The Allen Gardiner is a historic vessel with a remarkable past, combining military heritage with a modern role as a premier river cruise experience in Ipswich.
Originally built for speed and rescue, the Allen Gardiner boat now offers a completely different pace of life on the River Orwell.
Built in 1942 by the Miami Shipbuilding Corporation, the Allen Gardiner boat was originally designed as a high-speed air/sea rescue launch. Known as a “crash boat,” she served with the South African Air Force during the war, rescuing over 600 survivors from ships sunk in the Atlantic.
Today, she retains the character and unique engineering of a “Miami 63,” though her mission has shifted from high-speed rescue to providing a calm, immersive experience on the water.
The Allen Gardiner boat was engineered for durability. Her double-planked hull and flat-bottomed design allowed her to plane across the water at speeds of up to 42 knots. While she now glides at a much gentler pace, the stability and strength of her wartime construction remain.
Following the war, surviving vessels like the Allen Gardiner found new life as fishing charters and harbor cruises, eventually being lovingly restored for her current role in Suffolk.
In 2002, the Allen Gardiner was adapted for a more relaxed role as a cruise restaurant. She was fitted with a commercially equipped galley and deck-level facilities, transitioning from a high-speed rescue vessel to a comfortable passenger experience.
After a significant rebuild in 2011 and a relocation from South Africa, the Allen Gardiner boat arrived in Ipswich in 2013, where she has since become a cherished part of the local maritime landscape.
The vessel is named after Captain Allen Gardiner of the Royal Navy, a man whose life was defined by exploration and missionary work across South America and the Falkland Islands.
His commitment to reaching remote environments and his influence on early settlement planning mirror the adventurous spirit of the vessel that bears his name today.
Allen Gardiner
Captain Allen Gardiner
With just 12 guests per cruise, availability is limited.
