Plover B

Current boat name

Plover B

Boat class

Cabin Launch/Cruiser

Sail number

N/A

Number

SSR 152388

Function

Sports and Leisure

Type

Launch

Length (m / ft)

8.87 / 28ft 10ins

Beam (m / ft)

2.13 / 6ft 11ins

Draft (m / ft)

0.77 / 2ft 6ins

Construction

Other

Material

Wood

Masts

One small cross trees for pennants

Rig type

N/A

Propulsion

Engine

Engine details

BMC Vedette 4 cylinder 948cc petrol. Raw water cooled.

Designer

Not known

Design date

Not known

Date of build

1958

Place of build

Nr. Binsey Oxford

Home port

Furness Vale Marina Furness Vale High Peak SK23 7QA Derbyshire

Present condition

Very Good

Present use

Leisure cruising on the Inland Waterways of U.K. Eight week cruise this summer from home port to Godalming Surrey and back

Plover B was built in 1958 as a 'one off' under commission by the first owner, Mr Percy des Ballance, to his boat builder son John Ballance who had just entered into a business partnership with another boatbuilder. She is still the only one of her kind! Built of 3/4 inch Utili hull planking and cabin sides with a plywood coach roof and side decks. The frames are laminated Utili, the hull being copper fastened originally throughout. The boat comfortably sleeps three with a generous V berth in the fore cabin and a collapsible dinette in the galley/saloon. The heads compartment has a chemical toilet and sliding door opposite which is a generous wash basin. The galley is spacious and two years ago had a Wallas diesel powered hob/cabin heater fitted, necessitating the installation of a small diesel tank. Percy supplied his beloved used Model T Ford petrol/paraffin engine. The boat left the Ballance family after Percy died about 1970 and then had some unrecorded owners during which time engine replaced with current unit. Grandson Tom Ballance who took over the management of Bossoms many years later bought the boat back 1990 and gave it a refit and relaunch 1996 sold it on 1998. Home mooring been on Thames until 2018 when moved up to Peak Forest Canal. The boat has been kept to her original design and appearance.