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Monarch
Above
: Monarch, laid-up for the winter of 2018-19 at Wareham, facing an
uncertain future having been offered for sale. Photograph taken on 19th
November 2018 by kind courtesy of Phil Barnes
Construction
began in 1984 at Hoo on the Medway, Kent, UK
Length : 42 ft x breadth : 7 ft 9 inches (13 ' 10 " over
sponsons)
Compound Diagonal steam engine originally from a tar works converted
for marine use by Staniforth Engineeering, Rochester
4 ft diameter, seven float feathering paddle wheels
12 passenger capacity
Designed and built by Brian
Waters, a private paddle steamer enthusiast
Launched in 1994 at Chatham Historic Dockyard, where the
superstructure was fitted.
Sailed on the Medway
In December 2003 she sailed around Kent to Sandwich, where she took up passenger operation on the River Stour
Sold
in late 2007 for service based at Cowes on the Isle of Wight from where she
served there for three seasons
In September 2010 she was sold once again
- this time to the Morwellham Quay Museum and Visitor Attraction, on the River Tamar near Calstock
In 2012 it
was all change - she was resold to Wareham Boat Hire in Wareham Dorset
Now in operation on the River Frome, Wareham by Wareham Steam Navigation in association with Wareham River Cruises.
In September 2018 she was made available for sale, reportedly at a price of GBP 75,000
In
December 2021 it was reported that the vessel had been sold for use in
Ireland. Following boiler issues she was reported as to be converted to
electric
operation and was taken out of the water
2023 :The Irish sale had reportedly fallen through and the vessel had been moved to Gloucester
Engines (in 2015): Photo by kind courtesy of Ian Childs, Wareham River Cruises
Monarch being relaunched in 2015 after a major overhaul before taking up service at Wareham
Photo by kind courtesy of Ian Childs, Wareham River Cruises
Passenger saloon : Photo by kind courtesy of Ian Childs, Wareham River Cruises
Home base : Wareham, Dorset, UK : Photo by kind courtesy of Ian Childs, Wareham River Cruises
Website
: Click here
Above : Monarch
on 19th November 2018 during her winter lay-up near Wareham. The photo
clearly shows how small the paddle steamer is for a commercial vessel.
Photo by kind courtesy of Phil Barnes
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