Video

Description

Lullaby is a solar-powered battery electric widebeam providing surprisingly spacious accommodation. Commissioned with the intention of being electric drive, the front and rear bulkheads were placed so as to maximise internal living space; not possible where a large diesel engine and gearbox is used.

First launched in May 2026, after one week of adjustments to ballast and motor parameters, she began her maiden voyage on which she traversed the entire Kennet and Avon Canal and the non-tidal River Thames downstream from Reading powered only by the sun. In good light, eight hours of gentle cruising per day were easily achieved with energy to spare courtesy of the 3.2 kW solar array.

Two 10 kW rated 20 kW peak motors provide ample power; coupled with a 2.8:1 reduction, the drive system has proven to be extremely efficient at lower speeds and very powerful when higher speeds are preferred. The hull was built by Bluewater Boats and flows through the water very nicely, creating virtually no wash.

Accommodation comprises, from stern to bow:
Stern deck with large bench seating
Kitchen with integrated appliances including a washing machine
Living area with solid fuel stove and bespoke sofa that converts to a standard size double bed
Passageway to:
Smaller bedroom (2.5m x 2.0m)
Bathroom with 1400mm x 900mm shower
Main bedroom (3.3m x 2.5m) with large full-height wardrobe, over-bed wardrobes and cabinets, and under-bed storage.
French doors open out from the main bedroom onto a small bow deck.

From conception, the intention was that this boat would provide the most ‘house-like’ living experience possible and the flexibility to suit whatever purpose the owner might choose; be that off-grid live-aboard constant cruising, permanent mooring with shoreline electricity, or seasonal leisure craft. Headroom is over 1.9m throughout, internal doors are full height and external doors can be walked through without the need to slide hatches or crawl through tight openings.

Services are duplicated where appropriate to offer maximum flexibility. In the lighter months, the solar array produces ample power to propel the boat, heat hot water and cook. When the days are shorter, the water may be heated by shoreline AC to the immersion, the diesel water heater or the solid fuel stove. Cooking can be with the LPG hob and oven, or, if preferred, shoreline AC to the combination oven and a portable electric hob. There are 230v mains sockets and 12v DC sockets throughout.

The hull was built in 2017. However, health issues then work commitments meant that the owner was unable to progress with the build. In 2024, the owner took a break from a several year building conversion project to prepare the boat to sell as an unfinished project. At the time he was paying £7500 per year for secure storage but had committed to at least three more years on the project. Shortly after this, the building project fell through following the clients’ marriage breakdown. Rather than seek an alternative project, the owner, a skilled, self-employed craftsman with over 40 years experience in building, electrical and engineering trades, decided to make the completion of this boat his next project. As well as acquiring the additional knowledge required specifically relevant to boat fit-outs, the owner enrolled on a RINA endorsed Recreational Craft Directive course and studied full-time for three months. He also bought access to all relevant harmonised ISO Standards to ensure compliance. In addition, the boat passed its Boat Safety Scheme exam in May 2026 which is valid until May 2030. A hull survey and functionality check were made by a qualified marine surveyor in August 2025 as part of an insurance valuation. As would be expected for a boat that had never been in the water, there was no loss of hull thickness with ‘as new’ reported for virtually all aspects. Prospective buyers may view the full survey.

Being 50 ft x 12 ft, this boat is perfectly usable as a cruising vessel rather than a go-nowhere floating apartment. As can be seen in the walk-through video, there is plenty of room inside, including two bedrooms. It could be suitable for a single person, a couple, or even a young family as a live-aboard home; pied-à-terre accommodation; or a comfortable leisure craft. At 50 ft, finding moorings is far easier than for much longer craft, whether that be temporary waterside or permanent paid for moorings charged by the foot. Full electric drive qualifies for a 25% discount on CRT and EA licence fees offering a significant saving. Currently, a constant cruiser gold licence for this boat, which covers access to Canal & River Trust and Environment Agency waterways and permits use without a home mooring, costs £1652 per year. The 3.2kW solar array yields further savings. The owner has lived aboard since launch in May 2026 and virtually all energy has come from solar, including propelling the boat across the country. Only a few pounds worth of diesel and gas were used for water heating and cooking respectively.

Included:

2013/53/EU Declaration of conformity
Hull manufacturer's declaration of conformity
Builder's plate
Owner's manual: Comprehensive and informative
Boat Safety Scheme certificate: exp. May 2030

Specifications

Accommodation

Kitchen to rear (3.3m x 2.0m) with lpg 4 ring hob, integrated lpg oven, integrated washing machine, integrated fridge and integrated combi microwave. Iroko worktops.

Living space (3.4m x 2.9m) with solid fuel back boiler stove and sofabed.

Second bedroom (2.5m x 2.0m)

Bathroom (2.5m x 1.4/0.9m) with 1400mm shower enclosure.

Main bedroom (3.3m x 2.5m) with full height mirrored wardrobe and over-bed cabinets. Bespoke desk/dresser.

Construction

Steel construction hull by Bluewater Boats. 10mm base plate. 6mm hull sides. 6mm fore and aft bulkheads. 5mm cabin sides. 5mm roof.

Equipment

Propulsion

2x HPM10KL-48V electric propulsion motors, 48v2x EZ-B481000 motor controllers
Motor Power (each): 10kW continuous, 20kW peak
Motor Torque (each) : 80Nm peak
Drive Type: 2.8:1 reduction belt drive
Peak torque at prop shaft: 448Nm
20” diameter x 15” pitch, 3 blade propeller

Electrics

6x 535W mono-crystalline solar panels, 1x 130w flexible solar panel
24x PowerSafe 170Ah AGM batteries, 6v
Edecoa MPPT hybrid Inverter charger 48V, 6kVA
Victron SmartSolar Charge Controller MPPT 75-15
DC-DC step down converters 48v-24v & 4x 48v-12v
230v and 12v power outlets throughout
2x PowerSafe 170Ah AGM batteries with independent solar panel for back-up stern bilge pump
Energy saving inverter. Allows main inverter to be off and only fridge, hob/oven ignition and cooker hood supplied
Neutral/earth bond relay. Provides safety RCD functionality with shoreline connected or disconnected
Galvanic isolator
8x 2.8kg galvanic anodes

Paintwork

External steelwork shot blasted post construction
2 pack epoxy blacking
2 pack epoxy primer above hull sides
Single pack undercoat and marine enamel top coats

Windows & Portholes

4x 800mm x 600mm inward tilting double glazed thermal break aluminium windows
4x 18” full-hopper double glazed thermal-break portholes
700mm side hatch, portside
1700mm x 1100mm roof lantern

Heating & insulation

5kW multi-fuel stove with back boiler heating calorifier and heat-sink thermo-siphon radiator
Central heating from Webasto ThermoTop C
5x single column radiators. 1x towel rail radiator
Upright calorifier, heated from stove, Webasto and 1kW immersion
PIR board insulation. 50mm to roof, hull sides and below floor. 25mm to cabin sides.

Kitchen

3x base cabinets plus 4x drawers. 4x high-level cabinets plus wine rack
Integrated fridge and washing machine
Integrated lpg oven and grill. Integrated combination microwave. 4 ring lpg hob
Extractor hood
1200mm full height electrics cabinet
Iroko worktops

Bathroom

1400 x 900mm shower tray. Thermostatic bar mixer shower
Base cabinet with iroko counter-top. Counter-top basin with mixer tap
Compost/bio-digester toilet with carbon filter and fan ventilation through roof

Permanent and bespoke fittings

1000mm full height,full depth wardrobe
Over-bed and bedside cabinets
Desk/dressing table
Bespoke double bed with standard double mattress. Under bed storage
Bespoke corner sofa. Converts to standard sized double bed.

Engine(s)

Two 10kW rated (20kW peak) 48v BLDC electric motors paired with a 25kW/h AGM battery bank

Safety Equipment

45 lb CQR anchor with chain and rope
Lifebuoy
Man overboard motor stop safe key
Fire extinguishers to meet Boat Safety Scheme requirements
2x smoke detectors
2x CO alarms
Neutral/earth bond relay. Provides safety RCD functionality with shoreline connected or disconnected

Location Map