Name Prunella

PRUNELLA is a 1938 Thornycroft-built teak on oak gentleman’s yacht, built for her first owner, Francis Heron Muirhead, a friend of Marconi and director of the Muirhead Company which developed wireless technology for the government. She was requisitioned by the Admiralty at the start of the war, and placed under Nore Command whose authority extended from North Foreland to Scapa Flow. She probably remained in Brightlingsea throughout the war, although it is possible she was used as a fleet tender at Scapa Flow, moving crew from ship to shore. 

Muirhead’s later designed and manufactured ships’ stabilisers, and PRUNELLA acted as a floating test bed for them. During his ownership Francis Muirhead was a member of the Royal Motor Yacht Club and employed a full time skipper and part time crew. She was later sold to the owner of Stomps Garage, Chelmsford, which serviced Bentley cars. Stephen Duke became her third owner in 2002, and she served as the committee boat for the Colne Yacht Club. She was bought in 2016 by her current owners.  

In 2016 PRUNELLA still had a Faraday cage on her port side, with a door labelled Marconi Room. She was originally fitted with Thornycroft RJ6 diesel engines, but these were replaced in the 1950s with RNR6 engines. She has one rudder which is controlled using a wheel in the wheelhouse linked to the rudder by a set of connecting shafts directed by a chain from wheel to shaft and by gearbox from shaft to tiller. The wheel is from a Camper & Nicholson or Samuel White motor yacht. 

PRUNELLA has been subject to considerable maintenance and improvement work over the years, including to her varnished cabin sides and decks. Small areas of soft wood, largely in the side decks aft, have been replaced and varnished. Repairs have been made to the wheelhouse coach roof. The entire foredeck, deck beams or beam ends plus parts of the beam shelves have been replaced using 18mm ply and iroko strip. Covering boards were re-used or replaced and her electrics updated. 

PRUNELLA’s aft deck has been replaced by teak strip fixed to 18mm ply, and deck beams were replaced where necessary; covering boards were either re-used or replaced as necessary and the galley, heads and shower were improved. The stern post was replaced, and she has an outdoor steering position, fitted in 2023, and a modern electronic autopilot was fitted in 2024. An electronically controlled solenoid enables change between chain, cog and shaft steering system and hydraulic steering position.

Since 2016 PRUNELLA has been used as a liveaboard and for local travel. She now has all modern facilities on board, including hot water, central heating, a fully fitted kitchen with gas cooker, microwave and fridge/freezer, and a TV in saloon. A 220V generator provides power for all systems. In the main bathroom she has hot and cold water, shower, electric toilet and a washing machine/tumble dryer. Her front cabin has a toilet and washbasin and hot and cold water.