Name Good Intent

GOOD INTENT is a Thames 'Bawley', built in 1860 at 'Shrubsills barge yard', Milton Creek , Kent. It is thought that Bawleys and alike were built from 'offcuts' from barge building.

She was constructed of larch on oak and has a gaff cutter rig with loose footed mainsail.

Built as a fishing boat for owners in Harwich she worked under sail for 67 years, fishing in the Thames estuary,for shrimp, dredging for oysters, and 'stowboating ' for white fish in the winter months. Apparently she was also built with a wet well for fish to be kept alive until they reached the market. 

She fished until 1927 and was then rescued from a mud berth in 1930 by Mr Puttifer who converted her to a yacht in 1936.

During the Second World War, GOOD INTENT remained hidden on the backwaters at Walton on the Naze and was used as an arms cache. She was then sold to Mr P Conly of Essex and used as a private yacht until 1988. At that time, she was bought by Mr Frank Knight of F Knight Boatyard, Woodbridge, Suffolk for a pound on the condition that she was restored. 

This work took place between 1988 and 1992, and was carried out in between other customers' jobs.

In 1992, she changed hands again, the new owner completing the work in 1994.

Since 1994, she was chartered,sailed privately and race by Hys Olink, the vessel also attended many national and international classics sailing events. 

The vessel was laid up at 'Melton boatyard' on the river Deben, after her deck started to fail and purchased by her current owner in 2020

She was trailered down to Lloyd Wharf,to the site of the newly rebuilt Dolphin Sailing Barge Museum. This was also the site of the restoration of Thames Sailing Barge RAYBEL, and just a stones throw from the site of Shrubsills barge yard.

Restoration work begun here, but a decision was taken to move her again to Iron Wharf Boatyard, Faversham. Here work began on building a new deck, stem, stern post etc. When funds ran out, work stopped, and work is now scheduled to start again around December 2025.

The decision has been taken to replace the keel before completing the rest of the work.

Good Intent will hopefully be sailing again in 2026!