Egypt Property For Sale | Dahabeya for sale

Egypt Property For Sale | Dahabeya for sale: Back in 2000 Dr Kent Weeks bought a hundred year old boat wreck and lovingly restored it to become the Kingfisher dahabiya (alternative spelling dahabeya and dahabiyya).

The Kingfisher featured in the New York Times Great Homes. Now Dr Weeks is looking to scale down the amount of time he spends in Egypt and very reluctantly Kingfisher is for sale. This is a unique opportunity to buy a unique boat.
Offers in the region of £110,000 are invited.
Email info@egyptpropertyforsale.co.uk



The original dahabiyehs were modelled on Arab dhows and built between 1860 and 1905 especially for first-class sailing cruises on the Nile. The leading provider of such vessels was the Thomas Cook Company. Built for the Thomas Cook Company in about 1899, Kingfisher is one of only six original dahabiyehs , of 400 or 500 originally built, that is still sailing the Nile. She was one of the few to have her hull made of iron, not wood.

Kingfisher is 26.3 m. long, with a beam of 4.6 m. and a draft of 1.4 m. She was built to be a fast boat and a comfortable one, able to navigate in the shallow waters of the Nile shoreline and moor at off-the-beaten-path archaeological sites and traditional villages. Kingfisher was lovingly restored in 2000, and every effort was made to retain her original character and material without sacrificing modern comforts.

On the beautiful, open upper deck, a dining area can seat up to ten for dinner, and beyond an original skylight, a lounge area furnished with carpets and wicker furniture can seat up to six for drinks or relaxing and enjoying the scenery. The foredeck is large and open; originally, it provided space for six oarsmen to row the dahabiyeh should she be becalmed. Crew quarters lie below deck, and there is a crew’s toilet, electric and plumbing room and storage areas.

Steps and a double door lead to the interior. Along the boat’s center passageway, there are two single staterooms with ample storage, and a similarly-furnished, small double cabin. There is a full bathroom with tub, a fully-equipped galley, and a pantry and laundry room. Aft of these is a large saloon with six windows and the original skylight providing plentiful light and fresh air. The saloon is furnished with a dining table and chairs, wicker sofa, chairs and table, and plentiful bookcases. At the stern is a large double cabin with full en suite facilities, a large desk, closet, vanity, and lounge area.



In all, Kingfisher can sleep six, making her the perfect boat for a cruise with family or friends. Alternative you can live aboard in Luxor like Dr Weeks, using Kingfisher as a houseboat. Kingfisher is self-contained, with her own septic system, water purifying system, pumps, and 3 generators of 1kw 3kw and 6kw that provide power when not moored near city mains. Two sails, a 30m mast aft and a 20m mast forward, provide wind power, and a tug can be hired to tow the boat through the barrages along the Nile. The boat was fully inspected and re-licensed in 2012 (valid until April, 2017) and is ready to sail-away.

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