MODEL BOATS WEBSITE
0 0
Harbour directory

Motor Barge 'Nellie'

Listed by Nerys ·

Photos

About this boat

In the 1940s and 50s, many traditional Thames Sailing barges were converted into motor barges. This is a model, based on photos and my memory of the 'Nellie'. The sailing barge 'Nellie' was built by Cremers at Hollowshore, Faversham in 1901,. She traded under sail carrying about 90 tons of cargo around the Thames, Medway and Swale until about 1952 and then had the gear taken out, a Chrysler Crown petrol/paraffin motor installed and carried on trading for some years owned by R.Lapthorne & Co of Hoo on the River Medway.. She was eventually sold out of trade and is now privately owned. She has been rerigged with a reduced sailing barge rig without a topsail. My model is based on a 30" barge hull from Dave Watts Mastman.

Comments

  1. Nerys
    Fleet Admiral
    Don't we all. Dave Watts produces some good hulls, I have just started a 42"barge based on his 'Portlight'. It's all very well building from scratch, I could do it, but I'm a bit lazier than I used to be. However when that barge is finished, I am planning on building a barge with a different hull shape, so that will be scratch designed and built.

    Nerys
    Liked by marky and Martin555
  3. Nerys
    Fleet Admiral
    I said in the first post that she was based on a 30" hull from Dave Watts Mastman

    Nerys
    Liked by Martin555
  6. Nerys
    Fleet Admiral
    Thank you, everyone, who has said nice things about 'Nellie'. I must admit, building her was very much a labour of love. Nellie played a significant role in my life in the 1950s. Soon after she became a motor barge. I was having the occasional trip on her, she was based locally and I knew the owner/skipper. There would be 'just going along for the ride' when she was doing a local freight, or, on one occasion, following a Thames Barge Race. Then when the late Bob Childs became skipper I would occasionally stand in as his mate if he was 'mateless' for some reason. Then eventually, Bob, whose knowledge of Thames Barges was second to none, was offered the skipper's job on Sully's 'Edith May', promotion indeed, and I became skipper of little 'Nellie'. Of all the barges I have sailed on, 'Nellie' was my favourite and I still have real affection for her. It was a delight to build the model and I'm sure I will spend many happy hours sailing her.
    Liked by dave976 and Martin555 and

Advertisement — Remove ads with a membership

Sponsored

With over a decade of knowledge from thousands of members, this website has become the leading resource for enthusiasts all over the world. If every visitor donated a single pound or dollar, the website's costs for the year would be covered within minutes.

By donating or subscribing, you'll become an honorary member, receive a medal and have full access to the website without adverts or restrictions!

You Will Be Helping Towards:

  • Domain Fees
  • Security Certificates
  • iOS & Android App Fees
  • Website Bandwidth
  • Server Backups
  • Upkeep & Maintenance
  • Administration Costs

Without your support the website wouldn't be what it is today. Please consider donating towards these fees or disabling your ad-blocker to help keep us afloat.

Support this website Make a donation

Delete this post?

It will be removed from the site.

Discard this draft?

Your draft will be deleted and cannot be recovered.

You have an unfinished draft

What would you like to do with it?