Dawn-Craft (Wroxham)
If you were expecting the heading to this page to be spelt as "Dawncraft" then read about the Recent Discovery that suggests that earlier writers gave too much attention to the sound of the name Dawn‑Craft. We now know that there were two related businesses owned by John Clabburn, Dawn‑Craft (Wroxham) and Dawn‑Craft (Horning). Both operated hire fleets, while the main function of the longer lasting one, based in Wroxham, was boat building.
The Dawn-Craft Safari
Currently, the only photographs that have been obtained that show how Dawn‑Craft fitted out their "standard" MkII boats come from a surveyor's report made in 2011. How typical this example is, is not yet known. Its Broads registration number suggests it was new to the Broads, or returned there, around 2005. Its build date is unknown although Craig's database suggests it was 1975.
©2011 Steve Truss
Osprey (638H) was surveyed by Steve Truss in 2011. Externally it can be seen there's no aft cabin window and all the windows along each side have opening panes that slide horizontally.
The fact that Osprey includes a builder's plaque could be indicative that this boat was a private commission. Other features support that hypothesis as her fit-out is not typical of those supplied by Dawn‑Craft for the hire fleet market. For example, it is notable that she is the only Dawn‑Craft built example, found so far, that has horizontally sliding windows throughout. The vast majority of Dawn‑Craft's long side window Variants have vertically sliding windows.
©2011 Steve Truss
A lack of half-height bulkhead separating the saloon from the galley is distinctive, as is the position of the toilet/shower door.
You'll also notice the fixed Helmsman's chair with fold-down backrest. The evidence seen so far suggests that Dawn‑Craft fitted this type of chair in both their "standard" Safaris as well as their Variant boats.
Another obvious change from standard is the lack of half height bulkhead that acts as a backrest for those sitting on the cushion over the engine. Many builders also use the bulkhead to support shelving serving the galley area.
Last of the big changes is the position of the toilet door. Most builders had it set much further aft. In three berth boats this allowed for a basin to be fitted forward of the door. In four berth boats there would be space for a wardrobe as well. There is a hint in the photo that there is a second door aft of the first. That suggests that this boat may have a separate shower compartment, in an arrangement similar to that seen in in Moore's Hire Fleet.
©2011 Steve Truss
The engine fitted in Osprey appears to be a BMC 1500cc diesel, not the Perkins that was fitted to the boats built by Hampton. Also notable is that only the top panel lifts off for access to the engine
Moving the toilet door forward means that the arrangement for access to the engine is also very different to that of most builders. It appears that the BMC engine does not need the same space, as Perkins 4.108 does, for the gearbox and reduction gear. It is this that allows the toilet door to be moved forward to occupy the space where the wardrobe or basin usually is. The result is that the usual removable cover and galley shelf, aft of the bulkhead/backrest found in most boats does not exist.
It's difficult to tell from the photograph, but it could be that the two right-angle brackets seen to port around the engine cowling may indicate a repair, reinforcement or suggest that panel beneath is removable for better engine access.
Can you confirm some of the speculation on this page? Did these boats have a separate shower? If you have good quality images of a "standard" Dawn‑Craft Safari, one that started life in the Barnes-Brinkcraft hire fleet, please contribute the missing detail. Upload your photos to the Forum together with any other clarifications and corrections you can offer.