Description

This is a rare opportunity to acquire, Sara, an historic Icebreaker dating from the 1850’s.
A bit on the history first;
The wrought iron hull was commissioned by the Oxford Canal Company as an open horse drawn ice-breaking boat. The frames were supplied by the Harts Hill Iron Co of Dudley and she was probably built in the 1850’s making her one of the oldest craft in the inland waterways.
As an ice boat she would have been based at either Banbury or Thrupp on the southern section of the canal.
She was laid up for sale at Braunston in 1961 and purchased for £100 by Alfred Matty who named her Sara. He started a protracted fit out at Cubbits Yacht Basin, Chiswick, using salvaged woodwork from many London development sites. The oak decking apparently comes from the former wooden fire escape of the London Carlton Club.
This fit out was damaged by a neighbouring fire in 1965 and was finally finished in 1968.
Throughout the 1970’s Alfred lived on Sara at a mooring on the Welford Arm of the Grand Union, later touring almost every connected waterway with his wife Jean Calder. She later wrote a book detailing a year of their travels, ‘A grand tour of England’s Waterways’. The couple were married in Ely and their honeymoon was a tour of the Angoian waterways.
An extensive write up on Sara featured in Classic Boat Magazine in August 2008 entitled Ice Princess.
The stern deck is large at 7’ long. This is fitted out in teak and has a wooden tiller with double throttle (depending on which side of the boat you are on). Doors either side lead to the washoom. This has a washbasin with extendable hose tap (foot pump operated) and room for a Porta Potti along with a couple of cupboards.
The forward cabin is the galley / saloon. There are no cooking facilites but there is room for a portable gas hob.
There is a sink (foot pump operated) and also a fold up table with cupboards surrounding it.
In the saloon there is a four seater dinette (storage under) with a removeable table which also fits on the front deck which has bench seats either side and a storage cupboards in the forward locker. The dinette converts into a small double bed.
There are covers for both front & rear decks, and the sides of the boat have storm covers also.
12v power is from one domestic battery and 230v from either landline hook up or a small travel inverter for phone charging.
She is propelled by a Lister Petter engine (fitted in 2010), serviced in March 2025. She was last blacked in March 2025 also so she is ready to go.
A very rare, a very lovely boat and part of canal history.

Specifications

Certification

Rugby Boats Ltd is a full member of:

The British Marine Federation (BMF)
The Boat Retailers and Brokers Association (BRBA)

As such we abide by a strict Code of Conduct to protect both the buyer and seller.

Disclaimer

Important Notice:

Whilst every care has been taken by Rugby Boat Sales in the preparation of these particulars their correctness is not guaranteed. The particulars are intended only as a guide and they do not constitute a term of any contract. A prospective buyer is strongly advised to check the particulars and where appropriate at his own expense to employ a qualified Marine Surveyor to carry out a survey of the vessel.

Location Map