1960, German Tug
Rita is a mid-century German-built tug with a distinctive past and a new life ahead of her. After many years left deteriorating in Poole Harbour, she was brought to Calshot for a full heritage refit. Rita remains one of the most technically complex projects undertaken by the yard, requiring detailed marine engineering, fabrication and joinery.
The challenge was to restore Rita without losing the industrial strength of a working tug. The brief demanded the integration of heritage restoration with modern systems and comfort, all while retaining the vessel’s character. Every element had to serve the function of the boat, not overpower it.
The interior was rebuilt with the same care and restraint. Handmade tongue and groove panelling and deep red leather seating introduce warmth and texture, while the restored submarine foldaway sinks retain a sense of the vessel’s original character. Materials were selected and detailed to sit quietly within the structure of the boat and stand up to use.
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The restoration began with Rita’s rare 22-ton U-Boat engine. With no replacements available, every component was stripped, cleaned and rebuilt by hand, returning one of the rarest marine engines to full working order. The wheelhouse was redesigned by Calshot, combining repurposed materials and analogue controls with discreet modern monitoring systems. Across the vessel, structure and detail were addressed with the same focus on blending restoration with subtle modern upgrades.
Rita remains true to her origins while being fully operational for private use as a superyacht in the Mediterranean. The project captured the balance between technical problem-solving and craft-led restoration that has since shaped how Calshot approaches major work. The vessel stands as a working example of engineering, fabrication and joinery brought together in one project.
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Davenham
Originally built in 1944 as a dry cargo barge in the classic Weaver Packet design, Davenham had been adapted as a houseboat but had fallen into severe structural decline. Calshot was commissioned to carry out a complete rebuild and reimagine her as something entirely new. The result was a project that pushed the boundaries of restoration and creativity.
M/Y Alicia
Alicia was the first major vessel restored by Calshot and remains one of the defining projects of the yard. The work began in 2015 and brought together a team shaped by the owner’s belief in quality over convenience and in the potential of overlooked materials. The restoration of Alicia marked the point where the Calshot approach took form.