Lilian of Stockholm - a legendary C.G. Petterson motor yacht

The motor yacht Lilian was launched in an unusual way at the Södra varv shipyard  in  Stockholm  in  1916.  The 30m yacht had to be lifted by a floating crane as the shipyard´s only slipway was not available due to the construction of a  large freighter. 

The legendary Swedish boat designer C.G. Petterson designed more than 1000 boats, many of which are still in use today. One the real pearls among the Petterson boats is the "Gentleman´s twin screw diesel yacht" Lilian of Stockholm, now moored in Twickenham.

Lilian, which originally was built for a Danish businessman in 1916 has a very interesting history:

Launched in Stockholmas  »Lilian II«, she was the largest motor yacht that had 
been built at that time in Sweden. She was built for Emil R Glückstadt of Copenhagen, who ran the Danish Agricultural Bank which collapsed in scandal in 1923. After various
changes of ownership, including a period in Kingston upon Thames under the
name »Dahu«, she eventually became  »Training Shulip Windsor Castle« and was
used by the sea cadets in Windsor.
When purchased by the present owners - Scott and Hilary Pereira  - in 1980 she
was in a very poor state, with leaking decks, severe corrosion to the hull, and
rot and damage to the interior. However, as a consequence of having been out
of active commission for many years and not having been “updated”, she still retained many original features, including the engines. 
She has been extensively restored over the last 17 years, without public funding.
In 1988, fifty years to the day since her last sea journey in 1938, she ventured back to sea.
Renamed  »Lilian«, she is now an unique example of an early gentleman’s motoryacht, and it is believed that the 75 hp Polar Atlas diesels are the oldest marine engines  (with  prototype
gearboxes) still working. 

On this page you can see how the beautifully restored Lilian looks now. And here you will find some more interesting information.



Ship facts:
Lilian of Stockholm  

Gentleman’s twin screw
diesel yacht. 30 metres (100 feet) long, 5 metres 
(16 feet) wide, 2 metres (6 feet) draught.
Schooner rigged with gaff steadying sails. Powered by original (1915) 2 x 75 hp 6 cylinder Polar 
Atlas diesels. Home mooring: Twickenham
(Thames). Owners: Scott & Hilary Pereira.