# 1944 Admiralty Ketch > Michaela, a 1944 53ft Admiralty Harbour Service Launch built in Poole, teak on oak, Dorman V8 diesel, surveyed September 2025. £50,000 — YACHTS.CO Poole. Web page: https://yachts.co/boats/admiralty-ketch-29212/ ## Key facts - Status: For sale - Price: £50,000 - Condition: Used - Make: Admiralty - Model: Ketch - Year: 1944 - Type: Classic Yacht - Length overall: 53ft (16.15m) - Beam: 4.19m - Draft: 1.5m - Cabins: 2 - Berths: 5 - Heads: 1 - Engines: Dorman V8 100hp - Fuel: Diesel - Hull construction: Wood - Keel: Other - Lying: Poole, Dorset - Listed by: YACHTS.CO Poole - Contact: 01202 669554, poole@yachts.co - Reference: 29212 ## Description Michaela – 1944 53ft Admiralty Harbour Service Launch Constructed in Poole by the Admiralty in 1944, ‘Michaela’ is a historic Harbour Service Launch that perfectly marries classic maritime heritage with comfortable, modern liveaboard capabilities. Built to the highest wartime standards to ensure longevity and resilience, her robust hull features double-diagonal Burmese teak laid over stout oak timbers, secured with copper fastenings. She benefits from a comprehensive professional survey, fresh antifouling, and completed maintenance works carried out in September 2025. Vessel Specifications Length Overall (Hull): 16.15 metres (approx. 53ft) Beam: 4.2 metres Draft: 1.5 metres Propulsion: Dorman V8 diesel engine Fuel Capacity: 1,000 Litres (2 x 500L tanks) Systems & Off-Grid Capability Designed for extended cruising or self-sufficient liveaboard use, the vessel is equipped with premium off-grid infrastructure: Power Management: Modern solar array setup paired with 6 brand-new gel batteries (configured as 4 x domestic/leisure bank and 2 x dedicated engine starters). Includes a 240V shore power hook-up and a 3.5 kW petrol generator for heavy-load backups. Water Autonomy: High-capacity reverse osmosis watermaker feeding twin 200L freshwater storage tanks (400L total capacity), alongside an independent 200L primary water tank. Connectivity: Fully integrated mobile Wi-Fi system via a SIM-enabled router. Accommodation & Domestic Amenities The interior layout prioritises year-round comfort and functionality, featuring an impressive inventory of home comforts: Climate Control: Comprehensive diesel central heating system complemented by a traditional wood-burning stove for ambiance, alongside an integrated air-conditioning unit for warmer climates. Galley: Fully equipped with a butane gas oven/cooker, microwave, and ample food preparation space. Saloon & Heads: Relaxing living area featuring a 12V television. The separate heads compartment is fitted with a modern marine macerator toilet. Additional Inventory Tender: An electric-powered dinghy is included in the sale, offering quiet, efficient shore transfers. Mooring Transfer: The current pontoon mooring is available subject to marina approval. ## Inventory - Vessel Specifications - Length Overall (Hull): 16.15 metres (approx. 53ft) - Beam: 4.2 metres - Draft: 1.5 metres - Propulsion: Dorman V8 diesel engine - Fuel Capacity: 1,000 Litres (2 x 500L tanks) - Systems & Off-Grid Capability - Designed for extended cruising or self-sufficient liveaboard use, the vessel is equipped with premium off-grid infrastructure: - Power Management: Modern solar array setup paired with 6 brand-new gel batteries (configured as 4 x domestic/leisure bank and 2 x dedicated engine starters). Includes a 240V shore power hook-up and a 3.5 kW petrol generator for heavy-load backups. - Water Autonomy: High-capacity reverse osmosis watermaker feeding twin 200L freshwater storage tanks (400L total capacity), alongside an independent 200L primary water tank. - Connectivity: Fully integrated mobile Wi-Fi system via a SIM-enabled router. - Accommodation & Domestic Amenities - The interior layout prioritises year-round comfort and functionality, featuring an impressive inventory of home comforts: - Climate Control: Comprehensive diesel central heating system complemented by a traditional wood-burning stove for ambiance, alongside an integrated air-conditioning unit for warmer climates. - Galley: Fully equipped with a butane gas oven/cooker, microwave, and ample food preparation space. - Saloon & Heads: Relaxing living area featuring a 12V television. The separate heads compartment is fitted with a modern marine macerator toilet. ## Photos - Admiralty Ketch: dark blue hull with red boot stripe and two masts, moored alongside on a bright day: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-dark-blue-hull-red-boot-2-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: port side view of the two-masted launch berthed at a marina pontoon: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-port-side-two-masted-launch-3-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: bow quarter view from the water showing white wheelhouse and tall wooden masts: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-bow-quarter-water-white-wheelhouse-4-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: blue hull and white superstructure seen from the water, other yachts moored behind: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-blue-hull-white-superstructure-water-5-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: aft deck with teak decking, cushioned seating along varnished rails and wheelhouse doors: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-aft-deck-teak-decking-cushioned-6-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: teak aft deck with grey bench cushions and varnished wheelhouse hatch, harbour buildings behind: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-teak-aft-deck-grey-bench-7-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: white painted foredeck with deck hatch, mast base and varnished toe rail: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-white-painted-foredeck-deck-hatch-8-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: white coachroof and teak side decks looking forward from the wheelhouse: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-white-coachroof-teak-side-decks-9-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: looking up at the wooden masts and standing rigging against a cloudy sky: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-wooden-masts-standing-rigging-against-10-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: aft deck seating with potted plant, wooden companionway doors and teak planking: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-aft-deck-seating-potted-plant-11-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: teak side deck running forward beside the white superstructure and varnished gunwale: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-teak-side-deck-running-forward-12-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: open companionway doors leading down from the aft deck into the interior: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-open-companionway-doors-leading-aft-13-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: galley from above with patterned wall tiles, dark worktops, hob and wooden floor: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-galley-above-patterned-wall-tiles-14-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: wheelhouse with wooden wheel, binnacle compass, helm seat and wraparound windows: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-wheelhouse-wooden-wheel-binnacle-compass-15-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: helm station with traditional wheel and compass, panoramic windows over the marina: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-helm-station-traditional-wheel-compass-16-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: wheelhouse interior with helm chair, panelled walls and porthole: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-wheelhouse-interior-helm-chair-panelled-17-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: galley with sink, washing machine, patterned tiles and window onto the deck: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-galley-sink-washing-machine-patterned-18-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: galley corner with microwave, storage shelves and tiled splashback beside the companionway: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-galley-corner-microwave-storage-shelves-19-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: galley worktop, radiator and doorway leading to steps between deck levels: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-galley-worktop-radiator-doorway-leading-20-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: solar charge controller and switch panel mounted on wooden bulkhead: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-solar-charge-controller-switch-panel-21-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: battery isolator switches above white electrical consumer units: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-battery-isolator-switches-above-white-22-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: engine bay viewed through an open hatch, V8 engine and wiring visible: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-engine-bay-viewed-open-hatch-23-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: dorman V8 diesel engine with silver manifolds in the engine compartment: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-dorman-v8-diesel-engine-silver-24-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: engine space with inverter unit, batteries and cabling: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-engine-space-inverter-unit-batteries-25-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: saloon with wooden floor, wood-burning stove, blue settees and skylights: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-saloon-wooden-floor-wood-burning-26-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: saloon looking aft with settee, wall-mounted television and steps up: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-saloon-aft-settee-wall-mounted-27-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: wood-panelled cabin with double berth, drawers beneath and en suite door: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-wood-panelled-cabin-double-berth-28-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: double berth in timber-lined cabin with reading lights and storage drawers: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-double-berth-timber-lined-cabin-29-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: heads with shower, toilet, basin and patterned tiles: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-heads-shower-toilet-basin-patterned-30-1600.webp - Admiralty Ketch: heads with white basin on wooden cabinet, toilet and louvred cupboard: https://photos.yachts.co/listing-photos/admiralty-ketch-29212/admiralty-ketch-heads-white-basin-wooden-cabinet-31-1600.webp Updated 2026-10-26. Prices and availability can change; please confirm with the broker. Disclaimer: YACHTS.CO INTERNATIONAL LTD offers the details of this vessel for sale but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of the information contained in the specification or warrant the condition of the vessel or equipment. A buyer should instruct his agents, or surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered for sale subject to no prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice. VAT, CE and RCD: prices are as advertised for the seller. Unless the listing clearly says so, don’t assume a boat is VAT paid or that its price includes VAT. Boats first placed on the UK or EU market since 16 June 1998 generally have to comply with the Recreational Craft Directive (in Great Britain, the Recreational Craft Regulations 2017) and carry a CE or UKCA mark with a Declaration of Conformity. Before you buy, ask for and check evidence of the boat’s VAT status and RCD compliance, and take advice if it is to be imported or exported. Buying through a broker: when YACHTS.CO INTERNATIONAL LTD sells a used boat as broker for its owner, the contract of sale is between you and the owner, and buying from a private owner gives you fewer statutory rights than buying from a business. Any agreement is subject to contract. We recommend an independent survey and a sea trial before you commit. Some wording on our website, such as search and photo descriptions, news articles and some of our own listings, is drafted or tidied with the help of AI and checked by our team before it is published. See https://yachts.co/ai/.