Published: November 8, 2012
Former anti-submarine warboat towed past Burnham to museum

A unique boat with a wartime history was towed past Burnham-On-Sea this week on its way to be restored at a new maritime museum.

Built in 1941, the former anti-submarine warboat played a crucial role in patrolling the English Channel during the second world war.

The vessel, called Moonlight 27, has just been bought by local enthusiast Owen Childs, who with his father Paul is planning to restore it back to its former glory so that it can go on display at a new museum they are launching in Watchet.

"The boat used to attack submarines during the war and was used by the Americans to land troops along the French coast during D-Day," Paul told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"There are very few of these Motor Anti-Submarine Boats (MASB) remaining today which is why have bought from its previous owner in Burseldon, near Southampton, who had lived on it. We intend to restore her and hopefully getting her back to how she looked in her prime."

The boat was taken by road from Southampton to Combwich and then towed by a commercial vessel called 'Scooby Doo Too', which is operated by Bristol Channel Surveys, past Burnham to Watchet Marina on Monday, as pictured.

Paul Childs previously restored a Royal Navy patrol boat which he bought for the sum of just £1 and it is now also moored in the harbour at Watchet.

Pictured: The boat being towed past Burnham-On-Sea this week on its way to Watchet (Photos: Burnham-On-Sea.com / Dave Saunders) and, above, a model of a similar boat showing how it would have looked in its prime