Our Boats

The Royal Shallop “Jubilant”

The Jubilant is probably our most recognisable boat, and certainly our most famous, being used for many Thames-based ceremonial occasions and rows, and she has even appeared in a film with Russell Crowe!

The Jubilant was commissioned by The Thames Traditional Rowing Association to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, and was designed to give people with disabilities the chance to enjoy time on the river. Her Majesty took an active interest in the design of the boat, which is based on the Naval Victualling Commissioners’ Barge owned by the National Maritime Museum. As with most of our boats, she was built here in Richmond by Mark Edwards and his team at Richmond Bridge Boathouses.

In 2009 she underwent a slight make-over for the Russell Crowe Robin Hood film, in which she was crewed by some of our instructors. Sadly we ended up on the cutting room floor, although great fun was had by all. There are one or two photos of us “on set” in the gallery. The Jubilant is also a regular in The Great River Race, where again she is crewed by some of our instructors; all sponsorship monies raised are donated to the 14^th Richmond.

Winter 2011 / 2012 saw her out of the water for refurbishment for the Queen’s Diamond Jubliee Pageant and Olympic torch procession. We were up at the front as befits a royal boat! Photos of both events can be found in the gallery. Winter 2013 has again seen her out of the water for some more important maintenance.

Since then Jubilant has been brought out of the water every winter for a dose of TLC by the Jubilant Crew, for many years we used a space kindly lent by Osterley Scouts at Isleworth , but more recently she winters in a huge Army hoop tent at Thames Young Mariners base in Ham.

The “Jubilant” can be rowed by up to nine rowers, plus a cox, and there is plenty of room for passengers.

Thames Waterman’s Cutter

The Thames waterman’s cutter (TWC) is a modern interpretation of the traditional waterman’s cutter. Designed and built in Richmond for use in The Great River Race they are boats that are easy to row, taking up to six rowers plus a cox.

We have two TWCs

George Williams – named after one of our most memorable Scout Leaders who was forever “messing about on the river” and always could be found in and around hte 14th boat arch near the White Cross pub.

Gordon Hall – Named after a Scout Leader who joined the RAF in the second world war as a navigator and died in a crash in the Italian mountains.

The Skerry

The skerry is a cross between two traditional Thames boats; the skiff and the wherry. Designed and built by Mark Edwards here in Richmond in 2010, and having successfully taken part in that year’s Great River Race, she can be rowed by up to eight rowers, plus a cox.

For many years we often borrow Skerrys , e.g. The St. Helena is owned by Bamber Gascoigne, and we owe him many thanks for allowing us to use her

More recently we have become the proud owners of a newly built Skerry “The Fan Maker” kindly sponsored by Bob Gatehouse of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers https://fanmakers.com/

The Whaler “Viking”

Although we know the Viking as a whaler, her history is much more interesting than that. She was the first boat purchased by the 14^th Richmond, way back in 1932, and cost us the princely sum of 10 shillings! After much investigation we found that our whaler is in fact a lifeboat, and once belonged to a Harland and Wolff-built passenger liner called Worcestershire that was launched back in 1904. In 1917 the Worcestershire was sunk off Sri Lanka when she strayed into a minefield. (Photos of the wreck can be found here.)We have yet to find out how the lifeboat came to the Thames, and are still researching her “missing” years between 1917 and 1932.

The Viking used to take part in The Great River Race every year, rowed by the 14^th Richmond Old Rovers crew. With an average age of well over 70 they retired after the 2013 race. You can download an article about the boat and crew that appeared in the 2014 Great River Race programme here.

The Viking took part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant in June 2012 along with the Jubilant, the picture below being taken from inside the Jubilant’s cabin as we rowed down to the start. As always she was rowed by the Old Rovers.

The Viking continues to be maintained and used by various groups both young and old, and also recently featured in a historical documentary about ships lifeboats during the early part of the 20th Century

The Brynhild

The Brynhild is a recent addition to our fleet and was rescued from obscurity at Thames Young Mariners where she was out of the water slowing rotting away. She is a Fire Gig, used by the River Fire Brigade to drag hoses to shore, and consequently of a very “robust” design. Mark Edwards and his team restored her to health in the winter of 2013, so she’s now back in the water and ready for rowing. She can be rowed by either a four or an eight and needs a cox.

The Robin Arundel

The Robin Arundel isn’t available for rowing, but is used for towing our boats up and down the river and moving people about when we need an engine rather than oars. Robin Arundel was recovered from Thames Young Mariners and restored to working order in 2013.

Robin Arundel is a Cheverton Champ 18 (5.5m long and 2.1m beam) work boat, with a two cylinder air cooled Lister diesel, she has survived many mishaps including sinking , but still keeps plodding on.

The boat was named after Robin Arundel who was an enthusiastic teacher in Richmond and coordinated the fund raising to have the boat built for the use of young people in around 1995 , originally at Thames Young Mariners, and now with the 14th Richmond Scout Boating Centre.

Robin Rescue

“Robin Rescue” seen alongside Robin Arundel, is a rigid polythene Fun Yak 390 , and is an ideal rescue, training and support boat. She has a 8hp Honda outboard, and is on the river and in use practically all the time