Description

Xylonite: has been laid up for a year or so, through Covid times in West Dock London.
An 87ft Steel and Iron hulled Thames Sailing Barge with Bowsprit. Built in 1926 by F.W. Horlocks of Mistley, Suffolk.
She has been kept in sailing condition, and has until recently retained an
Exemption Certificate, for carrying up to 12 Guests, when sailing.
A rather special barge, in all her various guises throughout her life: a Cargo carrying Trading ship, owned by the same family from new in 1926 -1958, a Sail training vessel, She's been used as a Film prop in feature films, Adverts. Photo shoots, as a liveaboard home, and most recently as a London based office for a Production Company.
Fortunately, she has retained much of her original fixtures and features, including her Ships log from her Trading days of 1937....The Master's cabin has remained unaltered.
2012-14 she underwent a huge amount of alterations and re working of her accommodation, all undertaken to a high standard/ high end specification.
There are always improvements and ongoing maintenance required.
Underwater hull and topsides have been repainted, this Summer.
August 2023. The mast and her gear is presently lowered to the deck. For an
overhaul, to be kept lubricated and checked on.
Last survey for her insurance was conducted in June 2023
She has done very well in the past competing in the Barge Matches, racing against her sister barges, as she carries a bowsprit she is placed in the fastest class of Sailing barges, a fabulous sight to see and participate in.

Specifications

Accommodation

Xylonite has been professionally fitted out and she gives a very homely feel to the accommodation. accommodation below stairs.
Her previous owner had her completely refitted internally 2012-14. He lived onboard her in London and on the East Coast. When Sold in 2017, she was slightly altered below decks for a change of use, to work as an office space, in the London Docklands.
Her cabins fore and aft of the vessel have remained, main bedroom was converted into an office store. The Master's cabin is as it was originally built, panelled out with two coffin berths. The cabin has its own access companionway / Sea toilet facility and and solid fuel stove.....
There's a large open saloon with a library, all beautifully panelled out, there are several skylights allowing for daylight to illuminate the space below.
, under the mast deck. Open access to the galley. Starboard side with the Heads opposite. Electric sea toilet and urinal and a large shower in the main heads.
Fresh water tank of steel mounted on the forward bulkhead.
Hot water provided by the diesel combination boiler
Diesel boiler for hot water and central heating system. A separate stainless steel tank to supply.
Washing machine, Dishwasher, a large fridge and freezer, Gas oven and hob in the galley.
Black water holding capacity is 1600lts in a new purpose made tank, plus a smaller grey water tank if needed for harbour compliance.
A sliding main hatch with an open wooden companionway descends at the aft end of the hold into the saloon.
Opening Houdini hatches set into the hatches. plenty of natural light enters the hold area.

Construction

Hull is a mix of iron and mild steel, the iron hull area being riveted, the mild steel welded, and an entirely flat bottom which has been fully re plated in 8mm plate, carried out 2013. All underwater hull has epoxy paint coatings which have been, well applied.
Her topsides are riveted iron, where the bow and stern are formed the plating is steel riveted plate, there are many areas which have been re-plated, by cutting out the old and setting in new plate.
She has a pair of hydrodynamic steel leeboards, which act as her keels.
The deck structure consists of iron and steel plate.

Filming 2016

August 23 Refit

As a Motor Barge

Equipment

Wooden Ships wheel.
Compass Binnacle.
A large Fisherman’s anchor with chain
Manual windlass and Bitts, typical to Thames sailing barges.
All deck gear includes Mast tabernacle, crab winches, brail winches,
a fore and main horse.
Pair of davits with block and tackles for hauling the barge boat.
GRP Barge boat with oars.
Tohatsu Outboard engine 5hp
A Boarding ladder.

Navigation Equipment

1x Icom VHF
1x Nasa Depth
1x compass
Navigation lights: Electric removable port and starboard light boards. .
Clock
Barometer

Engine(s)

Gardner 6LX, diesel engine, shaft driven, triple bladed propeller.
Six cylinders, naturally aspirated, indirectly cooled via a heat exchanger.
A dedicated engine room, which can be isolated off, with two watertight doors.
Twin lever rod controls for the throttle and the gear box, at the wheel, deck level.
Two steel fuel tanks either side of the engine room, capacity of 1200ltrs between the two tanks.
The cabin top (including the fore hold) has traditional type individual athwart ships hatches with PVC cloths laid on top, lined below with timber.
The Aft cabin has steel coamings with steel top and an addition of a hard wood (Iroko), top.

Sails & Spars

Traditional Tan canvas sails. She carries a Spritsail rig, with bowsprit.
A full compliment of sails in her wardrobe.
All associated Traditional blocks and tackle.
Tubular Steel main mast and main sprite are of tubular steel
A timber Top mast greased in the top section and painted in the
lower section where it is housed in the main mast fittings,
well oiled, greased or even filled with tallow, this should prevent the ingress of water into the timber.
A Mizzen mast, boom and sprite.
Standing rigging is steel wire, all 7x7 ,around dead eyes and thimbles ,
should be dressed annually using a mixture of oil and tar this will prevent deterioration.
As the vessel is laid up at present the running rigging is not on the spars. Much of it is presently stowed below decks.

Electrics

24-volt DC system: domestic and engine bank of heavy duty batteries each located in the engine compartment purposely constructed timber and fibreglass boxes with lids.
Engine 24 volt and generator 12volt, their batteries on starboard side behind
Isolation switches.
Battery charging system provided via the engine alternator and a battery charger.
An Isolation transformer.
Shore power by 16amp socket via an isolation transformer, RCD and dedicated circuit breakers for each circuit on the side of all appliances and
sockets, located in aft .heads compartment.
Vessel is fitted with eight anodes, approx 7.4kg
A Generator .

Safety Equipment

Fire extinguishers.
Fire Blankets.
Deck wash pump.
Bilge pumps
Stanchions, (removable).
Lifejackets
Life rings.
Flares

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

Location Map