Registration number 631
Status Registered
a12admin

Previous names

  • 1884 - 1933 Daisy
  • 1933 - 2020 Dusmarie
  • 2020 Daisy

Details

Function Fishing Vessel
Subfunction Dredger
Location Maldon
Vessel type Oyster Smack
Current use Ongoing conservation
Available to hire No
Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Aldous & Sons, Brightlingsea
Built in 1884
Hull material Wood
Rig Gaff Yawl
Number of decks 1
Number of masts 1
Propulsion Sail
Number of engines 1
Primary engine type Diesel
Boiler type None
Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam
10.49 feet (3.20m)
Depth
5.57 feet (1.70m)
Length: Overall
43.97 feet (13.41m)
Tonnage: Gross
10.00

History

Built in 1884 by Aldous of Brightlingsea as an oyster smack, DAISY's hull is carvel built with oak frames and Swedish pine planking. She is a yawl with two timber masts. Originally called DAISY, she worked under sail until 1932 when she was sold and converted to a yacht and renamed DUSMARIE.

She sailed twice to the Baltic and was left in Sweden for the duration of the Second World War. Rescued in 1945, she was in need of an almost total rebuild during which her rig was changed to a yawl. Two engine changes followed, in 1952 a Stuart Turner 8hp was fitted and, in 1972, this was changed to a 10hp single cylinder Saab.

During the 1950s and 1960s she was used as an adventure sail training ship for parties of schoolboys. Later, as a training ship for a Sixth Form College near Ipswich, she took part in the 1974 Tall Ships Race with an all female crew. She was sold again in the 1980s and based on the River Deben in Suffolk. 

Under her then owner, she reverted to her original name of DAISY in 2020.  A restoration project was begun, and in 2020 she underwent significant repairs to her planking, plus a new stem head and other repairs, but the project was never completed. The current owner has finished the hull works apart from the new main hatch and some decking, but unfortunately has been unable to complete the restoration.  Her current location is Downs Boatyard, Maldon. 

Update, February 2024: Vessel under new ownership.

Sources

Old Gaffer's Association Member's Handbook and Boat Archive, 1993
Jones, Paul, The Boatman Boatman's Run Ashore; Dusmarie, pp77, June 1996   

Own this vessel?

If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk

More like this

Dorothy out sailing

Registered, built 1899 by Aldous Ltd, Brightlingsea

The Sallie and Cambria, May Dawn - 2020 Photo Comp entry by Sandy Miller

National Historic Fleet, built 1907 by Aldous & Sons, Brightlingsea

Speedwell undersail

Registered, built 1901 by King, William & Sons, Burnham on Crouch

Gamecock moored

Registered, built 1907 by Collar, Whitstable