THEMIS
Grand Union Canal Carrying Company
Fleet number 90
Registered at Brentford 510, 1935

Themis was the first 'Little Woolwich' motor boat to be built by Harland and Wolff for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company, being delivered on the 18th May 1935 with her butty Titania. She worked for the GUCCCo, carrying general cargoes until 1948, when the fleet was nationalised, she therefore passed into the government body, Docks & Inland Waterways Executives, later renamed British Waterways.

In the early fifties, British Waterways decided to convert the ex-trading boat Themis, into a trip boat, due to the continual decline in carrying traffic. As part of the experiment Themis was fitted with a temporary superstructure over the hold and was renamed Water Kelpie. Themis began the trial runs with 90 minute cruises along the Grand Union Canal from Hayes Road Bridge, Southall, which proved a success, allowing British Waterways to expand the business by converting eight more Little Woolwich motorboats over the forthcoming years.

In the early 1970s Themis had a cabin conversion fitted over the hold, made of mahogany frames with tongue and groove pine and plywood outer skin. This work was carried out by Uxbridge Dry Dock.

The original elm bottom was replaced in 1997 with half inch steel plate. Also at this time the electrics, water pipes, gas, prop and shafting were refitted.
Themis is powered by an original 1935 National 2DM engine with a Brunton gearbox. The engine currently in Themis was originally installed in the GUCCC boat Star.