£108,000 | | |
Status: | Available |
Tax Status: | Tax Exempt |
Location: |
Springfield Marina, Spring Hill, London London UK [View Map] |
This is probably the only chance you’ll get to own a ‘submarine’ moored to a secluded island in Hackney, fitted out to an exceptionally high standard and ready to go with no work needed – so you can simply turn up and enjoy her right from day one.
Named after Captain Nemo’s famous vessel, Nautilus is a former oil rig free-fall lifeboat. She has been skillfully transformed into a finely crafted liveaboard by the current owner, who is a professional cabinetmaker. The boat is fully functioning, with its original engine.
Moored at Lee Valley Marina Springfield in Clapton – a highly desirable east London marina on the River Lea – the vessel is full of incredible design and craftsmanship throughout. Every detail is unique and has been hand-crafted with great care and skill.
Nautilus is a much-cherished vessel, for sale because the owner's family home is now in North Yorkshire, and they feel she belongs where she is, with someone who can regularly enjoy the use of her.
History
The boat was built in 1998 by Harding of Norway to a very high standard, to meet the regulations for lifeboats that need to deal with the rigours of oil-rig life. Ready on standby for a decade on the Elgin Gas Rig in the North Sea, the boat was designed to be able to freefall 100ft into the sea and submerge up to 30ft. On surfacing it would use an external fire extinguisher system and air supply to allow it to move through burning oil. Nautilus was built very strongly to a high specification to be able to handle these extreme conditions, so she’s an extremely tough and durable boat. The external fire extinguisher system is still in place and fully functional – providing an excellent party trick that sprays the whole boat down with water!
Space
At 38 feet long and 8 feet wide, Nautilus is optimised to be easy to live on. The foot-long rear deck and narrow gunwales provide great value for money with mooring fees based on length, with virtually all the space used for living; a much longer narrowboat doesn't actually have more interior living space once the length taken up by the bow and stern decks is considered, and her width means there’s no need to do the narrowboat-shuffle to move along the length.
Materials
The boat hull is GRP (glass reinforced plastic) and has been surveyed as free from any defects. GRP is a low maintenance material which, with regular cleaning and protection from damage, will last for a very long time. It has none of the corrosion problems of a steel boat.
The internal superstructure is oak, bonded to the hull with epoxy resin and fibreglass to add strength where the original internals of the boat were removed. All the oak has been coated with epoxy for longevity and fitted together with hand-cut joints and stainless steel bolts.
The internal fit-out was carried out using solid oak timber and birch plywood. Birch ply is one of the highest quality materials available for this purpose – it is strong and dense with a long service life. It is worth mentioning that every single piece of plywood used was also painted on the back, preventing any moisture damage and giving ultimate longevity.
The boat is fully insulated with an above- and below-waterline layer of Airtec foil, plus 50mm Celotex foam above the waterline. This provides excellent insulation.
Condition & work done
She was last surveyed out of the water in August 2023 with no issues found. You are welcome to review the full survey on request.
At the same time, the hull below the waterline was repainted with antifoul, the running gear was painted with an anti-corrosion epoxy coating, the anodes were replaced and the steering nozzle was fully refurbished. The topsides were also completely repainted.
The main interior refit was carried out in 2012-13, with maintenance works in 2018 and 2023.
The Boat Safety Certificate expiry is March 2026, and the last examination was March 2022.
Location
Nautilus is moored at Lee Valley Marina Springfield in Clapton on a floating pontoon connected to the bank at one end, giving protection from changes in river levels. The adjacent island is accessible via short gang planks and is an oasis of greenery and wildlife.
The marina has a peaceful and private feel, and enjoys a diverse and open-minded community of boaters. There is a boater-run clubhouse and bar that offers regular music nights, yoga and other social activities.
The marina is surrounded by extensive green spaces including Walthamstow Wetlands, Springfield Park and Hackney Marshes. It’s a unique feature to have this much nature right on your doorstep in the middle of the city.
Transport links are good with easy access to buses and trains. The nearest stations are Stoke Newington and Clapton. There is ready access to a fantastic network of cycle paths. Parking for cars and motorbikes is available in the marina for an annual fee; access is via Coppermill Lane.
The mooring has a metered 240v shore-power connection and pontoon-based fresh water supply. The marina has a newly built shower and toilet block, and a pay launderette. A maintenance workshop and regular craning-out facilities are provided by the marina, and the on-site chandlery is well stocked for all the boat-related things a boat owner might need.
Mooring fees are £487.20 monthly and the mooring is fully transferable on payment of a 10% transfer fee to the Lea Valley Park authority (included in the listing price).
Interior details
Stern section:
The galley features a Webasto diesel hob, connected to the main fuel tank. This means there is no gas needed on board, obviating the need to change cylinders, any worries about leaks, or the need for periodic gas system testing. There is also a 240v microwave/convection oven/grill, 12/240v Dometic fridge-freezer, extractor fan, stainless steel splashback and 12v original industrial light fitting. A reclaimed butler sink has taps made from the gauges that were part of the original emergency air system, fitted into a bespoke French Oak worktop with bespoke oak storage system beneath. The galley water supply passes through a carbon filter.
The toilet compartment is equipped with a Porta Potti Excellence cassette toilet, an external vent, an obscured window onto the wheelhouse providing daylight and a 12v industrial light fitting. It is located under the rear roof hatch, behind the pilot seat.
The boat controls are also in this section. The helm position is reached via a couple of steps, providing access to the original lifeboat pilot seat. The pleasingly labelled original control panel is simple to use, and the current owner has added a fuel gauge, VHS radio and a screen linked to a camera on the starboard side for extra visibility when manoeuvring. Below the steering controls is a locker for lifejackets and a useful large open storage area.
The grey vinyl floor in this section is laid in panels on plywood, so it can be taken up easily to allow access to the engine below. A yacht-style door with radiused oak frame and flush brass handles divides the galley/stern section from the rest of the boat.
Mid-section:
The open-plan saloon features a tongue and grooved plywood lining with a white-painted finish, solid oak trims, brass portholes and air vents, concealed 12v LED uplighting and cork flooring laid on plywood panels, which lift in sections for under-floor storage.
Freestanding furniture provides flexibility in layout, and includes an extending dining table and chairs, a two-seater sofa and a mid-century sideboard, providing ample storage for books and a large surface for display or to put a laptop on to watch films or TV. There is enough space to add a desk or other furniture alongside the sofa. An Aarow Acorn 4kw wood-burning stove with a stainless steel surround provides ample heat and dreamy cosiness.
A built-in wardrobe at the rear of the saloon has a full-length mirror, hanging rail, slatted oak shelves and a handy power socket and hooks for a hairdryer etc. It also houses the water heater – ideal because it acts like an airing cupboard.
A freestanding bath with a shower is located under the middle roof hatch/skylight. This can be fully opened, giving a private and unique ‘open sky’ bathing experience. The bath has a fitted lid that provides a useful extra surface in the saloon when not in use. The taps have copper and brass fittings, and utilitarian ball-valve levers. There is also an attractive barometer, discrete pump switch for emptying the bath and an extractor fan in the ceiling.
Forward section:
The front cabin features a double-sized bed, with the front roof hatch/skylight providing summer ventilation and unique in-bed star-gazing opportunities. Two further brass portholes provide views of the water and passing birdlife.
The white-painted plywood lining curves inwards attractively here, following the curvature of the bow to form a focal point in front of the hatch. Solid oak trims conceal 12v LED uplighters, while brass 12v reading lights provide additional cosy illumination.
At the head of the bed, cupboard doors with oak trims and a removable storage box give access to a large storage space tucked into the bow of the boat. Oak-topped storage boxes run either side of the bed, equipped with 12v sockets and a USB port for phone charging. Another large storage cupboard, under the end of the bed, is accessed via oak-lipped doors with radiused corners and brass fittings in the saloon.
Engine and equipment details:
Forty horsepower Lister Petter diesel engine with very low hours and in virtually new condition. The original high specification wiring and controls have been retained as they were when the boat was in commission as a lifeboat. Steering is provided by a nozzle surrounding the propeller instead of a traditional rudder. The boat is capable of a top speed of 13 knots.
The engine is cooled via keel cooling pipes, and by the engine coolant being routed through the domestic hot water cylinder; as the engine runs it heats the domestic water (although the water is also heated via a 240 volt immersion heater with a timer when the engine is not running).
A 420-litre stainless steel diesel tank provides ample fuel capacity, reducing the need to top up to perhaps every few years. A 1,000-litre polyurethane water tank under the bed supplies enough water for several weeks between fill-ups, and the pontoon-based freshwater supply on the current mooring means there’s no need to move to fill up.
There is no gas needed on board, obviating the need to change cylinders, any worries about leaks, or the need for periodic gas system testing.
Two separate AGM starter batteries and ignition circuits are maintained by a Sterling 240v charger. This also takes care of the domestic battery – a large capacity 200Ah AGM unit. A fourth AGM battery powers the VHF radio. AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries produce no vapours when charging, so are highly suitable for enclosed spaces. They are maintenance-free.
The boat has 12v and 240v circuits, and automatically switches between the two when connected to shore power, so there’s nothing extra you need to do. Four solar panels mounted on the exterior rails charge the domestic battery when not attached to shore power and the lights, hob and fridge all work on 12v when cruising.
Vessel type: | Freefall lifeboat houseboat conversion |
Builder: | Harding |
Make: | Harding |
Model: | FF 900 |
Constructed: | 1998 |
Berths: | 2 |
No. of engines: | 1 |
Engine model: | Lister Petter |
Engine power: | 40 |
Fuel type: | Diesel |
Drive type: | Shaft drive |
Length over all: | 38' |
Beam: | 8' |
Maximum draft: | 2' 7" |
Bridge clearance: | 8' |
Hull material: | Glass Fibre |
Hull type: | Displacement |
Hull colour: | Black |
Fuel capacity: | 420 Litres |
Water capacity: | 1000 Litres |
Note: Indicated location is approximate general area only.