on Friday as an important part of Bermuda's seafaring history.

For the unregistered boat -- now likely to fall victim to a Government crackdown on wrecked craft at Burcher's Wharf Point in St. David's -- is a 90-year-old steam pinnace once operated by the Royal Navy at the Dockyard.

The Mangrove Bay man -- who asked not to be named -- said: "I agree there are a lot of boats which are just an eyesore and should be dealt with.

"But it would be wrong to unwittingly destroy a valuable piece of Bermuda's maritime history.'' Works Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons has threatened to dispose of abandoned craft at Burcher's Wharf Point if they are not removed by November 6.

But the Mangrove Bay man said the pinnace was used at the Dockyard as a tender by the Royal Navy and saw service as a liberty boat in both World Wars.

He added the last known owner was a St. David's man, now dead, and that the boat had been partially restored in the last few years.

He said: "It may look a bit of a mess, but it is built of Burma teak and copper-bottomed. It's a very solid craft and it would be a shame to break it up or sink it. I'm sure it would be quite seaworthy with a bit of work.

"If the Maritime Museum ever express an interest in local craft in the future, this would be an ideal project.

"I think it ranks with the Vixen , which is actually a major tourist attraction.

"The Government should think twice before destroying it and somebody should definitely think about taking it on.''