Timeless 1937 Design, Powered by Modern Electric Innovation

Lockheed is a boat I am familiar with, not becausee I have sailed on her, but because she has a presence everywhere she goes.

The traditional boat world is a small one, and Lockheed has been a familiar and much-admired sight at events such as Trad and St Katharine Docks for several years. She is a familiar hull, always beautifully presented and perfectly executed.

She does not demand attention, but she always gets it… a quiet sort of admiration.

Behind that presence lies a remarkable story of vision, determination, and reinvention.

Built in 1937 by Boats & Cars Ltd of Kingston upon Thames, Lockheed began life as a beautifully proportioned Thames cruiser, elegant in line and unmistakably of her era. Decades later, she was discovered as little more than an abandoned bare hull, sitting forgotten in a field. What followed was not simply a restoration, but a labour of love.

Her owner, Michael, took on the extraordinary challenge of bringing her back to life, transforming her from derelict shell to one of the most celebrated classic boats on the river today. The result is nothing short of exceptional.

Completely rebuilt and relaunched in 2023, Lockheed is a 39ft mahogany-on-oak classic that seamlessly marries 1930s elegance with cutting-edge electric propulsion. Beneath her timeless exterior lies an advanced 93.4kWh electric propulsion system with twin steerable electric pods, offering whisper-quiet cruising, effortless manoeuvrability, and a practical cruising range that comfortably allows a return trip from Shepperton to Oxford, or Tower Bridge and back, on a single charge. 

But Lockheed is more than her engineering.

Her maiden voyage after restoration was to the Henley Traditional Boat Festival in 2023, where she stunned judges and enthusiasts alike, taking home four awards including Best Structural Restoration, Best Restoration & Presentation, Best Electric Boat, and the ultimate accolade… Best in Show. She later added a Gustave Trouvé Award for best retrofit electric boat, cementing her place as one of the most exciting classic electric launches in the country. 

She has since been featured multiple times in Motor Boat & Yachting and Classic Boat, admired not only for her beauty but for the boldness of her concept.

Inside, she is beautifully executed… warm timber finishes, thoughtful detailing, and a sociable layout designed for elegant river entertaining or intimate weekends afloat. Outside, her sweeping lines and immaculate brightwork turn heads wherever she goes.

Michael openly says he was never a “classic boat expert” when he began. What he did have was passion, determination, and an eye for possibility. Lockheed became his obsession, his education, and ultimately his triumph.

Now, reluctantly, Lockheed is offered for sale.

Wooden boats need owners who will use, cherish, and continue their story.

Offered at £135,000, Lockheed represents a rare opportunity to acquire not only an award-winning classic, but one of the most talked-about and sucessful electric restorations in Britain.

SPECIFICATION

Builder: Boats & Cars Ltd, Kingston upon Thames
Year Built: 1937
Construction: Mahogany planking on oak frames
Type: Classic Thames Cruiser / Gentleman’s Motor Launch
Length: 39 ft
Propulsion: Twin steerable electric pod drives
Motor Output: 2 x 10kW electric motors
Battery Capacity: 93.4kWh LiFePO4 battery bank
System Voltage: 48V
Charging: Shore power charging system
Cruising Range: Approx. Shepperton to Oxford return, or Tower Bridge return, on a single charge (subject to conditions and cruising speed)
Steering: Traditional helm with modern vectored electric propulsion
Fuel: Fully electric propulsion / zero-emission cruising

Accommodation:
Forward V-berth sleeping accommodation
Open-plan saloon seating / dining area
Galley
Enclosed heads compartment
Large sociable aft cockpit / entertaining deck
Contemporary interior sympathetically designed in period style

Restoration:
Complete nut-and-bolt restoration completed 2023
Hull professionally restored and rebuilt
New wheelhouse and decks
Full electrical systems installation
Custom propulsion engineering
Reimagined interior fit-out
Traditional craftsmanship throughout with modern systems integration

Awards:
Best in Show – Henley Traditional Boat Festival 2023
Best Restoration & Presentation
Best Structural Restoration
Best Electric Boat
Gustave Trouvé Award – Best Retrofit Electric Boat
National Transport Trust Preservation recognition

Press Coverage:
Featured in Motor Boat & Yachting
Featured in Classic Boat magazine