Be a Steam Yacht Gondola engineer for a day – gift experience

Crew members in the Engine Room on Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston Water, Lake District — Crew members inside the Gondola's Engine Room | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Roll up your sleeves and join the crew for a hands-on, one-to-one full day experience on the Steam Yacht Gondola. You’ll spend time up on the helm as well as in the engine room of this magnificent rebuilt Victorian boat. Whether it’s a treat for yourself or a present for someone special, ‘Engineer for the Day’ is an experience to treasure.

What’s included?

We’ll welcome you on board with a Steam Yacht Gondola–branded set of overalls and introduce you to the fascinating world of traditional steam power.

From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, you can choose how involved you’d like to be. Whether you want to get hands‑on or simply soak up the atmosphere, our friendly and knowledgeable crew will share what it takes to run this much‑loved historic vessel.

Exclusively yours

This is a one‑of‑a‑kind experience, designed especially for one person.

We run just one engineer experience per day, so the focus is entirely on you. There’s no need to share the day with anyone else.

Lunch is provided by The Bluebird Café, and we’ll also treat you to a tea or coffee made using the steam‑powered Windermere Kettle. At lunchtime, you can do as the crew do – relax on the open decks or in the indoor saloons and enjoy the boating conversation.

Your gift also includes a complimentary ticket for a guest to join you one of the scheduled cruises that day.

What our visitors say;

'I had a thoroughly enjoyable day – Julian, Paul and the rest of the crew made me feel most welcome from the moment I arrived until the end of the day with their friendly, relaxed approach. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and professionalism is a credit to the NT.'

- James

Crew of Steam Yacht Gondola attending the firebox — Attending the firebox on Steam Yacht Gondola | © Jamie Harper

Highlights of the day

During your trip you will:

Have one-to-one experiences with the crew members.
Learn to light the boiler and raise steam.
Feed the firebox with environmentally friendly fuel logs, take on water and tend the engine.
Learn how to tie up the boat at the jetty and set up the passenger gangway.
Try your hand at helming in the stunning surroundings of Coniston Water.
Discover the history of the boat and learn how she was resurrected from the depths of Coniston Water.
Invite a friend to join you on board for one of the day's sailings – a chance to get those all-important photographs of the engineer in action.

You’ll leave as an ‘honorary member’ of the crew with your Steam Yacht Gondola overalls as a memento of your fabulous day with us.