Camper & Nicholsons 68 ft Motor Yacht 1895/2025

UNDINE is a remarkable and beautiful thing. A pocket Camper & Nicholsons Victorian motor (originally steam) yacht brought back to life for, and under the direction of a highly regarded Italian naval architect and sailor – both the vision and the work informed by a blend of many years of personal passion for the history of yacht designing and building married to professional experience of the elegant technical solutions in present day yachts. There is a synergy here in the pureness of UNDINE’s cosmetic appearance with the simplicity and functionality of her nicely hidden modern systems, and the belt and braces economic dependability of her fully reconditioned Gardner engine. It’s all very straight forward and obvious, just as such a vessel was to her original designer and builders who could never have imagined UNDINE giving such joy more than 130 years after her launching at Gosport.

- This is a provisional set of details
- Updated specs to be added in coming weeks

2023-2025 BY OFFICINE ALTO ADRIATICO, MONFALCONE, ITALY

"I spent the first year dismantling and inventorying the boat myself, obviously with the help of the shipyard staff, whose owners are Giorgio Ferluga and Lorenzo Luxich. It was a long and laborious process, but also fascinating because it allowed me to discover and learn so much, which was ultimately the purpose of the entire project.” ['Undine’s Return: 1895 Camper & Nicholsons Yacht Restored' article by Bruno Cianci, Classic Boat February 2026]

- Few materials used that were not available in 1895
- Engine major overhaul at Gardner Marine Diesels, UK
- All new systems - details in relevant sections below
- CE certification, and Istituto Giordano (parent of RINA) approval
- All new electronics ECC approved
- Wheelhouse moved aft
- Allowing new skylight over owner cabin
- All new forward accommodation
- Restoration of saloon
- All new galley equipment
- New sole throughout

1990-2000s AT BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH, UK
- Stored in a boat hall c2003-2023
- Structural work supervised by naval architect and yacht designer Alan F. Hill
- New teak deck

c.1975-1982
MACHIN & KNIGHT & SONS, ROCHESTER
- Major restoration
- All superstructures removed for restoration and reinstatement
- 3 x New steel watertight bulkheads installed
- Forward decking replaced in pitch pine over new oak deck beams
- All systems rewed
- Interior panelling removed for restoration and reinstalled on new carcasing

CAMPER & NICHOLSONS YARD N0. 116
UK NATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS REG NO. 729

The extraordinary wealth that could be accrued and passed down by a significant 17th Century bishop (John Hacket, Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry 1661-1670), and descent also from the Earls of Aberdeen, allowed UNDINE’s first owner, George Algernon Beynon Disney Hacket (1844-1904), a life of Victorian gentlemanly leisure.

Away from the family seat of Moor Hall, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, Hacket and his family also lived during the 1880s at Torquay – where his Dan Hatcher designed and built, amateur crewed c.60ft yawl ENRIQUETA was a noted regatta winner – and through the 1890s at the fashionable Hampshire resorts of Southsea, and Ryde (Isle of Wight).

George Hacket turned 50 in June 1894 and in mid-December of that year 'The Yachtsman' magazine announced:

“MESSRS. CAMPER AND NICHOLSON have been commissioned by Mr. G. A. Hacket, of Southsea, to build him a steamer of thirty tons, and the work will be commenced forthwith.”

It just so happened that Mr Hacket's local boatbuilder was also among the most famous and best. 'The steamer' was of course elegant, purposeful and efficiently driven by design, and built to the highest standard of workmanship from the best of materials. This is partly why we are able to speak of UNDINE today in the present tense – that and plenty of loving owners over more than 130 years.

The magazine’s Gosport correspondent subsequently recorded build progress – taking place simultaneously with Monsieur R. Calme’s 50-ton yawl that would be named AVEL, famous in the Mediterranean in recent decades in Gucci family ownership:

10 January
“… being put together in the mould loft… to be supplied with compound surface condensing engines [sic] by Mumford.”

7 February
“…half up in frame”

21 February
“…framework in position, and planking down commenced”

11 April
“The 50-ton yawl for M. Calme, to be called the AVEL, and the 30-tons steamer for Mr. Hacket, which will be known as MOLLY, are being rapidly completed, and will soon be sufficiently advanced for launching.”

9 May
“MOLLY… launched on Tuesday [7th May]… under the shears ready to receive her machinery.”

16 May
“… having shipped her machinery, was hauled up on the slip on Tuesday." [7th May]

May 1895
Fitting out moored off the yard continued until the end of the month.

Five months in total, including the steam propulsion system mostly built from scratch by A.G. Mumford Ltd at Colchester, Essex, supplied complete with a forged steel shaft and cast iron propeller; engines didn’t come off the shelf in 1895. And all under Lloyd’s supervision to ✠16A, and ✠LMC for her machinery.

Hacket enjoyed four summers using MOLLY (named after his daughter, Adela Mary “Molly” Hacket, 1875–1946), then sold her winter 1898-1899 to Royal Mersey YC member and Millbank, Manchester paper mill owner T. Stuart Ockleston who gave her the name UNDINE.

Ockleston seems to have owned UNDINE for only a season but packed in a lot. She steamed from Southampton to the West Coast of Scotland via Southport, Lancashire, and is recorded undergoing her Lloyd’s Class survey at Glasgow in December 1899.

By the 1900 season she was back on south coast of England, berthed at Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex owned by Rev. Alfred Cassin Elgar, Church of England curate of All Saints, St. John’s Wood, London. Then in 1902 her builders purchased UNDINE as a brokerage boat and she spent that summer on charter to seasoned owner of previously much larger steam yachts George Schenley of Warsash – we imagine, to function as mother ship to his wife, Grace’s new Summers & Payne designed and built 24 Linear Rating racing yacht DUET.

With the 1902 racing season over, UNDINE wintered at Haslar Creek, Gosport, then from 1903 her mooring moved east to Woolverstone on the Orwell Estuary, Suffolk – most probably at Cat Hard Quay, now the site of Woolverstone Marina, and since the 1940s home to the Royal Harwich Yacht Club. Her new owner, at least on paper, was the Hon. Louis Johnstone, land agent to fabulously rich Charles Hugh Berners of Woolverstone Hall, whose family wealth stemmed from their mid-17th Century purchase and development of the land that became Marylebone, London.

Berners was eventually listed as UNDINE’s owner from 1904 until purchase in late 1911 by Cowes boatyard owner George H. Marvin who refitted her winter 1911-12, including re-coppering of her bottom, and placed her on his sale list. But between lucrative charters – for example, for Cowes Week 1913 by Royal Yacht Squadron member Mr Ivor Ferguson and his mother, Lady Sophia Paston-Cooper, to transport them between their digs at Highcliffe Castle and Cowes – and perhaps a growing family affection for this seductive vessel, Marvin never parted with her. When George H. Marvin died aged 74 in 1917, UNDINE was on war service, serving as a member of the Royal Naval Patrol.

It has generally been recorded that UNDINE then remained in the ownership of the Marvin family, but Lloyd’s Register of Yachts lists her post-First World War owner as Captain Alywn Foster under the new name ANGELA (his daughter’s name). Like George Schenley, Foster had owned much larger steam yachts before the war and was a regular Marvin client. On her return from war service as an Admiralty collier, he’d sold his, presumably rather soiled, pre-war 130 ft s.y. CALISTA into commercial service and downsized to UNDINE. By 1922 Foster had downsized even further to a 60 ft converted (by Marvins) Admiralty pinnace, and UNDINE got her name back on returning to the fold in the ownership of the late George H. Marvin’s son, George J.

‘The Yachtsman’ magazine reports of UNDINE’s activities under George J. Marvin make interesting reading. Through most of the interwar years she seems to have only ever been out of commission for a haul out scrub. The reason is eventually revealed: George Marvin’s enthusiasm for winter sport fishing on the Solent with friends. Of the winter 1924-1925 the magazine reported on 2nd May:

“Mr. George Marvin’s s.y. UNDINE… has been in continuous commission since September, and the owner has been having rare sport, fishing in the Solent, chiefly on Saturdays. No fewer than 6,000 fish have been caught in seven months, mostly on lines, a remarkable feat for Mr. Marvin and his amateur friends.”

During the Second World War, UNDINE again served with the Royal Navy Patrol Service: as there was a submarine by the same name, imaginatively as WATER MAIDEN. In Admiralty lists of 1944 she was back on the Orwell Estuary, based out of Ipswich. By this time history had repeated itself with her 2nd Marvin owner passing away from natural causes during the war, in 1940.

In around 1946 ownership transferred (briefly via his future new wife, Emily Preston (née Nelson - descended from Admiral Horatio), most probably at Ipswich or nearby, to master mariner and Royal Naval Reserve officer Commander Arthur R.T. Kirby, OBE who had served in both wars, specialising as a naval salvage expert during the Second World War at Aden, Port Sudan and Colombo.

Early in Kirby’s ownership, Tucker, Brown & Co. of Burnham-on-Crouch removed the original Mumford steam engine and 1933 boiler for re-powering with an Atlantic 6-cylinder diesel main engine and (perhaps from Kirby’s wartime salvage experience) a Meadows 4-cylinder petrol ‘wing’ engine that may have served the dual purpose of emergency back-up and electrical generation via a dynamo. It is believed that this is also where she received the wheelhouse that possibly had a previous life on another vessel.

Around this time the Kirbys settled at Bishop’s Quay, a particularly beautiful waterside location on the Helford River, Cornwall, where subsequent generations of Kirby’s lived and worked until relatively recently. In 1948 Commander Kirby was a founder member and first commodore until 1953 of Helford River Sailing Club; descendants are still active members.

From 1959 new owners Mr & Mrs G.K. Stevens are believed to have moored UNDINE at Plymouth, then from 1963 the ownership trail becomes sketchy though it is known she was a houseboat at "The Bag", Salcombe, and later further east – fortuitously for her future wellbeing – on the River Medway, Kent. It's here that in 1974 she fell into the safe hands of steamboat aficionado and professional boat restorer Nicholas P. Knight whose Rochester-based restoration company Machin Knight & Sons restored UNDINE over an 8-year period as described above. She returned to commission in 1979 as UNDINE OF SOLENT.

UNDINE received the present Gardner diesel, minus wing engine in the late 1980s and circa 1990 returned to Burnham-on-Crouch in new ownership. In about 2003 she moved into a boat hall for some necessary refit work and somehow never left there until purchase by her present very experienced marine industry professional Italian owner in 2023. UNDINE had been spared the elements and the effect of any drying was considerably minimised by the wonderful materials of her original build.

After the recent major refit/ restoration described above, UNDINE re-launched near Venice in September 2025. She was nominated and finished runner up ("Highly Commended") in the Restored Power Vessels category of the Classic Boat Awards 2026.

©2026 Iain McAllister/ Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd.

- Originally built under Lloyd’s supervision to ✠16A + ✠LMC
- Teak topsides/ pitch pine bottom planking on oak and elm
- Pitch pine beam shelves. clamps and bilge stringers
- 3 x Steel bulkheads
- Galvanised steel floors; wrought iron hanging knees
- Topsides planking splined (2025)
- Solid teak swept deck
- Teak superstructures, much original

GENERAL
- Solid teak swept deck
- Substantial teak coveringboards
- Painted galvanised mild steel stanchions

FROM AFT

AFTER DECK
- Bronze stern light
- Flush socket in taffrail for passarelle
- Painted iron mooring fairleads
- Painted iron mooring cleats
- Samson post
- Aft deck table on centreline
- Rudder head with socket for emergency steering

RAISED AFT ACCOMMODATION COMPANIONWAY/ DOGHOUSE

FULL BEAM SALOON/ GALLEY TRUNK
- Teak laid roof with varnished teak margin boards
- Varnished teak uprights; 8 x bronze opening ports
- Tender on chocks (see 'Other Equipment', below)
- 2 x Butterfly skylight hatches (under tender)
- Main mast, tabernacle stepped and boom
- Bronze halyard winch
- Funnel and 4 x cowl ventilators
- Lockers under; deck shower

WHEELHOUSE
External
- Entrance doors port & starboard
- Sheathed and painted roof
- 2 x Ventilators; Dorade style boxes
- Bronze mushroom vent
- Running lights port & starboard
- Air horn
- Locker at forward bulkhead for liferaft
Internal
- Teak helm pedestal with brass binnacle
- Bronze and hardwood ship's wheel
- Bronze throttle control pedestal to starboard
- Teak 'dash' panel forward
- Engine instrumentation and misc switches and controls
- Garmin Multi Function Display and repeaters
- VHF Radio
- Chromed Schatz barometer to port
- Chromed Schatz clock to starboard
- Sestrel hand bearing compass in custom cabinet
- Teak full width bench aft
- Garmin Multi Function Display
- Ship's bell
- Laid teak sole with glazed hatch to engine space
- 4 x Deckhead lights

SIDEDECKS
- 'Gates' in guardlines port & starboard
- Painted iron spring line bollard cleats port & starboard

DECK UNDER FOREMAST BOOM
- Butterfly skylight hatch
- Raised companionway scuttle to main accommodation
- Butterfly skylight hatch

FOREMAST POSITION
- Tabernacle-stepped
- Boom

FOREDECK
- Raised companionway scuttle to crew accommodation
- Capstan
- Fisherman anchor on wood chocks
- Galvanised anchor chain
- Simpson Lawrence 'Oil Bath' manual windlass
- Warping drum and gypsy
- CQR Type galvanised bower anchor at starboard bow roller
- Galvanised anchor chain

ACCOMMODATION FOR 6 IN 3 CABINS

FROM AFT

DOWN 4 x STEPS IN AFT COMPANIONWAY / DOGHOUSE
- Banquettes port & starboard
- 2 x Side deckhead lights
- Chromed lock and barometer

MAIN SALOON
- Sideboards port & starboard
- Fiddled tops; lockers under and outboard
- Drop leaf table on centreline
- L-shaped settee to starboard
- Fiddled shelf outboard
- Long settee to port
- Fiddled shelf outboard
- 4 x Opening ports
- Butterfly skylight in deckhead
- Lamp under skylight
- 4 x Period bulkhead lights
- 2 x Candle lights

FORWARD TO GALLEY & WC/ SHOWER COMPARTMENT
- Bulkhead access door offset to port
Galley
- Taylors paraffin cooker
- 2 x Burner hob
- Oven
- Top loading fridge
- Stainless steel sink; mixer tap
- Food lockers
- Plates and glassware lockers
- Fold down bulkhead mounted table
- Butterfly skylight in deckhead
- 3 x Opening ports
- 2 x Deckhead lights
WC/ Shower Compartment Forward to Port
- Electric toilet
- Washbasin

FORWARD ACCOMODATION
- Down 7 x steps from mid deck companionway to lobby
- Access aft to owner double cabin
- Access forward to twin guest cabin

OWNER CABIN AFT OF LOBBY
- Large double berth to port
- Bedside locker with fiddled top
- Banquette to starboard
- Hanging locker

LOBBY
WC/ Shower compartment to port
- Tecma electric toilet
- Shower with teak grating sole
- 1 x Deckhead light
Washbasin compartment to starboard
- Corner semi-fiddled counter
- Decorative ceramic inset washbasin
- Brass hot and cold mixer tap
- Locker
- 1 x Deckhead light

TWIN BERTH GUEST CABIN FORWARD
- Single berths port & starboard
- Large hanging locker
- 2 x Deckhead lights
- Butterfly hatch in deckhead

FOREPEAK
- Down 7 x steps from foredeck companionway
- Folding cot berths port & starboard
- 2 x Deckhead lights
Ensuite WC/ Shower compartment
- Tecma electric toilet
- Folding sink
- Shower with teak grating sole
- 1 x Deckhead light

MECHANICAL/ PROPULSION
- 1 x Gardner 6LX 127 hp diesel (1965/2025)
- Originally installed 1987; overhaul by Gardner Marine (2023-2025)
- CE Emissions certificate
- Exhaust separation: smoke to funnel water under waterline (2025)
- Gardner garantee
- Steel engine beds and anti0vibration mounts new 2025
- Traditional drive train with SKF bearings
- Stainless steel shaft (c.1995)
- Aquadrive anti-vibration thrust bearing (2024)
- 3 x SKF auto lubricators (2025)
- 3-Bladed bronze propeller (1987)

ELECTRICAL/ PROPULSION
- Bow thruster 24 V 8 kW 250 mm (2025)

ELECTRICAL/ HYDRAULIC
- 24 V / Hydraulic autopilot steering (2025)

ELECTRICAL
All new 2025 - ECC approved
- 2 x Mastervolt Mass Combi Pro 24/3500-100 inverter/ charge
- Independent alternators for house and engine start
- Engine start battery 100 A 24 V
- House batteries 1000 A 24 V
- Independent bow thruster batteries

TANKAGE & ASSOCIATED
All new 2025 - all CE and Istituto Giordano (parent of RINA) approved
- Fuel: 1000 L Stainless steel
- Water: 1000 L Stainless steel
- Hot water: 75 L
- Waste (Black & Grey): 150 L Stainless steel

RIG
- "Steam yacht schooner"
- 2 x Solid fir masts, booms, and gaffs

SAILS
- Cream dacron gaff mainsail
- Cream dacron gaff foresail

CANVASWORK
- Covers for:
- Sails on booms
- Tender
- More TBA

NAVIGATION
Analog
- 1857 Kelvin & Hughes compass magnetic steering compass in binnacle
Electronic
- Garmin System
- 2 x Multifunction Displays (1 x dedicated to ship's systems info)
- Repeaters

COMMUNICATIONS
- VHF Radio

- 2 x Lifebuoys
- Bilge pumps in 5 x bilge compartment
- More TBA

- Clinker-built sailing and rowing tender
- Pasarelle (2025)
- Boarding accommodation ladder (2025)
- Mooring lines
- Fenders

- The historical research and writing of Bruno Cianci