This extraordinary centre cockpit canal/river cruiser has been in the same family for two generations or more and bears the badges of some many outings up and down the canal system in the UK as well as bearing witness to attendance at so many events....if only boats could talk. Certainly Samanda would have many tales to tell including IWA rallies, Thames Traditional Boat events, and each one is recorded on a plaque on board the boat. There is also a map showing which canals and rivers the boat has visited. Its owners first contacted me two years ago but the pull of more adventures encouraged them to do another couple of trips to Lechlade and Henley. However time is passing and the moment feels right to pass Samanda on to another family for them to enjoy adventures on board. There is a neat private forward cabin with charming bunk beds, lots of storage in mahogany lockers throughout, a separate heads compartment complete with an original metal folding sink as well as a more standard sink in the forward cabin and another in the galley. The dinette area converts into a double and you could sleep a child in the aft cockpit which offers useful space for watching the world go by during the day.

The boat is built of marine ply and painted dark navy. The roof slides and lifts over the cockpit while the windscreen folds down to allow passage under low bridges.

A unique river and canal cruiser built in 1958 by Kenneth Gibbs at Shepperton on the Thames, for Frank Muir, the comedy script writer and broadcaster.   Much travelled and admired all over the country on inland waterways.

Length 36’, beam 6’10”. draught 2’6”, air draught under 6’.

Constructed of marine ply on iroko frame and with steel extension, which houses custom designed tender, included in the sale.

Engine BMC 1.5 diesel installed 1968, rebuilt 2008.

Double bed and two single berths.  Galley with cooker and fridge, hot water from calorifier or gas water heater.

Owned by the same family since 1963, maintained, improved and sympathetically modernised.

BSS to May 2025.    Survey in August 2021 only produced a few minor comments.

Further information

Exterior

On foredeck, anchor and chain, manual winch. Headlamp, two horns, loudhailer controlled from helm. Spot lamp. Wind down mast (for low canal bridges), controlled from helm.
Navigation lights.
Boat hooks, lifebuoy and gangplank stored in lockable chocks.

Two bow ropes, two stern ropes, two centre ropes.    Several fendoffs.

Wheelhouse
Roof and windscreen fold down for low bridges. Single detachable wiper on driver’s side. Wooden spoked steering wheel, single lever morse control, instrument panel. Spot lamp. Radio. One fixed seat and three fold up seats.
Storage cupboards.
Engine, batteries, water and fuel tanks under floor

Aft deck
Access to dinghy under centre floorboard. (There is a hood which covers the aft deck, which is not currently used.)

Interior

Forward cabin
Chain locker and storage locker under foredeck.
Escape hatch.
Two bunks to port, lower bunk has window to view river.
Shelves, mahogany chest of drawers and wash basin to starboard.

Lobby
Small wardrobe to starboard.
Air heater which can be used while the engine is running.

Toilet
A custom built system with electric flush which drops into a tank below, which can then be pumped out into a container and emptied into a chemical toilet disposal point.
Folding wash basin.

Aft cabin
Fold down seat to port. Large wardrobe to starboard, L shaped seating, folding table. Mahogany sideboard with glass fronted cupboard, ample storage. 7 foot double bed which folds down from under starboard sidedeck with a low level window for viewing the river.
Radio, ships clock and barometer.

Galley

With electric/gas fridge, two burner cooker with grill and oven to port. Water heater. Sink and drainer to starboard with cutlery and utensil drawers below. Carbon monoxide alarm. Gas alarm.

 Aft cockpit

Doors to galley and aft cabin.
Seating on both sides with water tanks and gas boxes under.

Storage lockers on both sides.

Winter cover
Also included in the sale a fitted canvas cover.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Electrical
There are three batteries, starter, leisure and auxillary battery. Batteries can be linked if necessary by switches. All batteries can be switched off by a main switch, or each independently .
240v input for shore power. with 3 mains sockets.
12 volt sockets in wheelhouse and cabins.
Mini inverter 240v supply for electric razor sockets.
800 watt mains inverter, used when the engine is running.

Gas
Two 7 kg gas bottles are located in the aft cockpit, with a manual changeover  fitted, and if this detects gas or fumes it shuts off a solenoid valve in the gas box.

A gas alarm is fitted.

Tank capacities
Water is in excess of 100 gallons. Water tanks midships and stern.   All linked and filled from the stern.

The flush tank for the toilet is separate but filled from the main tank. The holding tank for the toilet holds about 35 litres.

Fuel. Diesel  20 gallons.