by Hornbeam » Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:45 am
The photograph featured is not of the Tees Commisioner but of a craft very similar to her, the noticeable difference is that her Aft Cabin was extended further back into the well and had larger windows, it was also called Saloon. The initial design was not Thornycroft but British Power Boat of Hythe who closed down in 1946 apparently the same year as the Commissioner was built. This design was initially built for the RAF as Seaplane Tenders and their testing was done at Bridlington by 'Lawrence of Arabia' when he was in the RAF in the 1930's. During the War BPB were busy building MTB/MGB's and ASR Craft they only built a modified version of this style in small numbers the rest were contracted out to other Boatbuilders like Staniland, Walton Boat, Thornycroft et al. They were made of wood, diagonal above the waterline and double diagonal below, twin engined and around 40ft long depending on the Builders. The build of the Commissioner is so close to that of a Seaplane Tender that it makes me wonder if the T.C. Started her life off as an S.T. or was a cancelled order when the War ended and then modified for the T.C.C. to suit their requirements the extra cost being incurred due to the modifications and a re-engine.
The Admiralty handled the sale of Post War RAF Craft and instructed the Boatbuilders to sell the surplus craft they had in their Yards.
Last edited by
Hornbeam on Fri Jul 31, 2020 12:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.