Bou Saada: Vessel History

Bou Saada was built in 1935 at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, by W. King & Sons. The vessel originally belonged to Edmund Dreyfus, a member of the Royal Burnham Yacht Club. During World War II, Bou Saada was requisitioned to participate in the Dunkirk evacuation. Although no detailed records of her specific actions during the operation exist, she completed multiple journeys from the beaches to the transport ships before returning to Ramsgate.

Following the war, Bou Saada was sold into private ownership and spent some time in Yorkshire. Her present owners, Donald and Carolyn Hamilton-Khaan, acquired her thereafter. Donald Hamilton-Khaan, a former Petty Officer in the Royal Navy who served in Combined Operations and landed in Normandy on D-Day, values the vessel’s wartime service. The boat has undergone minimal alterations, including a rebuilt wheelhouse and the replacement of the original twin 4-cylinder Morris petrol engines with Perkins diesel engines. A larger mast was also fitted to carry a steadying sail, enhancing safety in the event of engine failure.

Bou Saada retains her original teak panelling below deck and remains a fine cruising vessel. She has been used for voyages to Belgium, the Frisian Islands, the Dutch canals, and the River Ling. During the 1960s, the Mortimer family owned Bou Saada. While normally moored on the Ouse at York, she was regularly taken down the Ouse and Humber into the North Sea, even once in gale-force conditions.

In September 2021, Bou Saada was acquired by new owners and is currently undergoing a complete restoration at Dennett Boat Builders on the Thames in Chertsey.