Victor has kept the original Skippers cabin, aft. it’s panelled out with two coffin berths, a separate ” Heads” compartment and companionway steps to Helm position aft. It’s possible to walk through the aft water tight bulkhead into the saloon.

The Saloon has, two long sofa bench seating running the length of the space, under both side decks.  The Main companionway enters the Saloon, starboard side aft of the mast deck, the space under and ahead of the stairs is fitted out with a Bar facility, stowage for glasses. A triple glass fronted chilled drinks fridge.  A free standing multifuel stove stands in the opposite corner, it has the ability to heat the water.
Going forward under the mast deck,( a low corridor- restricted Headroom ). A grey tank and water tanks either side of. Two double bunk cabins both presently used for stowage of crockery and supplies.
Heads: Male & Female (separate) and shower room, to port of the central corridor,  A galley is to starboard. fully fitted out with a full sized  gas oven and hob 5 rings , 2 sinks. A Fridge and a freezer. Kitchen cupboards and drawers, full of galley equipment and utensils.

Forward again into the foc’sle cabin, through forward bulkhead.. bunk berths for the crew. Area used as a Bosun’s locker and store. Companionway steps top foredeck.

     

Equipment:

Barge is fitted out with all the required deck gear for a sailing passenger carrying vessel : winches, anchors, chain, fenders warps, gangway.
Diesel fed heater, electric space heater. 2 x Large gas cylinders, securely stowed on deck.
Electric emersion heater 12kw for supply of hot water.

Sails: Traditional Spritsail rig. and spars.

Navigation Equipment:  A Ships wheel, Icom Radio with AIS
GPS chart plotter, Navigation station / chart table below in Skippers quarters.
Paddle log and depth sounder.

Safety Equipment:

1 x diesel salvage pump
2 x 30persons life rafts ( annual hire)
6 x inflatable life jackets for crew
40 Board of trade lifejackets for passengers
6 x Board of trade lifejackets for children
Fire extinguishers
fire blanket
Gas sniffers
Life rings
Danbuoy.

Disclaimer: No guarantee is given or implied with regards to specification but descriptions are given in good faith. All vessels sold without warranty or condition to fitness either expressed or implied by status or otherwise. We are relying on information supplied to us by a third party. M.J. Lewis advises that a qualified independent surveyor carries out a full out of water survey.