The original Dally was a "Boom Boat", built to manage the anti-submarine booms that proteced the Thames and ther Essex estuaries. She was strongly built in diagonal planking, doubled below the waterline.

She was owned for a time by Mick Dallimore (hence the name). Mick was a RSA member and marine engineer, but iss adly no longer with us.

Dally passed through other owners and was abandoned. Found adrift in Paglesham Reach, she was adopted by the RSA, restored and with a donated engine was used as a work/rescue boat for some years.

Upkeep and maintenance issues caused the RSA to sell the original Dally, and invest in a lighter GRP work boat, more suited to the role of race safety boat. The new boat was also named "Dally".