Enstone at Shoreham
Printed From: BMPT Forum
Category: General Discussion
Forum Name: Where Are Those Boats Now
Forum Description: Tell everybody where those old boats are
URL: http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=273
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 9:06pm
Topic: Enstone at Shoreham
Posted By: marksaab
Subject: Enstone at Shoreham
Date Posted: 05 February 2007 at 6:50pm
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Hello My first new topic and I just did one of the most frustrating things possible....got to the end of the post, clicked spelling check and.....it disappeared..Arrrrrhhh Been lurking for a while, thoroughly enjoying previous posts and appreciating the vast amount of knowledge and enthusiasm of the contributors. I have been an "MTB" fan (is there a common shorthand for wartime small patrol craft?) for many years starting with holidays with the parents which took me to Bembridge, Shoreham and Woodbridge, I have quite a few pics which I will scan soon to add to my Photobucket site. Last Saturday I went to Shoreham, not been there for over 30 years, obviously most of the boats were familiar from recent pics posted, one of interest was "Enstone", firstly I should say its definitely a very ambitious project...new lower hull in situ etc!! Lots of respect to the project team. Just wondered if the project was still on going? Also have you thought about chopping up the pile of old hull pieces and selling small parts on Ebay?..."Authentic MTB Remains" just a thought and would probably only appeal to sad's like me but you really can sell anything on that site (water damaged BMW's etc!)and I'm sure the cash would be handy. A bit more seriously, the sections were interesting in showing the construction techniques, I have a few pics below, certainly looked very well made.
The one above looks like the mounting base for the Shaft Bracket
Above prob not from Enstone but worth salvaging (which I guess it already has been!) Finally I maybe about to buy a wartime vintage wooden boat which will need new/used wood of this type, does anyone know if this old wood really is scrap or even have similar stock/parts themselves? Sorry for the boring first post, more to come I hope! Mark
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So here we go again.
Replies:
Posted By: northeastuser
Date Posted: 05 February 2007 at 7:30pm
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Just to stick my nose in about houseboats. Consider this. These boats were only used for a few years before being sold off and converted to houseboats. Often that was done right after decommissioning. So that’s 5 years tops as a wartime MTB verse nearly 60 years as a houseboat. So don’t these boats have more history and right to be Houseboats? An ex wartime costal craft now being used as a house boat isn’t the last sad end for a beautiful boat. It’s a natural continuation of living history. The owners of such vessels have a place in history just as the crew who originally manned them. In my view such history has a right to be preserved. Those who make the decision to live aboard these vessels are doing just that. They are making history for our children. Long live the house boat and all those who live in them! |
Posted By: marksaab
Date Posted: 05 February 2007 at 8:16pm
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Hi Northeastuser! Definitely agree with you and other posts that the only reason most of the boats still exist is because they became houseboats, i cant see that there was much else they could have been used for (except MOD use and a few private yachts). I suppose you could compare it to greenhouses made from Wellington bomber or Horsa glider fuselages, the only reason these parts survived is because they were being "used" and now they are the only parts left! Yes, long live the house boat...my brother has been living on one for a year now and he is still happy/sane! Mark
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Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 05 February 2007 at 8:52pm
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Looking at some of the houseboats at Shoreham and elsewhere, I can see why many people believe it's a sad end of what was a beautiful boat. Still though, they wouldn't be here at all if they hadn't been used as houseboats and owners who look after them should indeed be praised for their efforts. Understandably, nearly all have had to be converted and many have what appears to be a prefab structure/shed sitting on top of the decks. I think the (honourable) history of the boat is understandably less important than the function of providing a home. It's not noble or honourable just plain practical. However a lot are being left rot and decay and simply used as cheap affordable housing ( pick pretty much any boat on http://www.bmpt.org.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=172&KW= robrina&PN=0&TPN=2). There's no history being preserved here. Just simple commerce. Look at Medusa, MTB102 and many others if you want to see history being preserved. Good luck to people and their houseboats but let's call a spade a spade. ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: northeastuser
Date Posted: 05 February 2007 at 11:20pm
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I think this is one of them agree to disagree moments P.S. I was speaking to a very nice gentleman tonight and he told me he was offered a 40ft seaplane tender for £100 yesterday. He was in a boatyard somewhere in Scotland doing a survey. However me being bit dim at times I forgot to get the details. Darn I wonder if it had engines in it! I think maybe id better ring him back tomorrow! |
. Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 05 February 2007 at 11:38pm
| You should ask him if it's in Balloch. You never know - lol. If it is, she had a lot of interest on the forum here with loads of photos. If she is, she's not a Seaplane tender but apparently a Derby class (by consensus). |
Posted By: jimmy p
Date Posted: 06 February 2007 at 12:06am
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Hi mark, Best thing to do regards timber is turn up in a van & ask. If they say take it happy days. I've been offered an mfv to dismantle if i 'get it out of the yard' so there is cheap or free timber if you look. Don, where was the ST you told me about sunday? ------------- A boat is a hole in the water surrounded by wood, into which one throws money |
Posted By: northeastuser
Date Posted: 06 February 2007 at 12:13am
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Yea that’s what I thought once I got off the phone. The Ballock boat. Having said that this gent would probably know what he was looking at ( Id say who it was but I don’t want to get accused of name dropping! Plus I guess I have to respect his privacy.). But I guess there’s always the chance that he’s missed the subtle variations! I will find out more tomorrow night. |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 06 February 2007 at 6:49pm
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Hi Jimmy, http://www.bmpt.org.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=172&TPN=3 - www.bmpt.org.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=172&TPN=3 near bottom of the page. Spec sheet is at: Cheers ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: marksaab
Date Posted: 06 February 2007 at 9:13pm
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Hi Despite Don's best advice I'm treating it as an exercise in boat buying, i.e. to prob wont buy it but good viewing experience!! You never know it may be worth getting, its been bought and sold "a few times" and has been on the hard standing for over 6 years, but you never know I may be talking to you Jimmy for wood supplies! Don thanks again for your chat last night, I think i managed to "soak up" most your distilled knowledge!! Regards Mark |