Description

A National Historic vessel, Kitty is a wooden Thames Sailing Barge, an ex Charter vessel. A potential liveaboard vessel.
She is fully kitted out for as a rather unique venue for a business meetings, family parties, corporate entertainment or just for pleasure of a sail aboard one of these magnificent ex " Work Horses". Built in 1895 by J & H Cann of Harwich. She is 82ft long with a 22ft beam.
She held a passenger licence for up to 43 guests when under sail or 60 guests when moored / static, She is an inventory of gear and equipment to entertain up to 35 persons for a formal dinner. The sailing exemption certificate allowed her to sail with passengers around the whole of UK waters ( the certification has now expired September 2024.
Presently, she is moored alongside. She was last in the dry dock, May 2023, for her survey, an annual requirement of the MCA, if she is to keep her commercial ticket.
One of 37 barges built by J & H Cann at Gas House Creek, Harwich.
The Cann's were renowned for both high quality workmanship and a reputation for building fast vessels. This reputation for speed is evidenced by the number of East Coast Barge races she has won in the past.
Sailing Barge Kitty was built in 1895 to carry cargoes of grain in the North Sea, along the East Coast and on to the near continent. She worked up until 1938.
Her Spritsail rig has a sail area of nearing 3000 sq ft, she weighs 79 gross tons. In her time capable of carrying a cargo of 150tons, mainly sailed by a Master and his Mate alone. She was taken out of trade in 1955 after 60 years of commercial service.
A treasure of maritime history, she provides an unforgettable venue for any special celebrations or corporate event.

Specifications

Accommodation

She has a comprehensive inventory of all gear and equipment to facilitate the catering and bar facilities for 50 persons, furniture and fittings required. Refrigeration. Gas cookers. Full sized catering galley. Loads of stowage
Double sinks. Hot and cold pressurised water system.
Tables and seating for 35 persons.
Companionway stairwell to the interior from deck level, wooden varnished steps.
Amidships the Bar Area has fixed seating and is carpeted throughout.
Central corridor runs the full length of the barge alongside the enormously long pine keelson.
Aft of the heads is a privacy partitioning door, a tall freezer stands in a corridor stowage cupboard.
A double cabin, to port this has a bedside airing type stowage cupboard, a large sliding double door hanging wardrobe. Opposite there is a double bunk berth cabin, both large/ long single bunk berths.
Sound proof door to the engine room the engine itself is encased in a sound reduction box. Generator and other mechanics in the engine room.
Aft again, another sound proofed door, companionway steps coming down from the helming position. Engine controls and radio all in the stair well.
The Masters cabin is panelled out with varnished pine, there is seating both sides with a table and free standing pot bellied stove and two large coffin berths.

Forward cabin area has two single bunk berths used as a paint store in the forepeak and a large rope store.

The Snug

Main Companionway

Galley

Saloon looking aft

Shower

Double cabin

Masters Quarters

Exit

Bar

Construction

Kitty 25metres in deck length, 6.5 metre on the beam; She has a bowsprit, hinged at the bitts. Double Skinned carvel wooden flat bottomed displacement hull. Constructed in 1895.
She has been annually dry docked for her MCA certification. July 2021.
Large transom hung rudder. Wooden combings and hatch board canvas covered.
She is massively built on oak frames and floors clad in 3 and 4 inch thick pitch pine planking. She still has her original pine keelson 0.4 metres square and 23 metres long. Her spritsail rig has a sail area of almost 3000 square feet and her gross tonnage is 79 tons and is capable of carrying a cargo of 150 tons.

Sept 24

Sept 24

Sept 24

In Dry Dock 2021

Equipment

Barge boat hanging in davits on aft deck.
Large main anchor on chain,
Manual anchor windlass
Leeboards
Glass fronted display fridge, Optics, 2 door cabinet for glass storage.
Full standing fridge and drinks store.(behind bar area)
Gas instant hot water in the shower and sinks.
Pressurized hot and cold water system
Two stainless steel sinks with drainer.
6 burner gas stove with double oven (commercial)
Full standing larder fridge. Electric kettles, Microwave.
Plates cutlery and crockery for 50 persons
Loads of cupboard and drawer space.
Servery counter with lifting section to access the dining area.
Fixed surround seating
3 x dining tables.
Carpeting throughout the vessel. Claret coloured upholstery in good condition.
2 separate head compartments with button flush sea toilets and wash basins.
A holding tank.

Steps on Gangway

Behind the bar

Kitty Merchandising.

Navigation Equipment

Wheel Steering from deck.
Compass in binnacle.

Engine(s)

Doosan Marine Replaced new in 2018, 230hp diesel, 6 cylinders in separate engine room aft. Air cooled. Electric start, Morse cable controls .
Range. 200 nm.
last serviced March 2021
Shaft driven to triple bladed propeller.
4.5KVA air cooled generator

Sails & Spars

Spritsail rig with Bowsprit which can be lowered. Main mast, mizzen mast, both deck stepped in metal tabernacle. Metal masts, sprit , wooden topmast
All traditional wooden blocks and tackle.
Manual halyards winches x 2.
Tan coloured canvas sails. The star painted in her topsail is the original owner’s mark, J Horlock of Mistley, used to identify the vessel at long distances.

Electrics

24v, 240v shore power and ring main.
Mains power supply to deck. 4 x external sockets
240v ring main, sockets throughout the vessel.
Blwn hot air heating system.

Safety Equipment

Fire extinguishers
First Aid Kit
Flares
Cannister life rafts x 2 ( on hire )

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.