Historic motor boat at risk
Rising costs may lead to one of Britain's most historic motor boats having to be scrapped. High Speed Launch 102 was built by the British Power Boat Company at Hythe in 1936 as one of the Royal Air Force's first fast rescue boats.
She is credited with rescuing a large number of downed airmen during World War II before, like many of her kind, being sold and converted to a houseboat. Phil Clabburn found her in 1992 and restored her to her former glory, once again capable of speeds of more than 30 knots.
HSL102 is one of just a handful of motor boats on the Core Collection of the National Register of Historic Vessels, but Mr Clabburn says that unless a new home can be found for her, he will be left with no choice but to break her up.
Motor Boats Monthly, 9 October 2008
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