Fairmile B Rescue Motor Launch 526 which became one of the famous Brixham to Torquay Western Lady Ferries is now for sale with Plymouth yacht brokers Boatshed Plymouth. The boat has been tastefully converted to a beautiful live aboard home whilst retaining her sea going capabilities and authentic lines.

The Fairmile B Motor Launches were an invaluable part of Britain’s costal defences during World War II. They were used to patrol areas, on convoy protection duties, mine clearance and mine laying, troop and supply transportation and rescue missions. The Rescue Motor Launches were more normally tasked to air sea rescue and were responsible for the recovery of many downed air crew in the seas around Britain.

They were built utilising the skills and craftsmanship of smaller boat yards and joiners from other walks of life such as furniture making. The boats were designed so that they could be constructed from pre fabricated kits but the inherent design was so strong that many very badly damaged Fairmile B’s managed to return to port under their own steam. RML 597 rammed a submarine wrecking the first 15 feet of her bow section but she return home safely in astern as her internal bulkheads provided sufficient residual buoyancy to keep her floating. She was repaired and returned to duties.
After the war RML 526 was sold to a chap from the Isle of Wight but was later caught running contraband between Gibraltar and Tangiers. She was then brought back to Britain and her engines which like most of the Fairmile B’s engines had been loaned from the USA for the war effort were removed and returned. There is an unconfirmed story that when she returned she was carrying a stowaway who set up home in the Brixham area and whose descendants live in the town today.

The boat then began the next stage of her life being sold to the Perret family of Dolphin Shipyard, Galmpton on the River Dart in Devon who operated the Western Lady Ferries, the first of which were all Fairmile B Rescue Motor Launches. RML 526 became Western Lady IV and was converted at Millbay Docks in Plymouth. She was re-engined and fitting with seating both above and below decks being licensed to carry 175 passengers. The Fairmile B’s were never designed with longevity in mind but owing to their sound strong construction and the continued maintenance during their commercial service the Western Ladies survived right into the 21st century.

When her present owner purchased her from the ferry company in 2006 she still had her commercial MCA certification although she had not been in service for 18 months. He used the dry dock facilities at Galmpton to do essential maintenance and repair works to enable him to move the boat to her new home on the River Tamar. In September 2006 he began the next conversion for this grand old lady. Initially camping out in tents below decks he set about creating a beautiful home from the immense space left once all the seating and other ferry paraphernalia had been removed.

First off was the bathroom, which does include a full size bath along with toilet, shower and basin, then the forward cabin and galley although it is larger than many house kitchens and probably better equipped. But whereas a house or even a house boat is relatively simple with regards to plumbing and electricity Western Lady IV is still a sea going vessel and all systems have been created with this in mind. Whilst undertaking the conversion the owner has also been able to repair and maintain the hull and structure of the boat, all repairs have been carried out to MCA guidelines so that should she ever be pressed back into commercial service this would be possible. He has also returned the exterior lines of the boat to her wartime appearance removing the superstructure added to accommodate passengers on deck in bad weather. This now provides a wonderful outdoor space onboard and gives a true impression of how easily she would have carried her guns and cargos during the war.

The boat now boasts 4 cabins, 3 doubles and one single with a spacious living room, separate galley, a bathroom and additional heads. She has an office area in the bridge and separate tank and engine rooms providing masses of storage space. The decks are clear and flush providing fantastic exterior space for a huge range of activities and yet she is still sea worthy and able to voyage far and wide as she was originally designed to do.

The boat has attended quite a few events for historic vessels and the owner has undertaken several short cruises with family and friends around the South Coast of England along with short excursions and overnight stops at anchor in Cawsand bay. She remains one of only 2 seaworthy Fairmile B Rescue Motor Launches in the Northern Hemisphere. Sadly her owner’s health means that he must now think of parting with this wonderful craft. As yacht brokers we do come across this sad story from time to time, thankfully in this case the owner has taken his decision while the boat is still in sound condition and he is able to maintain her.

Please do take a look at the detailed description, inventory and 56 more photos of this truly historic vessel or contact the team at Boatshed Plymouth to find out more about her and arrange a viewing.