Marne

From Shoreham Houseboats

Originally an MTB Motor Torpedo Boat it was fitted with 2 Thornycroft compressed air start, main engines, and 2 small V8 (ford Pilot type) engines for low speed cruising.

I think the boat was built in about 1936. I was also told that the boat had been used off the south coast for towing targets so that aircraft could practice attack manoeuvres.
My father bought this boat around about 1956-1957 I think he paid about £600 in total.
Before he bought the boat dad went to a local boat builder to get a survey, just to make sure he was not wasting his money. He was told that it was rotten and not to touch it.
He disagreed with the survey and bought it anyway. Now more than 50 years have since passed and the boat is still there, although it is looking a bit old and frail now.
The stainless steel prop shafts were sold shortly after we got the boat. The money from these two parts almost paid for the boat.
The bedroom I shared with my brother was one of the two giant petrol tanks. The interior walls of the bedroom were covered with thick rubber. This was to stop petrol leaking if a bullet went through the teak hull and into the tank.
My dad still has quite a few souvenirs mainly brass parts
I lived there on the boat up to about 1964. - David Evans