World war 2 wooden boat restoration project BMP Launch

68ft High Speed Launch 2552

This is an auction for a 68 foot long wooden restoration/house boat project.

I have been the custodian of “Sea Witch” since about 1992 and initially started to restore her whilst my business was funding it.

Unfortunately I lost my business a couple of years later and all work stopped.

I have never recovered from this and I am in no position to carry out the work needed, due to financial reasons, therefore I am putting her up for auction in the hope that someone can lovingly restore her.

H.S.L. 2552 was the prototype for the R.A.F. and used primarily as a rescue launch picking up ditched Spitfire Pilots. R.A.F. Hendon is in possession of photographs and detailed drawings and is more than willing to give copies.

She is mainly constructed of mahogany double diagonal.

She has deteriorated badly along the waterline and hence requires repair.

The superstructure and the engine room roof are both missing. In view of this situation she is currently 3ft lower than normal and is sitting on the bottom of the canal to preserve the wood. It takes around 3 to 4 hours to pump her out and once afloat requires a bilge pump to maintain floatation.

She was built in 1942 and the Yard No. is 1999. Everything below the waterline appears to be in good condition and most of the original floor panels are there.

Please feel free to e-mail me any questions about the boat.

Unfortunately where the boat is moored the yard cannot cater for a boat of this size if it is lifted out to be worked on, hence any potential purchaser must be prepared to remove her via low loader.

The yard owner has agreed to a maximum of two months grace to allow the buyer to undertake this matter.

There is another boat yard approximately one mile further along the river which has suitable potential to dry dock a vessel of this size, however this would be at the discretion of the new boat yard owner.