Name Prince Helig

PRINCE HELIG was built by Thornycrofts at Teddington in 1919 for the Liverpool solicitor and brewery owner, Mr W E Corlett, and was moored in Conway, North Wales.  She is a Fast Motor Launch of double planked mahogany construction.  PRINCE HELIG was designed to be a seaplane tender but the order was cancelled due to the ending of the First World War.  She is believed to be the only survivor of her class.

She was sold c 1946 to G F Rimmer and subsequently sold again in c 1954 and moved to Lake Windermere where she had a stern cabin rebuilt and enlarged by Borwicks of Bowness.  Changing hands again twice, on the Lancaster canal c 1963 to 1974, she was bought by her present owner in 1978 and had her stern cabin removed as part of her conservation in 1980-82.

The vessel was conserved as a seaplane tender for financial reasons (the vessel is a converted seaplane tender but was never used as such).  Since 2010 the current owner has been undertaking conservation on PRINCE HELIG as built and she was relaunched (although unfinished) on the 7th April 2019, 100 years to the day she was delivered to the original owner. 

This vessel is a survivor from the First World War. You can read more about her wartime history by visiting our First World War: Britain's Surviving Vessels website www.ww1britainssurvivingvessels.org.uk

Built 1919 for Liverpool Solicitor & Brewery owner Mr W E Corlett, moored Conway North Wales,sold c 1946 to G F Rimmer, sold c1954 moved to Lake Windermere, stern cabin rebuilt and enlarged by Borwicks of Bowness. changed hands twice, on Lancaster canal c 1963 to1974, bought by present owner 1978, stern cabin removed as part of restoration 1980-82.Restored as a seaplane tender for financial reasons (the boat is a converted seaplane tender but was never used as such). 2010 on the present owner has been carrying out restoration to as built,not finished yet but Prince Helig was relaunched on the 7th April 2019, 100 years to the day it was delivered to the original owner.