A LABOUR of love has seen one of the last remaining classic speedboats in Britain restored to her former glory and once more working the waters around the Jurassic Coast.

Thunderbolt was one of only a handful of these classic craft designed and built in Looe, Cornwall, by Gerald Pearn in the 1960s. She was one of four which plied the holiday trade, operating short trips around the bay, before being sold on and operated in Weymouth until 2013.

When 66-year old David Rider spotted her looking tired and neglected and laid up ashore in West Bay, in May 2015, it rekindled a love affair stretching back to his childhood.

David said: “My parents holidayed in Looe before buying a pub there in 1969 and I remember the boats as a child.

“I was always drawn to their elegant sleek looks; the idea of owning and operating one always appealed.”

But his plans to get the craft back into the water were scuppered when he realised the extent of the neglect.

All of the interior – seating, flooring, panelling – had to be replaced.

David also knew that new safety standards for commercial operation had come into force – one of the reasons for the previous owner selling – and therefore had to be incorporated as the project progressed.

Eight months of blood, sweat and tears passed in order to get the 25-foot vessel licked into shape and last July she was finally certified for commercial operation by the MCA – sadly, too late for most of the 2016 season.

Thunderbolt will be back in the water this Easter, and raring to go.

David, who lives in Nyland, near Gillingham, is offering a range of trips and charters – hourly, half day and day – as well as evening and lunchtime trips to local waterside restaurants, plus tailor-made picnic and swimming trips for families or corporate clients.

He added: “There are very few boats like this in the UK so hopefully will appeal to locals and visitors alike.

“I have sailed thousands of miles over the years and owned yachts since about 1980. However, a power boat had never been on the agenda until now.”

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