P.S. Monarch

Progress Report December 2003

Brian Waters, designer and constructor, writes ...

'Monarch' has been undergoing trials now for almost a year, and during that time the machinery has been brought to a reasonable state of reliability.

The superheater fitted to the boiler during the summer has significantly increased her performance and she was timed between the Medway motorway bridge and Strood at 6 m.p.h. towing her dinghy. She handles well and is very efficient, burning less than 3 gallons of oil per hour.

Her adventures include meeting up with 'Kingswear Castle' during her Anniversary Cruise on Saturday 8th November, and taking the 'Medway Queen's' heroic team of workers out on the river on Thursday 27th November.

On Tuesday 9th December 'Monarch' was lifted on to the quay at the Acorn Shipyard, Strood, where she underwent a successful survey. Two days later she was taken by lorry to Ramsgate Harbour where she was returned to the water.

After being weather-bound, she finally sailed across Pegwell Bay in a gentle swell and into the River Stour on Tuesday 16th December, to arrive at Sandwich Town Quay at around 6.30 p.m.

It is planned to make a trial run from Sandwich up river past the Roman Fort, and then spend the next few months preparing her for service with the River Bus fleet, which she is joining in the early spring.

These photographs were taken by Martin Longhurst from the Kingswear Castle on 8 November 2003.

 

 

 

 

Monarch and KC exchanged whistle blasts just east of the motorway bridge.

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