3 bed houseboat for sale

Merrymaid, Insworke Mill Quay, Mill Road, Torpoint, Cornwall PL10

For sale by auction on Tuesday, 02 Dec 2025 at 14:00

Venue: Live Stream

A Liveaboard Houseboat

Built in Ireland in 1952, Merrymaid started life as a fishing boat named 'Kelly', and worked in Ireland and the Isle of Man before being tastefully converted into a light and spacious 6-berth liveaboard, currently moored at Insworke Mill Quay, Millbrook, Cornwall. Merrymaid has a hull of larch on an oak frame with a length of 52 feet and a beam (width) of 15 foot 6 inches. Entry from the quayside is via a gangplank to the deck on which is sited the old wheelhouse which is currently used as a dining area, and offers views of the river and surrounding countryside. Steps lead down from the wheelhouse to the below deck accommodation consisting of a saloon with living/additional dining area and 3 cabins: 2 with bunks and one with a double bed. The galley has a carved wooden sink, small fridge and fuelled by Calor gas oven with 2 rings. There is a small freezer and additional fridge in the engine room. A traditional wood burning stove primarily provides heat in the saloon and has a back boiler to fuel small radiators in the cabins. The heads offer a small wooden bath with hand-held shower, hand basin and flushable toilet for liquid waste only. Please note: Whilst most ceilings below deck are high, headroom is restricted in some areas.

Auctioneers note
The engine is present but not connected and therefore if the boat were to be moved from the current mooring it would need to be towed. Merrymaid floats at high tide and an automatic pump keeps the bilges dry. The upper level of the hull has recently undergone renovation with replacement of larch planks: The deck is functional but would benefit from further remedial work to complete the project.

An onboard water tank can be filled from hoses on the quay and hot water is supplied from an immersion heater tank. In its current location the quay offers 2 toilets and other facilities including a shower, coin operated washing machine & tumble drier and rubbish and recycling bins.

Current mooring charges are £395.09 per month including electricity, water and parking for one car. Annual Wi-Fi charges are £30. The boat is council tax exempt.

New owners would need to abide by local rules and must be respectful of the small quiet community on the Quay including permanent residents. As access is restricted to berth holders only, the boat would be unsuitable for holiday letting.

The mooring fee has been paid until March 2026. The agreement with Insworke Quay can be extended on a rolling 6 monthly renewable licence by negotiation in March 2026.

Please note the full balance will need to be paid on the fall of the gavel on Tuesday 2nd December 2025.

Accommodation
Wheel House

Saloon (living area/kitchen/diner) Wood Burning Stove

Two Bunk Rooms

Head (Bathroom)

Master Bedroom

Engine Room

full details
Photographs, Dimensions, Floor Plans and Area Measurements (when available) are included within our full details online on our website. All published information is to aid identification of the property and is not necessarily to scale.

Viewings
Please telephone Auction House South West on to request a viewing.

Notice to bidder
Please be aware that if your bid is successful on auction day the exchange of contracts will happen immediately after the auction.

EPC Rating: N/A

Additional Fees
Buyers Premium: £800 inc VAT payable on exchange of contracts.

Administration Charge - £1200 inc VAT payable on exchange of contracts.

Please see the legal pack for any disbursements listed that may become payable by the purchaser on completion.

Price Information
* Guides are provided as an indication of each seller's minimum expectation. They are not necessarily figures which a property will sell for and may change at any time prior to the auction. Each property will be offered subject to a Reserve (a figure below which the Auctioneer cannot sell the property during the auction) which we expect will be set within the Guide Range or no more than 10% above a single figure Guide.

Additional Fees Information
Please be aware there may be additional fees payable on top of the final sale price. This includes and are not limited to administration charges and buyer's premium fees payable on exchange, and disbursements payable on completion. Please ensure you check the property information page for a list of any relevant additional fees as well as reading the legal pack for any disbursements.