Graeme King Restored Antique 1870's Double Thames River Skiff with Sail and Trailer

"Theia Eirene" -- This stunning and very usable antique wooden Double Thames River Skiff is 26’ long (27’ including rudder), 4’ 7” at the beam, and comes with a 28’ long trailer. This gem was built by E. Messum & Sons in the 1870’s in a Richmond, England boatyard on the banks of the Thames. It was lovingly restored by famed former Harvard University wooden racing boat builder Graeme King of King Boatworks. King, a longtime member of our rowing club, gifted the boat to putneyrowingclub.org to sell in order to defray the cost of building a new boathouse. The boat has a bench seat with table, two in-line rowing seats, a seat in the bow and a stern seat. The woods used are Honduran mahogany and English oak and they are joined by copper rivets. King used two layers of 23 K Russian Restorer’s gold leaf for the extensive decorative gilding. The original fittings were silver (a sign that the boat was made for the wealthy, as every-day rental Thames River Skiffs used cheaper metal fittings) and the builder’s plate is solid silver. It was warranted by Queen Victoria and is the Rolls Royce of Thames River Skiffs of its vintage. Graeme King states that it is “one of the best examples of this type of boat in existence.” The boat also includes four gold-tipped oars, a docking paddle with gaff, a sail on an insertable mast, and a steering rudder as well as the restorer’s notes, invoices, restoration process photos, and research relating to the boat. The boat can be currently viewed at the Green Mountain Orchards in Putney, Vermont. Price: $25,000