Durham and should be back in action in the next week or so.

Control of the 65-foot boat -- once part of Mr. Llewellyn Peniston's Bermuda Excursions flotilla -- was the last big unknown in a local tour boat fleet changed dramatically by bankruptcies, liquidations, fires and new owners during the winter.

The Bermuda Longtail was taken over by the Bank of Bermuda earlier this year, when Bermuda Excursions was placed in liquidation. The bank put the boat up for sale by tender, and it was bought by Mr. Durham last week.

Mr. Durham said he sold his Bermuda Outboard Centre on Washington Street North to buy the Bermuda Longtail . Work is already underway to get the boat in condition for the season, he said, and it should start operating in the next week or two.

The boat, which will be re-named the New Longtail , has the same crew as last year: Captain Edwin Whitfield, deckhand and tour commentator Mr. Quincy Simmons, bartender and crewman Mr. Edward Tucker, and Mrs. Rose Strong in charge of bookings.

Mr. Durham said some of the main attractions of the boat are its large capacity -- it can hold 200 people -- and its wide decks, making it a good "party'' boat. It is also good for snorkling, he said, and has a glass bottom.

A smaller tour catamaran, the Aristocat arrived in Bermuda this weekend from Missouri, via Florida.

The boat is owned by Mr. Tony Crockwell, who last year operated the tour boat Big Dipper under lease from owner Mr. Bruce King. The Big Dipper was subsequently destroyed by fire while tied up in Hamilton.

Mr. Crockwell's new boat can carry about 50 passengers and will be used for sightseeing, snorkling and general charter work.

NEW BOAT -- The Aristocat arrives on the Hamilton docks, ready for owner Mr.

Tony Crockwell to take possession.

NEW OWNER -- Mr. David Durham aboard the Bermuda Longtail, soon to be renamed the New Longtail.