McCleans of Govan Open Motor Launch for sale in Hambleden United Kingdom

White Heather is an open motor launch, built by McCleans of Govan in 1923 for a family member who captained the Scotland rugby team a few years previously and who subsequently was chairman of a shipping line. The boat was used at their house on Loch Striven named Ardtaraig, in Argyllshire. In the nineteen fifties she was loaned to another family with a house further north accessed only by boat.

In the late seventies the next generation of the family reacquired the boat, this being the current owner's father, Keith Geddes, captain of Scotland in 1947/8. He moved her to Poole where she was restored and used around Poole Harbour. After a few years of happy 'messing about in boats' the family moved inland, the children grew up and she was sold at the Philips boat auction in Henley on Thames.

At this point White Heather was acquired by a local farming family and became a frequent sight on the Thames around Marlow along with their other beautifully maintained boat collection comprising a slipper and a steam launch. In 2002 Rona's family were able to buy the boat back in lovely condition and have owned the boat ever since, mooring her at Hambleden Mill Marina, downstream of Henley on Thames. During the winter the boat goes up to Henwood and Dean for maintenance and storage.

White Heather was in her usual position on the booms at Henley Royal Regatta in 2024 offering a spacious and comfortable way to spectate with no fixed superstructure impeding other spectators' view. However she does have two ingenious folding pramhoods should the wind or waves affect passengers' comfort. If there were one 21st century improvement it might be to replace the ageing sail canvas with Sunbrella fabric but otherwise the boat is sound and full of period charm and character including two long white sweeps or oars enabling fisherfolk to creep up silently on unsuspecting fish.

Part of me wishes that White Heather could return, complete with her saltire burgee, north of the border to resume her Scottish life one hundred years on. However she has been a credit to her owners and to the boatyard which has maintained her. There is the possibility of a mooring at Hambleden Mill Marina by separate arrangement.

Seating at least 10 with a midships side steering position she would make a fantastic fishing or entertaining launch for a loch side hotel. Built of teak and larch on oak and powered by a relatively quiet Vedette petrol motor. The draft is 0.6 metres offering stability when boarding, cruising or fishing the lochs!

BSS and Thames EA licence current.

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.