Dodona | National Historic Ships

Registration number 3779

Status Registered

luis.vicente

Details

Function Cargo Vessel

Subfunction Narrow Boat

Location Stoke Bruerne

Vessel type Star Class Butty

Current use Private use

Available to hire Yes

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich

Built in 1935

Hull material Steel

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Propulsion Towed

Primary engine type None

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

7.04 feet (2.15m)

Depth

3.25 feet (0.99m)

Length: Overall

50.00 feet (15.24m)

History

DODONA was built as a butty in 1935 by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich, for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Co. - one of their Star Class boats known as a Small Woolwich. Her fleet number was 269, and she was registered at Brentford No 574 in December 1935. She was originally paired with the motor COLUMBIA.

During the Second World War, DODONA was used as a training vessel for women who had volunteered to operate English narrowboats and aid in the war effort, known as the ‘Idle Women’. Later, in 1948, DODONA become a part of the British Waterways fleet when Nationalisation took place. Sold by British Waterways in the early 60's, she was then cut in half, with both halves being motorised and turned into two leisure boats.

DODONA was subsequently restored in 1995 to a 50' motorboat in working condition. It was during this restoration that the wooden bottom was removed and replaced by the current steel bottom. DODONA is now used purely used for pleasure but is available for commercial use should the occasion arise.

Key dates

1935
Built by Harland & Wolff Ltd in Woolwich
1948
Joins the British Waterways fleet after the nationalisation of Grand Union Canal Carrying Company, its previous owner
1995
Restored into a leisure motorboat, during which time the wooden bottom was removed and replaced with a steel one