Boats
Boats owned by either the Glasgow Humane Society or the Parsonage family but all used for the work of the Society.
Officer Robert Nathaniel Jones
Called after the first Officer of the Society who worked from his shoemaker shop in the Saltmarket.
10ft fibreglass Orkney Dory anonymously donated to the Society.
This boat operates either as a rowing boat or as a motor boat with up to 15hp.
Used mainly for coverage at events and for lifeguard training.
George
Rowing /outboard (max 5hp)
Called jointly after GHS Officer Mr George Geddes Parsonage (1979) and Mr George Geddes 1st --Officer 1859-1887 and Mr George Geddes 2nd Officer 1887-1932
The “Bennie” lifeboat was conveyed to Brown’s boatbuilder in Durham and a copy was made by Eric Wightly. The boat while on the original clinker design is made from marine ply. Every plank is glued as well as riveted.
The boat was built in 1994.
There were previous boats of the same name.
Christopher
Rowing/outboard (max 5hp)
Called after George and Stephanie’s second son.
The “Bennie” lifeboat was conveyed to Brown’s boat builder in Durham and a copy was made. The boat while on the original clinker design is made from marine ply. Every plank is glued as well as riveted. It has slightly thinner planking than the George.
The boat was built in 2006.
Special rowlocks designed by George Parsonage and made by Jonathan Thomas at the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies were added to the original design
Officer John Wiseman
Called after the second officer of the Society who joined in 1796.
It is a 4 metre Dell Quay Dory powered by a 60hp Mariner outboard.
It is mainly kept in the water and was/is used for rescue and search and other work as required or requested upstream of the weir and downstream (Tide permitting).
There are two dory’s. One is kept in the water and one on a trailer ready to be taken to Renfrew or other suitable launching place when required. The boat in the water and the boat on the trailer are changed on a regular basis.
A 
dory type boat is used on fast flowing rivers as it can be rowed in an emergency. It is also the largest Dory with a low enough gunwale to lift a person over the side. Any larger boat or more powerful engine, would probably throw up too much wash and make the river unsafe for rowers, the wash could damage the banking and affect the water life.
The launch was purchased in 2002
Sarah and Benjamin Parsonage
Called after Mr & Mrs B Parsonage BEM.
Dell Quay Dory built in 2000. A 4-metre dory powered by a 60hp Mariner engine.
There were previously two Dory’s, one called Benjamin Parsonage BEM and the other Sarah Parsonage when renewed the two names were put together for one boat.
A dory type boat is used on fast flowing rivers as it can be rowed in an emergency. It is also the largest Dory with a low enough gunwale to lift a person over the side. Any larger boat or more powerful engine, would probably throw up too much wash and make the river unsafe for rowers, the wash could damage the banking and affect the water life.
Lady Sarah
Rowing/outboard (max 5hp)
Called after Mrs B Parsonage (Sarah) wife of Mr Benjamin Parsonage
Built in 1960 this is a Tepco fibreglass boat. It is suitable for Canals Quarries parts of the Clyde where one has to come down Hursts (rapids) and rivers like the Cart and Kelvin.
This boat has had to be rebuilt by Ben then Geor
ge Parsonage on many occasions such is the rough usage that the lifeboats receive.
This boat has been customised and rebuilt several times to include things like a steel keel band and stronger gunwales
Officer Robert Duncan
Called after the 3rd Officer of the Society.
Purchased in 1962 this is a 14ft Mouldcraft boat. It can be rowed single or double scull or used with an outboard motor. It was the most suitable boat for rescue purposes available for purchase.
Fibreglass boats are stronger than wooden boats when it comes to being manhandled by a squad of heavies across rough terrain. They do not row or handle as good as the wooden boats. Some of the 
places where lifeboats are launched in the greater Glasgow area are so bad that the boats are handled in such a manner that wooden boats would be damaged and only have a very short life span. On the whole fibreglass boats are lighter and therefore easier to lift. This boat has had to be customised and rebuilt by Ben then George Parsonage on many occasions such is the rough usage that the lifeboats receive.
Elizabeth
14ft rowing/outboard (max 5hp) built by George Parsonage.
Called after Mrs Elizabeth Thomson nee Parsonage daughter of Sarah and Benjamin Parsonage and sister of George Parsonage.
This is a fibreglass copy of the boat “Bennie”. A mould was taken off the “Bennie” with a view to always being able to build boats ourselves to the same design. Unfortunately the mould was thrown into the river by 
vandals and lost.
Extra buoyancy was placed under the stern seat and the bow platform, as fibreglass does not have the same floatation as wood.
There were previous boats of the same name.
Mr James Buchanan
13ft fibreglass rowing/outboard (max5hp) designed and built by Loch Lomond Boats. Purchased 2002.
Speed wise this boat is slightly slower than the Bennie –much slower if double sculled with no one sitting at the back, but still allows a person to be lifted over the gunwale.
Called after a rowing friend of B Parsonage who left money to the Glasgow Humane Society in his will.
Mr Buchanan assisted B Parsonage in his early years (in his spare time). Mr Buchanan was Scottish Sculling Champion.
This is the most suitable boat for the GHS work that can at present be purchased “off the shelf”.
Mr James Buchanan was a member of the Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club in Glasgow.
He came to Glasgow from Stirling Amateur Boating and Swimming Club where he had learned to row and scull. At Clydesdale he went on to become Scottish Champion in single sculls.
He became a good friend of Benjamin Parsonage the then Officer of The Glasgow Humane Society and was often to be seen assisting at the Society wharfage.
Mr Buchanan kept in touch with the Parsonage family and delighted in following the sculling career of George Parsonage.
When Mr Buchanan died, he left sums of money to Stirling A S B C, Clydesdale A R C, and the Glasgow Humane Society.
Glasgow Humane Society is proud to have used this money to purchase a new rowing/outboard rescue boat, and to call the boat the Mr James Buchanan.
Miss Isabel Ferguson Harvey
13ft-fibreglass rowing/outboard (max5hp) taken from the same moulds as the James Buchanan. Purchased 2002 from Loch Lomond Boats.
Speed wise this boat is slightly slower than the Bennie –much slower if double sculled with no one sitting at the back, but still 
allows a person to be lifted over the gunwale.
Mrs Harvey left money in her will for the purchase of a lifeboat.
Para Handy
12ft rowing outboard (max 5hp)
Gifted by Mr Mohamed Anwar to George 
Parsonage (Mr Anwar had already named the boat). This boat has been customised and rebuilt several times to include things like a steel keel band and stronger gunwales.
Used similar to the “Lady Sarah”.
Bob Barnes
11ft fibreglass Dell Quay Dory powered by 25hp Yamaha outboard gifted to the Society in 2007 by Mr Bob Barnes of Bishopbriggs.
Used mainly for coverage at events and for lifeguard training.
Vital Spark
Racing sculling boat built by Ray Simms Nottingham owned and used by Stephanie Jane Dancer for training and racing when she was part of the Great Britain squad.
Now used mainly for fast patrol work on the upper reaches of the River Clyde
SEA
Racing sculling boat built by Edwin Phelps of Putney in 1967 owned and raced by George Parsonage in his many victories throughout Europe including the record (still stands 2007) for the Clyde HOR and the World singles record for Loch Ness.
Now used mainly for fast patrol work on the upper reaches of the River Clyde
Visi D’arte
Racing double sculling boat built by Janousek owned and raced by George Parsonage with many partners.
Most famous race was with Peter Haining in setting the World record time for fastest overall rowing boat Loch Ness.
Now used mainly for fast patrol work on the upper reaches of the River Clyde
Canadian Canoes
Used for work on narrow fast flowing rivers and burns where quick searches can be made-used mainly for spotting as they are not good for working from
They are also used for training purposes and for event coverage.
All Canadian canoes have been donated.
Single Kayaks
Used as above and again have all been donated from various sources
Mostly rebuilt by George and his Lifeguard Corp
Stephanie
Called after Dr Stephanie Dancer wife of George Parsonage
This boat has just been completed Jan 2008 and is a fibreglass and wood copy of the Bennie—the boat has been built by George Parsonage
A new mould was made (after the one from which the Elizabeth was taken (see above) was vandalised) and this boat is the first lift. The boat is also quite 
unique in that everything is bolted together. The boat is exceptionally strong.
Ann
Called after Ann Morrison Geddes Parsonage the brother of George and daughter of Ben and Sarah.
This boat (a sister ship to the Stephanie) is nearing completion Feb 2008 and is a fibreglass and wood copy of the Bennie—the boat has been built by George Parsonage.
A new mould was made (after the one from which the Elizabeth was taken (see above) was vandalised) and this boat is the first lift. The boat is also quite unique in that everything is bolted together. The boat is exceptionally strong.
There were previous boats of the same name.
Ray Simms
Sculling boat. Used by George Parsonage for pleasure rowing and fast patrol.
Officers Geddes
This boat carries the name of 4 Glasgow Humane Society Officers and 1 Assistant Officer.
James Geddes, John Geddes, George Geddes 1, George Geddes 2, were all Officers with George Geddes 3 being Assistant Officer.
The boat is clinker built and was originally a ship jollyboat (date unknown)
During the winter of 2007-2008 this boat was painstakingly rebuilt by George Parsonage (who’s middle name is Geddes)
A bow set of rowlocks was added allowing the boat to be used as a triple scull.
The boat is the only one in the Society fleet that can be triple sculled and is also the only rowing boat with a rudder.
Past Boats
Bennie - now in the Riverside Museum
Rowing/outboard (max 5hp) designed and built by B Parsonage approx 14ft
Called after Mr Benjamin Parsonage BEM Officer Glasgow Humane Society 1928-1979.
This is the fastest rowing boat that allows the lifting of a 20stone person over the gunwale of the boat without capsizes. The boat can be rowed double scull without anyone sitting in the stern and will still not dive in the bow. The boat can be rowed backwards as fast as forward (except into a headwind due to the square stern). The height of the rowlocks and the distance and height of the seats to the rowlocks are carefully thought out as is the height of the seat from the footboard and the distance of the seat from the footboard. The boat has a box gunwale for strength and ease of cleaning (the box gunwale is not capped).
The keel, bow and stern as well as the gunwale edge have steel runners. The bow stern and seats have steel strengtheners. The boat was designed and built by B Parsonage in 1954. It was drawn out in chalk on the floor of the shed. The planks are of Larch with a Mahogany gunwale plank. The ribs or timbers are of small leaf Elm and are held by copper nails and rooves riveted. B Parsonage built several boats to this design all of, which (with this exception) have been lost during floods. One of these types was built during the Second World War and permission to do so had to be given by the Admiralty. Papers referring to this are in the GHS records.
Kenny - now in private ownership
Tub pair racing training boat converted into fixed seat. Wooden approximately 18ft long for double or single sculling and can take a coxswain.
Called after our longest serving Lifeguard Mr Kenneth Bryce.
Mainly used for fast leisure patrol and training.
Razor
21ft sculling boat (10 inches wide) built by George Simms Putney and used by Benjamin Parsonage for recreation on the River Clyde it is the only boat of this type in the world.
It is a cross between the old professional 32ft x 9” boats and the 18ft x 24” boats used by professional rowers in the 1800’s.
The boat is v sectioned and extremely difficult to sit.
The boat is owned by George Parsonage and is wanted by several museums.
The Razor seldom goes on the water now and is really just a museum piece.