Exe to Sea Cruises - M & J Rackley - Devon Excursion Boats

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Mark & Jerry Rackley


This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of Exe to Sea Cruises (M & J Rackley), who operate the Exmouth to Starcross ferry plus local cruise and charters.

Exmouth-Starcross Ferry
The Starcross Ferry is one of the oldest in South West England. The Bishop of Sherborne was granted lands in Exmouth in AD 705, and subsequently he started a ferry to Starcross. The first steam ferry used on the route was the Melita (1), a converted sailing drifter, which was operated in the 1880s by a Finnish sailor called Gronberg. A paddle steamer Pioneer was not successful and soon withdrawn. In 1891, the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, a subsidiary of the Exmouth Dock Co, was granted ferry rights. They had the ferry Prince built by Simpson & Strickland of Dartmouth. She was followed by the similar Zulu and Melita (2). In 1898 the newly formed Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co acquired the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, the Exmouth Dock and Ironworks and the two paddle steamers of the Devon SS Co. Zulu was lengthened after the war c.1920. All three vessels were locally built and wooden hulled.

In 1923 the Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co acquired a fourth steamer, the steel-hulled Starcross. The Prince was withdrawn soon after her arrival, followed by Melita (2) in the early 1930s. The first motor boat arrived in 1933 when the Tamar Queen was delivered, a largely open vessel with a small fore-cabin. She was re-engined with a diesel engine the following year. This was very successful, and Diesel Comet was soon ordered to follow, although in other respects she was similar to previous Starcross ferries.She replaced the Zulu in service. Starcross was requisitioned in WW2, whilst Tamar Queen (renamed Tamar) and Diesel Comet maintained the ferry. Starcross was replaced by the Exonia (1) in 1947, which had Hotchkiss internal cone propellers which gave her a very low draft. Tamar was replaced by the Orcombe in 1954, which reverted to conventional twin screws. From 1968 the ferry service became summer-only. Diesel Comet was sold in 1972 and Exonia (1) followed the following year. A modern fibreglass boat Exonia (2) joined Orcombe in 1976.

R.W.Rackley was operating the Elizabeth III from Dawlish by 1977. A.Stuart was operating the Sea Crest from Exmouth by this year too. In 1983, A.Stuart took over the Starcross ferry along with Exonia (2) and Orcombe. In 1987, B.R.J.Rackley took over the ferry, along with the Orcombe. Exonia (2) remained with A.Stuart. Elizabeth III passed from R.W.Rackley to B.R.J.Rackley in 1995. Northern Angler and Tudor Rose (ex-Tudor Princess) joined Exonia (2) in the A.Stuart fleet (by then Stuart Line Cruises). By 1999, Exonia (2) had passed to D&P Faithfull of Portsmouth, for use on Portsmouth Harbour Tours. Princess Marina joined the B.R.J.Rackley fleet in 2000, followed by My Queen of Riddalls Boats (Dartmouth) in 2002. The the B.R.J.Rackley fleet passed to J & M Rackley in 2005.

Orcombe remained on the ferry in 2007, owned by J & M Rackley, running as Exe to Sea Ferries. Other boats in the 2007 fleet are Elizabeth III, My Queen and Princess Marina.


Contact:- www.exe2sea.co.uk
Boats on This Page:-
Elizabeth III (Built: ????)
My Queen (Built: 1929)
Orcombe (Built: 1954)
Princess Marina (Built: 1936)

Devon Pages:-
Devon Excursion Ships - Devon Header Page
Dart Pleasure Craft
Devon Dock, Pier & SS Co
Devon Princess Cruises
Devon Star Shipping
Riddalls Boats
River Dart SB Co
Western Lady Ferry Service

Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships - UK Header Page
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page

References:-
Estuary & River Ferries of South West England - Martin Langley & Edwina Small - Waine Research (1984)
South Devon Ferries - Alan Kittridge - Tempus (2003)
Trip Out Guides - Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2007 consulted

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(M & J Rackley) Elizabeth III
(Built: ????)

No image available My Queen
(Built: 1929)

My Queen was built in 1929 and was a Dunkirk veteran. Between 1962-1970 she served with George Wheeler Launches on the Thames. In 1975 she passed to W.Jackson, also on the Thames. My Queen was bought by Dart Pleasure Craft in 1975, and was given a covered cabin in 1982. She was used to take President Mitterand of France on a tour of Dartmouth Harbour in 1984, the 40th Anniversary of D-Day. In 1987 she was in service with G.H.Riddalls & Sons, remaining with them until 2000 when the company was bought by Dart Pleasure Craft, although the acquisition did not include My Queen. After a period of disuse, she re-entered service with B.R.J.Rackley, who operate the Exmouth-Starcross ferry and local excursions. She remained with successors J.& M.Rackley in 2005, by which time My Queen was 76 years old. Post-war postcard of New Prince of Wales I (ex-Julia Freak) The vessel in the background is My Queen Click to open larger image in new window My Queen in Riddalls service on the River Dart, seen from Dartmouth Castle.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997
My Queen in Riddalls service at Dartmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997
My Queen in Riddalls service at Dartmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997
My Queen in Riddalls service at Dartmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997
My Queen in Riddalls service on the River Dart at Totnes.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997
My Queen in Exe to Sea service at Brixham in 2007
Photo: © Jerry Rackley
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Orcombe
(Built: 1954)

The Tamar of the Devon Dock, Pier & SS Co was replaced by the Orcombe in 1954, which reverted to conventional twin screws. From 1968 the ferry service became summer-only. Diesel Comet was sold in 1972 and Exonia (1) followed the following year. A modern fibreglass boat Exonia (2) joined Orcombe in 1976. In 1983, A.Stuart took over the Starcross ferry along with Exonia (2) and Orcombe. In 1987, B.R.J.Rackley took over the ferry, along with the Orcombe. Exonia (2) remained with A.Stuart.

The ex-Devon Dock, Pier & SS Co Orcombe remained on the ferry with J & M Rackley (Exe to Sea Ferries) in 2007. J.Salmon postcard of Orcombe on the Starcross ferry
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Judges postcard of Orcombe on the Starcross ferry
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Orcombe on the Starcross ferry in 2007
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Orcombe on the Starcross ferry in 2007
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Orcombe on the Starcross ferry in 2007
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Orcombe at Exmouth in 2007
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Orcombe at Exmouth in 2007
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Orcombe at Exmouth in 2007
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Orcombe on the Starcross ferry in 2007
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Orcombe on the Starcross ferry in 2007
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Princess Marina
(Built: 1936)
Princess Marina was previously the Sea Horse II at St Mary's and went to the St Mawes Ferry in 1969. She worked the Flushing Ferry during some winters. She was acquired by J&M Rackley in 2000 for services on the River Exe. Princess Marina on the Starcross ferry, with Orcombe out of service with engine problems
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Princess Marina on the Starcross ferry
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Princess Marina on the Starcross ferry
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Princess Marina on the Starcross ferry
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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