WW2 Raf Seaplane Refueling Launch 46ft Steel Houseboat Project Widebeam

This is "Katrina" previously know as R.A.F.1135 when it served in the second world war refueling Short Sunderland flying boats.She is a registered historic vessel https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2703/raf-1135katrina (cut and paste into web browser to make this link work) She has had a long and illustrious life after being converted to a house boat in the late 40's early 50's she frequently sailed across the North Sea and English Channel and through Europe's waterways then around the Mediterranean. I know this as it was the "sister ship" to my Grandfathers RAF launch "Weirbin" and "Uncle Norman's" Launch "Sea Test". All sailed together from the river Trent, "Katrina" was always the nicest according to my Grandmother and won many awards to prove it. Over a decade ago I found Katrina in the South of France and eventually brought her home with the plan of rebuilding her and turning her into a floating home, however times and plans change so I'm putting her up for an extremely reluctant sale -I apologise if anyone reading this is one of the many who I have refused requests to sell to before. She has been through the Wars.. well just one.

The interior is completely stripped, engines removed and large sections of the bottom of the hull was removed the winter before last and new hull areas skillfully welded onto the original frame. In the photos where she is out of the water I would say 50% to 60% of the red painted lower half of the hull is new.Other work done at the time included new "Hawze pipes" where the anchors hang on their chains through the bow, repairs around portholes and straightening of a few frames. The steel hull now needs a small amount of welding on the decks before painting then it will be ready for a fit out of your choosing. The Teak wheelhouse needs restoring and a new front and rear hatch building. Two perkins 4236 diesel engines come with this however they have been submerged after the local authorities failed to control river levels properly during a flood causing this and other boats to get caught on the bank and then tip sideways.

The engines are cheap and easy to find second hand and modify to boat engines with the parts from the original engines(if they haven't been converted). Gauges will need to be replaced too after being submerged. First and last two photos show her in the past when there was lots of over plating on the hull. This will make a stunning spacious "Twin Screw Motor Launch" or "Gentleman's motor yacht" when fully restored and will be worth a small fortune. She really is the best looking boat on the Nene despite her current tatty condition.Serious inquiries only please.