Welcome to the Classic Boat Museum on the Quay at Newport, Isle of Wight.

The Museum opened in 1996, and currently houses an exciting collection of sailing and power boats, of both local and national interest and importance. We are a Charity and a Registered Museum, and we are run entirely by volunteers, all of whom are delighted to welcome you to this, our website.

Our aim is to preserve and present the best of those boats that demonstrate the workmanship of past generations for the delight of the present.

As well as the exhibitions in the Museum, we have a restoration shed where work takes place all year round, restoring to their original condition boats that are part of our maritime heritage

Our collection contains not only classic boats, but also tools, artefacts, books, photographs, film and archival items that relate to much of the history of boat building, sailing, yachting, cruising and racing over the last century, in the Solent and beyond. Our boats also include the 1887 Bembridge rowing lifeboat, the Queen Victoria, and an airborne lifeboat that was dropped to aircrew who had been shot down during the last war. We have several Uffa Fox designs, including Coweslip. All the boats in the exhibition are in a seaworthy condition and are sailed or driven as often as possible. Some are available for special occasions. Enjoy your visit to the website, then come and see the real thing.