The hull is a single step, metre long tethered racing design derived from the full sized racing boats of the period. The ‘boat shaped’ hull remained popular until the mid 30s when the scow or ‘kipper box’ became the norm. Dating from somewhere between 1929-34 it would seem that this hull was either professionally built or a commercial product, possibly from Grays of Clerkenwell. That it was a racing boat intended for tethered competition is borne out by the tether bracket to be seen on the right hand side of the hull and the remains of an ignition cut out (‘knock off’) on the left hand or ‘outside’ of the boat.

At this stage one can only guess at the sequence of events, but it seems likely that the boat for whatever reason only had a short racing career before being converted for steering or straight running. Several clues lead to the conclusion that the original racing engine was taken out and this splendid water-cooled example installed in its place. The boat now has two fuel tanks, the original bolted to the rear of the engine compartment and a later one strategically placed for the down swept atmospheric carburettor on the engine. The original tank would have been pressurised from a bladder of some sort to feed a more conventional carb on the cylinder head of the original motor.

The 25cc engine currently fitted is one of the best examples around of what was the most common of all engines of the period. The design is derived from the Economic Electric engine that was sold as a set of castings and in turn produced by Bond’s ‘O’ Euston Road as the first version of the Simplex, and by Grays of Clerkenwell as the Grayson. These engines were also sold by suppliers such as Gamages as an early example of badge engineering. With no identifying marks on the outside of the engine only a strip down would reveal its true origins.