Posted by Laurence Monkhouse on November 24, 2006 at 16:19:42 from 80.3.128.6 user Laurence_.
In Reply to: Re: Beckfoot launch posted by Eric Abraham on November 24, 2006 at 14:37:43:
It was probably my fault, but we have gone off the point, which is that from the description in SD the launch was of the classic Windermere type with large forward posh seating area - cabin aft of midships - small well aft.
This type of boat was (and still is) seriously expensive, implying an earlier standard of life at Beckfoot which was no longer being sustained.
The only thing I find odd is that Captain Flint was steering from the after well. All of these boats I have seen have the steering in the forward area on the starboard side.
Perhaps when the GA was in command at Beckfoot the launch was steered by 'the Man', who would not have been permitted near 'the Quality'. But any 'Man' had to sit in the forward area in the steam launches to attend to the boiler.