Description

Felicity was built as an open launch, fishing for sprats in winter and working as a 60-passenger ferry, running tourist trips around Poole harbour and bay in the summer.
During the war she was a lifeline between Brownsea Island and the mainland taking supplies for the Dutch and Belgian refugees camped on the island. She was then called to Dover for the Dunkirk rescue.
After the war she was sold and ran a passenger service in the Solent but in 1991 a serious fire on board left her on the beach and regarded as a total loss. However, Julian Aldridge restored her and she was relaunched and used by the family, going to the Channel Islands for holidays and more.
See the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships website FELICITY | The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships
In 2005 the current seller bought her. She insulated and fitted her out to make a comfortable home and has lived on her for the past 19 years.

With her strong workboat build, shallow draught, and powerful engine "FELICITY" is suitable for coastal, estuarine, or inland cruising, or as a static houseboat.

Specifications

Construction

Construction, pitch pine on oak, hull with recent repairs being in high seasoned Iroko on steam bent oak ribs.
In 2021 Abbey Boat Builder in Norfolk replaced many planks and ribs.

A video on facebook can be seen at https://fb.watch/8StAXgdnCz/
“Kicking it old school with Michael Dennett Boat Builders steam bending green oak fresh from the forests of Norfolk.”

Main deck is fiberglass sheathed plywood, fore and aft decks are plywood only.

steming new oak ribs 2021

New port side planking 2021

Equipment

Danforth anchor, chain, fenders, rope, mooring pins. 12-240V inverter, generator, passerelle, batteries 2 x 110V new Oct 2025,

Navigation Equipment

Navigation lights, compass.

Engine(s)

80 HP Ford Mermaid, New in 1992 little used since then.

Felicity fishing

Felicity as a ferry

Felicity fishing

Galley with three burner Plastimo 3000 range gas cooker with grill and oven, Lofoten (by Dickinson) diesel heater and hotplate (6,500 – 16,750 BTU). Sink with electric hot and cold water and cold-water foot pump supply. Fold down work surface.

Saloon with flip up table and office area, seating makes a double berth. Double doors partition it from the forecabin.

Forecabin with steering and engine controls, seats can be in the form of a U shape, two single berths, or make a double using fill in boards. Hatch leads to forepeak with shelving and anchor locker in the bow. Under the starboard berth is a 160-litre flex

Gull wing hatch in forecabin

Forepeak

Heads with Rinnai gas water heater, electric shower, fold up basin with electric pumped gas hot and cold water plus a foot pump cold water tap, vacuum cassette toilet (Lee Sanitation Vacuflush with three (14 litre each) portable cassettes in the cockpit l

Toilet pump and canisters in cockpit locker

Cockpit with engine and generator, sliding hatch and screens. Toilet cassette locker and draining gas locker which holds two propane bottles.

Draining gas lockerr with gass bottle ties. Takes 1 x 13kg and 1 x 6kg propane bottles

Ford Mermaid 80 hp diesel engine. Fed from two tanks, combined volume 220 litres

Engine controls

Generator, BOAB 12V 80 Amp DC High power remote area vehicle/plant portable battery charger with a 4 stroke Honda engine. It is stored above main engine in its own box.

The battery locker is under the portside seating in the saloon. It has two new (Oct 2025) 110 Ah leisure batteries. There is room for four batteries if required

Adjustable angle solar panels (2 X 195W)

Three height options, summer, spring/autumn, winter

Safety Equipment

Boat Safety Certificate until 18/02/2027

Location Map