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[BarryM]

Seen recently in Rye. I'm curious to know what this diagonal-planked, ex-Grey Funnel Line (?) was when in service.

Barry M

[tugmad]

She is a B class fairmile motor launch.    Displacement:85 tons    Length:  112 ft (34 m)]Beam  18 ft 3 in (5.56 m)
except Canadian built at 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) or 17 ft 10 in (5.44 m)    Draught:]4 ft 10 in (1.47 m)  Propulsion:  Two 650 bhp (480 kW) Hall-ScottDefender petrol engines Speed:20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)Max    Range:1,500 mi (1,300 nmi; 2,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)    Complement: 16 (  later increased   Sensors andprocessing systems  ASDIC[  Armament:(for 1940 Sub Chaser) 1 × 3-pounder Mk I gun 1 × twin 0.303 in machine guns
12 depth charges Armour  Wheelhouse plated.

Only 4 thought now to exist in the U K.
RML 537   Western Lady   (private)
RML 526 Western Lady IV  (Private)
RML 497  Western Lagy III   ( Ferry )
ML  357  Jamaica Moon     ( Houseboat )
Chances are she is either 537 or 526.

[TugCowboy]

They have been working on that for the past few years and it's looking a lot more loved than previously.
I believe there is also one in Worthing in one of the boatyards, or there was up until a few years back at least, I remember seeing it when I took my boat in for an overhaul in about 2006

[BarryM]

Thanks for the very comprehensive information. Was there not a 'Western Lady' operating out of Torquay for some years as a ferry to Brixham or Dartmouth?

Regards,
Barry M

[Netleyned]

The Fairmile ex RML 497 is stillrunning trips
from Brixham to Dartmouth.
She was Western Lady III.
She is now back in her wartime colours .

Had a trip on her earlier this year.

She is now owned by Greenway Ferries.
Called 'The Fairmile'
Ned