Restoration
CalMac withdrew Waverley after the 1973 season as she was too costly to operate and needed significant expenditure.[9] By then, the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society had been set up as a registered UK charity and had bought the near-derelict small River Dart paddler PS Kingswear Castle.[9] CalMac, keen to ensure that the ship was preserved, sold Waverley to the PSPS for the token sum of one pound.[9] Neither side really believed that the vessel would return to steam but, just in case, Caledonian MacBrayne stipulated that she should not sail in competition with their remaining cruise vessel, TS Queen Mary.[9]
A public appeal was launched to secure funding for the return of the Waverley to service and the fund-raising operation was successful.[9] The PSPS found itself running a cruise ship operation, "Waverley Excursions".[9] Since then, Waverley has been joined in the PSPS fleet by PS Kingswear Castle and MV Balmoral (1949) and has had a series of extensive refits and much restoration work, including a new boiler and improvements to meet modern safety standards.[9] She has circumnavigated Great Britain and every year makes extensive sailings around the country.
Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet,[4] between 2000 and 2003 the ship underwent a substantial rebuild and reboilering at the shipyard of George Prior at Great Yarmouth, funded principally by the Heritage Lottery Fund.[8] The work, done in two stages, has added many 21st century safety and technological improvements and returned the ship to her original 1947 livery.[8]
In 2009, the ship was affiliated with HMS Defender (D36), having hosted the official dignitary party at Defenders launch on the River Clyde.[10] And in 2011 the ship was awarded the Institution of Mechanical Engineers 65th Engineering Heritage Award.[11]
In 2019, Waverley was withdrawn from service due to boiler problems.[12] An appeal was subsequently launched with a target of £2.3 million to recommission Waverley. It was announced on 11 July 2019 that new boilers had been ordered from Cochran Ltd.[13]
Following the boiler replacement, Waverley returned to sea on 13 August 2020 for sea-trials, and resumed service for a short COVID-19-affected season starting on 22 August.[14] This was cut short after she struck the pier at Brodick on 3 September, damaging her bow.[15]
The following year Waverley started operating from 29 June but with limited passenger capacity due to COVID-19.[16] The sailing season was described as a success, with a total of 52,000 passenger journeys, but shorter than normal as it only lasted until 19 September.[17] A highlight for passengers and crew were the dolphins that could frequently be spotted as they accompanied Waverley on her sails up and down the Clyde.[18]
