Peter Duck (ketch) was commissioned by the Ransomes in 1945 to replace Selina King, and completed in April 1947. Arthur wanted a sort of marine bath-chair, a minimum of work to sail and yet provide the maximum comfort for two. She was designed by Jack Gyles of Lymington, and built by Harry King of Pin Mill. Genia could not find a good thing to say about her, and after sailing in her once with Colonel Busk Arthur decided to finish with the sea and sell her for £1,200; then in just over a month he bought her back, so losing over £300!
She was a ketch 28 feet 3inches long with a draught of 3 feet 6 inches and a beam of 9 feet. She had a Stuart Turner engine. She had two bunks as specified, but Arthur was horrified there was only 2 feet 6 inches headroom at the aft end instead of 3 feet (though the plans he had been given showed 3 feet headroom only at the forward end). She leaked under rain, and there were difficulties with the sails and the Pin Mill mooring.
They were dissatisified with her (though the class became famous with over 40 copies being made), and sold her about 1950 to Philip Hayleman for £1,692. She is now owned by Greg and Ann Palmer (Wardale pages 186-210 & 253-4). She was replaced by the first Lottie Blossom.
Swallow II a 10 foot clinker dinghy was towed behind Selina King and Peter Duck as a tender to avoid having to haul a dinghy on deck.