COATHAM – New Boats for Boating Lake

Accreditation Cleveland Standard 28/03/1936

New Arrivals at Coatham Enclosure
A Trip in the New Craft
(SPECIAL)

   Two men with skilful fingers and watchful eyes have been preparing the past week for the pleasure-seeking multitudes who will be invading the Coatham Enclosure on Good Friday. These men have been fitting new Stuart-Turner 1 1/2 h.p. petrol engines into the petrol boats and making ready for the five new ones manufactured by the Cleveland Marine Engineering Company, which will arrive shortly.
This week I was privileged to watch the nimble fingers putting in the mechanism, tightening screws and oiling (writes our reporter). Nearly all the boats took the water on Wednesday and it is to their credit that they ran smoothly without a hitch.
The electric boats are gone, all except one, the “Minnatonka,” so christened by an American girl hailing from Minnesotan, who had the first ride in her last year. This boat has been converted to petrol.
I spent an interesting hour at the Coatham Enclosure, but I was not allowed to be idle. I had to turn the propellers while the greasing process was in hand. Afterwards I was rewarded by being allowed to run one boat in. As I took my seat behind the wheel of “Hercules,” reputed to be the fastest boat on the lake, and took her sliding over the tranquil waters of the lake, I gazed at other mortals in open scorn.
The boat ran well, at a good walking pace, the well tuned engine turning over with marked precision. The rudder answered readily to my demands, so readily, in fact, that I was a trifle startled. But pleasure seekers need have no fear as these boats are unsinkable, and in any case the lake is only 3 ft. deep.
The graceful lines of the new four seater petrol boat attracted my attention, and I did not feel so sure as to the speed of “Hercules.” When I voiced my doubt I was invited to try the new boat – yet un-named. It wanted a full load to be properly at ease, but despite this the boat ran smoothly. The new boat can easily seat four people and six “at a pinch.”
So the work goes on, and tomorrow (Good Friday), when the season starts, the boats will go out with their loads of passengers and in the background will stand two men, men with skilful fingers and watchful eye – thankful that their work is done.

Accreditation Cleveland Standard May 1936

New Pleasure
Petrol Boat
“TRY-OUT” OF REDCAR]
DESIGNED CRAFT
_________

   A new pleasure boat built throughout by local labour, was given a “try-out” on Thursday afternoon by Mr. Mulholland (Redcar Baths Superintendent). It has proved itself an excellent craft and probably more will be bought this season. It is bigger than the other petrol boats, superior in every way, and – much cheaper.
It has been built throughout by Mr. E. C. Baker and his assistants, of the Cleveland Motor and Marine Engineers, Redcar. It is ten feet long, by about four feet wide, and when empty does not draw more than three inches of water, It will travel at an approximate speed of five miles per hour in spite of any wind resistance, and the weighting of the boat, has been designed in such a way as makes it impossible for it to overturn.
The boat is built of double sheet mahogany, red pine, and American elm. The engine is of the popular Stewart Turner type.
She is much bigger than her predecessors. The other petrol boats seat four but the new one will seat six with ease. A few improvements are to be made, and in a few days’ time she will officially be afloat.
There is accommodation in the back for six small children: she will be an ideal family boat. Of origin shape and design, she has a yacht stern.
The naming of the spruce little craft will take place as soon as a suitable name has been chosen.
The Bath Superintendent, Mr. Mulholland patriotically suggests “Princess Marina” and other suggestions are “The Marquis of Zetland,” “Queen of Cleveland,” “Redcar Princess,” etc.
The manipulation of the craft is so simple that a child could drive her with safety.

Later the next year 1936 saw the following report in the same newspaper

BOATING POOL’S NEW FLEET

   So successful were the “Pride of Redcar” petrol boats, tried out for the first time at Redcar last season, that the Redcar Corporation has placed another order for five more of similar type with the Cleveland Motor and Marine Engineering Works, Redcar. The fleet, it is expected will be ready by Good Friday
Each of the boats has accommodation for six people and they are fitted with Stuart-Turner 1 1/2 h.p. marine type engine. They will be automatically controlled so that children can manipulate them as easy as adults.
The boats are nine feet in length with a beam of three feet six inches, and are being built with a yacht stern and can turn in their own length.
With a full load of six people the boat will be able to attain a speed of five miles per hour, and in case of collision, inflated air cushion fenders have been attached to minimise the risk of damage. They will run for six hours on one gallon of petrol.