Howard at the helm - proud new owner!!

‘Billy’ my 16 foot clinker built estuary launch made in the Exmouth based Camperdown Terrace Boat sheds belonging to Geoff Holman in 1949 is sold…………after lovingly restoring her to her former glory over several years and loads of fun trips up the river to The Turf Locks, The Anchor and Ship at Cockwood and more frequently to The Globe Inn at Lympstone I have sold her on to a chum called Howard from S.Wales.

‘Billy’ at her Camperdown Terrace Creek Mooring

‘Billy’ had been a commercial fishing launch used by a chap called Larry since first commissioned and he regularly fished off the Exe towards Straight Point one way and Teignmouth the other, netting and hand-lining for a living over several decades. When he died his nephew Paul took her on and I bought her from Paul about 4 years ago. I had loads of fun on her and although she was my first boat and I was very proud of her I wasn’t able to use her as much as she deserved and felt obliged to allow others to keep an eye on her all too often. When she was inadvertently scuppered on her moorings one day when the obliging chum forgot to replace the bung in after draining the rain water and sea water ingress (she’s an old boat and they all take up a little water through the decking planks) and she was forlornly left with the tide up to her gunnel’s and little else showing………..then I knew it was time to sell her on.

I sold her with sadness and natural regret…………she was my first boat and I was very proud to have owned her and to had a lot of fun for a few years restoring her………..no matter, she now belongs to a good friend of mine and no doubt we’ll both take her out fishing together now and again and spin dits, drink beer and maybe even catch the odd Sea Bass and mackerel or two………..hope so!!

Every boat owner should have a good looking crew!!