Builders: Scott & Co Greenock 1879
Propulsion type: Paddle 2 cylinder compound diagonal
Owner: Port of Porstmouth & Ryde United Steam Packet Co Ltd, Bembridge & Seaview Steam Packet Co, Cosens & Co, Capt. AEG Hawkes, Mr Whitlay
Service dates: 1879-1934
Tonnage: Gross 235
Comments:
After her introduction in 1879, this little iron built paddler lasted until 1913 on the Portsmouth to Ryde service when she was sold in February of that year to the Bembridge & Seaview SP Co. She did not stay long with that concern, being too big for Bembridge Harbour and was sold again in the same year to Cosens & Co, for whom she did tender work for the Royal Navy in Portland Harbour. After the Great War she sailed from Weymouth, with a brief spell out of Swanage, when Emperor of India was on charter at Brighton. In 1925 she moved to operate out of Torquay when she sailed to beaches with no pier, landing with her nose onto the beach as seen above. In 1932 she was bought for use on the River Thames in London as PS Showboat, and was converted for caberet and dancing use. Her funnel was also hinged to enable it to be lowered to go under the London bridges. These changes did not aid her stability and she was refused a passenger certificate until further alterations were made. Her decks were floodlit and she sailed from Westminster Pier on a series of evening cruises, with popular artistes of the day. The service, however, was not a success and whilst she was employed for the following season in a stationary capacity off Margate, she did not last and was scrapped at TW Ward's yard in Grays in 1934.