Welcome to Tiller & Wheel -

Welcome to Tiller & Wheel

Creating a sustainable future for the East Coast’s historic ships.

To step aboard a sailing barge or fishing smack is to step back in time, to the peak of the age of sail – the purest form of travel, where wind and tide effortlessly shift over 100tons of ship.

Join us aboard at one of the former working barge wharves on the banks of the River Medway, Kent and experience the magic of our coastline – from serene salt marsh to historic dockyards – sailing on a vessel perfectly designed to navigate it.

Our mission is to ensure that these craft power strongly into the 21st century rather than fading away into the Estuary mud. You can read more about our aims and achievements so far or:

Join us for one of our FREE introductory sailing experiences

Become a PATRON to support the ships and enjoy exclusive events, trips and perks.

Create your own exclusive experience by booking a private cruise.

Sign up to our mailing list to be kept informed of the latest news, or become a Patron from as little as £3+VAT a month to help us preserve the surviving fleet of East Coast heritage craft.

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Please contact us if you would like to know more information.

Sailing Experiences

What better way to explore the South East Coastline, than by craft developed over centuries to be perfectly adapted to these waters?

We offer trips from several locations across the Kent coast, only 40 minutes from central London.

Whether you’re a newcomer or experienced sailor, young or old – we aim to create amazing days out on the water for everyone. The Skipper and crew will ensure that the maximum time possible is spent under sail, and you can be as involved as you like when it comes to setting sails and steering the ship.

We offer a variety of experiences, to enjoy sailing with us, you can;

Unique events space

The characterful hold of a wooden sail boat provides a unique warmth and a great atmosphere, perfect for celebration events, private dining, meetings, or music nights.

Our sailing barge, Edith May, can hold up to 60 people for a static event, or up to 30 for a sit down meal. We are available to hire and welcome enquiries for this beautiful historic vessel.

Heritage & Education

As the custodians of three historic vessels – the Sailing Barges Edith May and Ardwina and the Whitstable Oyster Smack Thistle F86 – we are passionate about developing an arts & educational programme to support the unique history and opportunities these boats offer.

Please subscribe to our Youtube channel or join us aboard for one of our ‘Learning the Ropes’ sessions to understand a little more about sailing and maintaining these vessels.

We are keen to form new partnerships as part of this development. If you have a proposal for us or would like to know more, please contact us.

About us

We aspire to create a sustainable business model to ensure the ongoing preservation and heritage of East Coast smacks and barges.

Tiller & Wheel CIC was formed in 2019 by husband and wife team, Ed Gransden and Heather Burgess. Learn more…

In 2020, we decided to try something completely new to the barge world and begin a crowdfunding approach to achieve our goals to restore and preserve as many of the East Coast sailing boats as possible. With options from as little as £4 a month, please take a look at our Patreon page to see how you can support us and what exclusive benefits we offer to our Patrons.