Consuta was purchase from Balchin (F & B Boats) about 1975. The photo shows her being transported to the Nick Knight's boatyard on the River Medway (Machin & Knight). She was stored here before restoration work was started.

She had been used as a general service contract passenger launch, the hand rail was fitted to allow her to carry 12 passengers. Note that all bulkheads had  long since been removed from the centre of the hull.

Several petrol engines were fitted after the steam plant was removed in 1923. The original of these was probably a Wolesey 6 cylinder, then finally a Gray 671 six cylinder fitted with a Vosper gearbox.

Consuta was moved to Kew Steam Museum to start the restoration work.

This photo shows the basic construction after all the seating, floors and sealings have been removed.

There is optical perspective distortion in the photo.