OK guys things have progressed.

Happy to say that subject to the paperwork being completed The Old War Boat Company Ltd, which was formed only today following the meeting refered to elsewhere on this forum, has aquired 506 for preservation.

There is obviously a lot of work to do to get her back to the UK and restored. One of the group or more will be going to Malta shortly to sort out stablisation of the boat and what is required in the short term.

Obviously what we need immediatly is gearboxes and money not particularly in that order. Please send all donations to The Old War Boat Company Ltd c/o D C M Money Solutions 3 Hope Drive The Park Nottingham. NG7 1DL

Further posts when there is anything to report. Please don't take this post as anything more than brief information just so you know the boat won't be lost.

Hi Sentley

Best of British to you all! Let us all know which reduction boxes are required as soon as you know (perhaps C Morgan can provide this info) so that the rest of us can keep our eyes peeled. I think Ambra is an excellent choice, Dad and I are relieved she will be saved.

On a different note, the MASB is sold and will also return to the UK sometime this year. I am unable to disclose the buyer's name at this stage.

Should have quite a fleet there soon!

Rgds,

Hi Sentley and Christian,

Just read the above, well done on both fronts, my "offer" of support remains to the new company if wanted, would love to see the MASB in the flesh so to speak, understand the buyer dose not want to be published, but would love to see her over here. Well, there it is, best of luck to all, looking forward to developements in the coming year.

John 

 The gearboxes were borg warner if anyone has three going spare. Sorry dont know ratio. Should be set up for efficient cruising as its a long way & a lot of diesel. anyone know best ratio for this?

 If a joint scrounge for these, tools needed to fix her up, navigation & safety equipment could be palleted up & sent out great stuff. should b fun loading gearboxes from a rib onto Ambra in mid stream

 Will need some work on hull but told it was Raia that needed total refastening. Dont take that as gospel until she's been inspected.

  Congrats to 32's new owner. Guessing they'll be overrun with offers to crew her for the trip home. Bet you'll miss her Christian? Due credit to you & Hector for keeping her in fine shape.

Wonderful News,

I was seriously concerned that we would lose yet another of the dwindling number of survivors. I won't be understating it when I say that I was heart broken to hear about Raia.

The best of British to you, keep everbody posted and I for one will help where I can (however limited that may be).

On another note it is brilliant news to her of 32's impending repatriation, well done to Christian and Hector.

Hi All

Thanks for the kind words, Hector dedicated very much of his time to 32 and appreciates the sentiment. The boat will be missed a great deal by us all, she is a real survivor that one. 

Regarding the boxes for Ambra, the reduction (be they BW or PRM or whatever) will depend largely on what props she currently has (i.e. pitch and diameter, assume 3-bladed & handed). We can pretty much guess the other information needed to calculate the reduction (knowing the model of the engines would be handy, or at least max rpm). We have a neat little computer which will give us the desired reduction for optimum overall performance, i.e. allowing the engines to just achieve their max rpm at light load conditions (anything else will overload them). 

Rgds, 

Good Evening.

Thanks to you all for your knd wishes and offers of help. Please don't wait to be asked, to much help is better than not enough. Right now the priority is to build up a cash fund to get her fit to bring back to the UK. We take cash cheques IOUs and credit/debit cards.

Seriously though real thanks for the good wishes and I repeat them to Christian and his Dad and the lucky buyers of 32. Christian we will take you up on the use of your computer program in due course.

Just think guys if we could get 102 32 and 506 on the same piece of water at the same time, I think I would cry!!!

Regards

CONGRATULATIONS   to the Old warboat company.

If you could confirm that the gearboxes are borg warner and let me know the reductions(if any) then I will have a look, I could lend a couple until the summer or donate depending on what I have got, I doubt I will have three of any but should have at least one of one sort (if that makes sense) How many engines will you need for the trip (1,2 or 3) I assume that you have backplates?

  Regarding the news of 32, this is especially good for me as Hector has agreed that I should be her next custodian.she will be returning to uk in the summer and will reside in Norfolk for the foreseeable future, as with d-zine I will be keen to let people know what will be going on but I doubt that there will be much news until autumn time.

 This is also a good time to express my  sincere thanks to Christian and especially Hector for their hospitallity, congratulate Christian on such a superb home built model collection, and Hector for showing me his impressive collection of photos/literature on coastal craft.(and cars!)

The Plan is to have her skippered home, I will not do this myself as she will be returning by sea (not canal) and I have not got a clue how to navigate!(yet) I have a couple of contacts which I will pass on to the old warboat co if they do not DIY!

Excellent news for us all,

  Rergards,  Clive..

 Engines are 2x 180hp ford 6cyl & 1 perkins 6534 if it helps work out boxes. Assuming theres backplates as regularly started & starter gotta go somewhere.

 Somebody buy the other Gibraltar boats & we can bring home a flottilla . What a sight that'd be.

 Congrats Clive! What a beauty. Still trying to sort myself to look at 56

Hi All,

Well, what a lot going on! congrats to Clive on 32, Norfolk eh, "joining" 102 good company. Re 506, chatting with a friend who dose know about these things, he said he would be concerned that having the gear boxes out could strain the hull,  ie such lumps not being there. Not much choice as done by the owners, but this would need as with all else checking out. Early days and first things first, but is the Old War Boat Co thinking of other projects perhaps,  another force for trying to save more of our coastal craft before its all to late. As ever, all the best,

Regards

John    

Good morning Sentley,

Well done with regard to 506.

I would be cautiuous bringing her back by sea, a long way for an old lady, but all the best anyway. Visited her 2 years ago, ..

Could you give a brief synopsis of the situation and your needs, and I will put in the BMPT News section, with direct link to the 506 site.

Will the company have a web site...?

If so give me the link, it may get some more interested partries looking at you..

Kind regards

Richard Hellyer

BMPT 023 8089 0900.

Evening All,

Please forgive me if I don't reply straight away to individule posts of help etc. Hope you understand that having stood back so as not to pre empt our friends from Canada we have had to move very quickly on some real basics and still have not sorted everything but :-

1. I am logging all offers of help etc and will get in touch with everyone in due course.

2. In general terms a number of us will be going to Malta over the next few weeks and months to look at the boat and work on her

3. As soon as there is anything to report of general interest it will be posted, hopefully with photo

4. We really do appreciate your good wishes which have done much to prove that in an insane world we are amongst the few sane people on this planet!!

My friend Eric in Malta has come up with the following useful contacts for you;

Regards,

Christian.

Just putting a pic up for the benefit of anyone who's followed threads i've put on a couple of other forums. This is her working for southern television.

 Amazing what you find, just read an article about 3 abandoned type xxi uboats. Project anyone?

 Cheers for imfo Christian.

Hi Clive and Christian.

Clive, have you any idea of the weight of the boxes please. We would like to take up your offer. Some of the guys are going out there shortly to make an assesment etc and we will contact you againg when we have more information. Very many thanks.

Christian, Thanks for the info which will undoubtly be very usefull. i will get the guyds to make contact once they are there.

jimmy,

Re U boats. Why would anyone want to restore them just for us to blow them up (again)

Help needed with Pennant Numbers....

I've searched all my books and can find very little reference top these BPB MTB '500' class.  MGB's assigbed these numbers were Dog boats (blocade runners mainly) and the Osprey book "British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939-45" says that  MTB's  Pennant No's 501 to 508 were assigned to Camper and Nicholson craft of 1941.

A Lt. Edge RNVR  won a DSC for an action with E-boats 24.10.43 (in company with a craft commanded by Lt Lightoller RNVR) .   It's likely this was won on MTB506 as he was her C.O. during at the time.

L.C. Reynold's excellent book "Home Waters MTB's and MGB's'  doesn't mention the action above, Lt Edge or any BPB 500 craft.

Could these craft have been reassigned the 500 series pennant numbers later in their careers?

Hi Sentley,

I have just weighed the 'boxes,

with reduction boxes 60kg

without reduction 42kg.

 remember to add packing to weight, also the weight with reduction 'box may be a couple of kgs either way as my scales were on their second time round the dial!

Clive ,

Thanks. Will get back to you in early course.

Wow things have moved on quickly!

Although I'm only a newbie myself I am certainly up for working on 506 in Malta, if you can post some dates when you are flying there it would be helpful. Practical experience limited but very willing, fairly fit and usually free every other weekend!

Looks like return flights to Malta can be had for around £100!

Just a thought, my brother was on the C4 programme "no going back" a few years ago, RDF media seemed very happy to send film crews all over the Med/Canaries to film the progress of a yacht they were delivering, has anyone thought about talking to the TV people about this project? Something along the lines of "Epic return of the last MTB!" etc, I would be happy to make a couple of calls, no harm in asking I suppose?

Mark

Hi Don

Good stuff! I just e.mailed someone I met at RDF last year asking for "directions" to people to pitch ideas too, hopefully should get some info back.

I will PM Sentley too.

On the project "suppliers" side of things I know a few very practical, switched on but very reasonable metal machining companies, i.e. give them a rusted lump and they will make a new one no drawings etc needed, one them was just filmed for another C4 TV programme.    

Oops looks like Sentleys mailbox is already full!!

Regards

Mark  

Hi Mark,

Have pm ed you to avoid embarresing anyone untill tings are finalised.

Toronto

16 Feb 07

Hi Jimmy,

Where did you read about the three Type XXIs?  Are they ones buried in the old sub bunker in Kiel?

Thanks,

Nicholas (CCFT)

Toronto

16 Feb 06

Hello Don,

That scan is of the model of MTB 467 (now the houseboat Platypus at Hayling Island).  It is made by Dean's Marine and is quite good, but very expensive - the CCFT has bought one to use for display.

Aye,

Nicholas, CCFT

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Number=276357 - http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Number=276357

Toronto

16 Feb 07

Hi Don,

I know that a few of the low 500 numbers were assigned to Dog boats, but then there boats like 505-509, 522 & 598 that were BPC 71.5' MTBs.  My reference books are packed away at the moment, but I'll see if I can dig up my Conway's which has a very good section on Coastal Forces craft.

As far as I know, MTB 467 would be more or less identical to 506.  The scuttles would probably be the only difference between the two boats.

Hope this is of help. 

Cheers,

Nicholas

CCFT

Don

I tried to reach you via PM but your box is full.

501 - -504 were War builds (but just) and up for sale in 1945-1948. 505 - 509 were renovated into the Proud Class (when the differences in the Scuttles- as mentioned by CCFT - could have be made -I have their names and numbers if you so wish) 519,522 596 and 598 completed the Proud class - the whole class went into the Reserve Fleet at Felixtow for several years (early -mid 50's) other 500's were converted to CT's (Control Target) I also have their numbers if you so wish. At least 4 of the Proud's were purchased by Wessex Power Units and converted to Gas Turbine propulsion (506 - Proud Grenadier - Southerner - Ambra as well documented)

Some 500 series MGB's were as you say Camper Nicholson designs, including the 4 Registered Merchentmen on the ball bearing runs - the D Fairmiles that were briefly in that series soon were to be renumbered in the 50xxx series

Hope this helps

Ted

Hello Don

The '500's' were part of an order made in 1943 - up to 508 they were only  completed in 1945 (inc 506) - 509 - part of the same order was completed in 1946. So 506 never saw much (if any) of the War. Lt Edge may have won his DSC in an earlier boat as 506 was not completed until 31st May 1945

Ted

Don

Lt Edge's DSC was won while CO of 'D' boat 609 in 1943. The action - against e-boats - is described in "Dog Boats at War" - That web site that you quoted from is 'incorrect' in a few other areas but, on the whole, a valuable site for research (providing you double check)

Regards

Ted

Toronto

17 February 2007

Hi Don,

I’ve finally dug up my copy of Conway’s, All The World’s Fighting Ship’s, 1922-1946.  According to them, all the BPC MTBs of this class were numbered (as MTBs) 412-418, 430-432, 434-500, 502-509 & 519-522.  The later boats were possibly launched after 1946 and thus are not covered by this volume. 

I was wrong about the low 500s as only MTB 501 was not a member of this class, being a one-off experimental design by Camper & Nicholson.  I had a scan of a Dog boat incorrectly identified as MTB 502.  The mistake may be due to the fact that MGB 502 was one of those strange MGBs that were built for Turkey with diesel engines, some of which were converted for blockade runners with the bridge situated quite far aft, but with a hull of about the same dimensions as a Fairmile D.

Hope this helps.

Aye, 

Nicholas

CCFT  

My List of the refurbished BPB Co boats in question.

British Power Boat Co refits.

“Proud Class”

“Radio Control Target

"Radio Control Target Boats”

* Expendable Targets (Janes 1957)

(this list shows 5 ((not 4)) boats completed as Merchantmen)

MTB 510 Vosper Experimental Craft.

There was an MTB 510. This was an experimental Vosper built ‘long boat’, similar to the Fairmile ‘D’ at 100ft 6ins l.o.a. Beam 19ft 6ins. Draught 5ft 6ins. Powered by 4 Packard Engines on two Shafts only.

 Well done Don! Things quiet workwise or would go there myself. If things pick up then good for a couple of months 'working holiday'

 Nicholas & his group in Canada still looking for a boat so any ideas for them? Thought about dismantling 145 into a shipping container as the cost would be a lot less to them than shipping a whole boat & the savings may be worth the extra hours.

 Its good to know that so many of us are willing to take positive action to save these historic craft when the time for talk is well and truly over for some.

 Its time to "stand up & be counted".

 If we fail to learn from history we are condemmed to make the same mistakes again!

 Re. my uboat post

 There are 3 buried in the Elbe2 bunker & another at i think kiel.

 Restoring one would be a multimillion pound project but worth grabbing as a display piece if it never goes to sea. History is written by the victors & we are obliged to buck the trend of religion & tell both sides of the story! Not a nazi sympathiser but most germans were good people in an impossible situation back then.

If you want a good one Argentina is probably the place to look

 History is a double edged sword, forget one side & you condemm yourself to make the same mistakes again

U-Boat 534 was laid down in 1942 ( type IXC/40) and is notable that she did not suffer or inflict a single casualty on either side during the war. After the order to surrender was given she was seen to be heading out of the area. So was sunk buy a American liberator. All bar two of the crew survived. Due to her attempt at escape she was branded a gold smuggler and raised. After she was raised and found to be empty of gold she was loaned to the Birkenhead warship trust.

The trust is now closed and it is suspected that if a home is not found for the U-534 and the other ships in the trust then they will be scraped.

Hi Guys,

I have found a b/w 1.91:1 l/h gearbox (the hard to find one!) it has a ford backplate and drive plate which is probably worth a couple of hundred quid.

The gearbox is a reasonable £800 and he recons shipping to malta may cost £150.(he used to export gardner diesels there) a  r/h 'box should be less as they are a lot more common and he is getting a cost for the two boxes with combined shipping.

This may be out of the price bracket for now, and I have got a r/h 2:1 'box (I think) but it is a start point for whoever else is looking.

Cheers,  Clive..

Clive,

Thanks for your efforts. Don and Garry are going to Malta this week. If there is no prospect of a box in Malta (which will save shipping) we will have it thanks.

Where is it located please.

The trust is now closed and it is suspected that if a home is not found for the U-534 and the other ships in the trust.

Could not the Imperial War Musem be persuaded to take the boats on , at least in some temporary capacity till proper homes are found for them. I belive there is a Ton call mine countermeasures boat but what else is there. Any smaller boats, MTBs or similar?

Hi Sentley,

 I'll pm you the details when he gets back to me, he is finding the other 'box and costing the shipping. I'll also visit the 'man across the road' who reconditions them.

could the centre box not be coupled to the r/h engine or will the hull take the speed/ power of the 3 engines?

I will also ask the skipper who will be bringing masb home wether he would be interested in a trip from Malta. I don't know what your thoughts are on how to get her home.

Regards,  Clive

Clive,

Thanks.  If 506 and the MA/SB came in convoy that might be something to see! I have pmed you.

Post moved to Birkenhead thread

Hi Sentley

Just a thought ref engines and gearboxes, i came across this site recently. I guess they well known to the group?

http://www.woods-group.co.uk/engines.htm - http://www.woods-group.co.uk/engines.htm

Maybe they would be interested in lending some support? 

Mark

Welcome back lads,

 Take it theres absolutley no planking left from Raia we could liberate? If 506 has soft spots then she'll have to be sorted in Malta by the sound of things.

Any joy with a shipwright out there? We need to work out how much a local yard can fix her for & compare it to Repairing ourselves.

 I'm assuming the gearboxes simply bolt in like any smaller marine or wagon box so that could be done pretty easy although v heavy.

Photos from Malta at:

http://www.rania.co.uk/boat%20photos/506 - www.rania.co.uk/boat%20photos/506

One question,

“A key would easily push through the triple diagonal planking there, certainly for the first 5-6 feet from the chain locker. “

Do you mean all the way through? Or just one layer?

Looks good to me, I think perhaps a, dare I say it 'bogde repair' with ply may be best to get her back, on the power side perhaps a wind generator may be enough, think also about something that will still be of use in the UK, wherever you plan to bring her back to, perhaps wind would be better from that pint of view, Great job though, If I wasn't so short of money I'd get involved!

Welcom back Don and Garry.

Before we start talking about how to get things sorted, what's the best to do with the hull etc do you not think that we need to decide it we are goin to pay the sum of 1 Maltese Lire for what is essentially a good saveable boat.

I really don't know what we are waiting for the time for talking has long past and we nust do it or she is scrapped. Put up or shut up.

Sorry if that sound abrupt but today is the 22nd February. We have 1 week. After that forget it!!!!

1. Has already been offered

2-4 Can only be done out there but we have contacts.

5 The Company I work for will stake us £20,000 max(terms and conditions apply) till we can raise money of our own.

6. The forum is awash with offers to go and help.

Don,

Is the meeting this weekend still at your place? When is it please.

Don,

1.See posts by Clive and by David Earle-Pay. Not yet packaged as only this am found out can't get any in Malta. Have already made enquiries about cost ect of freight and hope to have the answer by Sunday. 2pm OK by the way. I am happy to organise this if thats's whats required

2. I assume you will deal with getting a rate for the temp repairs IF we cant find somewhere to do the job properly in Malta.

3. Has Christian got any contacts in that part of the world, otherwise we may be better off staying in Malta.

4. In the longer term yes but Jimmy is prepared to go and stay there in the short term.

5.I will sort the insurance and you know about the money already. Is anyone else prepared to do the same thing? Quite agree that we shold get all contributions we can from Captain Morgan. Can Joe not help with regard to the local(s) required?

6. I agree. I thought one of the things for Sunday was to decide who does what. As to who ownes the boat once the price is paid, the answer is The Old War Boat Company Limited Registered in England, Company Number 61080907. That way the is no personal liabilty unless the Directors KNOWINGLY act recklessly.

EVERYBODY

WE NEED PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED, CASH, WORK OR ANYTHING. PLEASE PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE SAY WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WHEN YOU CAN DO IT.

We must save this boat.

Justy seen NEU post. That will be 2 out there initially, NEU and Jimmy. Great.

Again I can't be there on 28th. Just starting new venture here, but I will get ther in the end.

Hi All,

Just read the above, you seem to have things either covered or are aware of things to be covered, I will take the plunge and forward something to you, not much sorry but something. If I may say so, I think getting a surveyor to do a report and go the full hog to say what would be needed to make her safe and seaworthy, perhaps thinking as I write, see what the insurance people would want to see before they would insure, if at all, and for how much. On the other hand, read in All at Sea paper from  a staff writer who engaged a surveyour twice and ended up with totally cr..p boats and went with gut instict once and was OK! so what dose that say. But seriously, I think working from the insurance view would be best perhaps. However, for now, getting her off the current owners and secure under the company ownership and then having the time to think and to organise would seem to be the immediate concern. If, and I know this would be a real downer, it dose not work out then at least not to much money has gone in, though of course I understand you have already put in time and money of course. Well, there it is, for what its worth. All the best,

John  

Hello all,

 looks like the generator is a Perkins 4.108 (poss 4.107) also looks like at least 1 drive plate is missing (cant see the other but bell housing is attached so probably in there.

 I am no shipwright (obviously) but I assume with regard to the hull you will be doing 'get her home' repairs? I also appreciate that it is easier to rip off rotten wood than it is to replace with new (esp dd) but how about 18inch strips of 1/2inch marine ply doubled up and overlapped, also doubling up on some of the 'less solid' timbers.

It is probably worth remembering that however solid one man thinks his repair is, what really matters is wether a skipper will risk his ass bringing her home.. and with regard to the getting her home situation, has a quote been obtained for her as deck cargo? bear in mind 4-5k diesel and skipper+crew for 25-30 days as well as travelling costs, freight, insurance, slipping and mooring, also shipwright/ engineer (who are not voulenteers)

Sorry if this is all in hand, well worth doing the  sums though.

regards. Clive

Hi all

Insurance.

 Waiting to hear back but no one will give full cover without a survey and valuation.ce they are avaliable many variations on a theme. Am advise to do third party cover to start. That is cover for the cost of wreck removal etc so she can come off the slip at the required time. The harbour authorities will then be happy and we get time to get proper quotes. Should have figs by Monday.

John.

Thanks for that. Every penny is a real help and if it doesn't go ahead we will refund it.

Clive.

Shipping as deck cargo quotes all around the £20000+vat. Cheaper on her own keel, even if we have to have a full repair done in the Med. We will of course have to pay a Skipper. Any volanteers to crew her back?

Funny.

Asked one specilist boat broker for quote for "a WW2 MTB currently in Malta" Female reply "when was it built?" Bet she doesn't know JFK is dead either

1.See posts by Clive and by David Earle-Pay. Not yet packaged as only this am found out can't get any in Malta. Have already made enquiries about cost ect of freight and hope to have the answer by Sunday. 2pm OK by the way. I am happy to organise this if thats's whats required.

Has anything more concrete happened since Clive's kind offer and Davids info on the boxes.  I've probably missed messages so sorry if my information is out of date.

I just checked and found out 10 cubic feet is £650 door to door.  Possibly more than we need but I was guessing measurements.

2. I assume you will deal with getting a rate for the temp repairs IF we cant find somewhere to do the job properly in Malta.

I can try.

I was hoping somebody could  do the chasing up re the boatyards. I've had 3 days away with Malta and 3 setting up the site etc. I have to get back to some real work. 

3. Has Christian got any contacts in that part of the world, otherwise we may be better off staying in Malta.

Perhaps you could ask him as I don't know if he does.

4. In the longer term yes but Jimmy is prepared to go and stay there in the short term.

Great. We'll need to sort him a tender to get to her and back.

5.I will sort the insurance and you know about the money already. Is anyone else prepared to do the same thing? Quite agree that we shold get all contributions we can from Captain Morgan.

6. I agree. I thought one of the things for Sunday was to decide who does what. As to who ownes the boat once the price is paid, the answer is The Old War Boat Company Limited Registered in England, Company Number 61080907. That way the is no personal liabilty unless the Directors KNOWINGLY act recklessly.

Can you pm me the address Don?

 I can swim ok but can the missing prop. I'll have a look to see where she could be moved to for fulltime repairs. Africa's cheap & thats where original timber came from(she might get pressed back into service in such a stable region though)

 If someone can also help look for somewhere to put her great, all hands to the pumps so to speak.

 I'm just up the road from cosford if that one comes off so can collect all the stuff & deliver, maybe hitch a ride.

Any word from Alex? I'm heading over from birmingham way if anybody wants a lift.

 Did they say how long to get there Clive?

 Somehow i feel like a kid on christmas eve

Whats cheaper to insure her as for return, private yatch or old warboat company? Quoted £120 for lewina as private boat, not heard back off them for 506 & cant remember who it was. Obviously she'd be insured as company boat in malta due to liability.

Am i the first volunteer for crew?

Hi all,

Just noting Northeastuser comments, hope someone in the mix can respond, not saying public necessarily, but unlike me, one of those who knows a bit about these things if I may say so.

John

Sorry, I did not ask.

 Sentley has the mans details now., I shall not call him regarding this again, (too many cooks and all that) he may be interested in the engines when you get back though. ( he ships them to sri lanka for the tsunami relief to put in fishing boats)

  Is the plan to keep theese engines? if not is it worth spending money on them?

Hi,

Just remembered to have a look at the pictures, well, it's surprising how vessels can deteriorate from working with passengers to being neglected, I know full well not to judge from appearances, we would have run very far and fast ex MQ, although steel, she looked very much worse if you have a look at the photos. Any way, see how things pan out on slipping, wish you well with your second meeting, wish I had pitched up at the first in some ways, but better get the old paddler sorted first as I am chairman of it at the moment! however, keeping an eye on future projects and MAY be of use to you in other ways, things appearing to gather pace here in UK re historic ships, so if possible get her back to these shores and we can see.

John    

Be nice to see some big diesels fitted to get her closer to original performance.

 Have to work with what we've got for the moment though. Rather have a fresh set of motors waiting before removing current ones but thats a while in the future.

 If we get some better performers it'd be nice to see them go to a good cause.

 Any room for 145 John?

If she's back in original trim running harbour diesels maybe a manufacturer will 'sponsor' us some engines. Always better if they get some good visual pr from the start. If she's stripped to a hulk it could end up stuck like that.

 Did the yanks use the same tubes ect on the pt boats? Prob a better chance of them finding something like that. or i just weld up some replicas

he would buy them,, this would help pay for trip home.

   I am of the opinion, (careful)  that you should 'bite the bullet' and get her shipped, 20k is a lot of money but take off 4-5k fuel, 5-6k skipper+experienced crew, cost of gearbox+shipping/fitting 1k, temp repairs to hull? materials/ labour/ moorings £100pw? that is nearly 15k depending on how long it takes, not forgetting someone relyable to look after her when the liability shifts or travelling costs.

 I am not saying this will all be free in England but some labour will be free and repairs will be done only once, also insurance without a survey is unlikely and  what is the point of paying for that if you already know that he will say your boat has rot!

 When she is out of the water there wont be less soft planks than what you think- there will be a shed load more! that will add up to longer on the hard paying a shipwright.

I have used the word 'your' a lot and appreciate this is not my pigeon but this is my view form the outside so to speak, I hope I have not upset anyone, I'll go put my tin hat on!

Fair comment Clive,

 Best thing is going to be working these things out when she's on the slip & quotes obtained. Could she be repaired in the timeframe on the slip?

Hoping that we can find an enthusiastic volunteer for the voyage home who just happens to be a qualified skipper. Any old navy boys out there with a couple of weeks spare? Wishful thinking but worth a try

Hi All

Just to chip in on the engine front: these sites:

http://www.smedegaarden.net/starteng.htm - http://www.smedegaarden.net/starteng.htm

http://www.woods-group.co.uk/product_index.htm - http://www.woods-group.co.uk/product_index.htm

Do appear to offer potentially reasonable engines and other parts.

But certainly the biggest cost is going to be shipping, unless a consolidated shipment of all the parts, tools etc is made possibly using a whole 40ft container (containers are dirt cheap if you wanted your own), it would certainly save on shipping costs.

But for my two peneth shipping the boat to the UK seems the most sensible (low risk!) option.

Hope to meet you all on Sunday

Mark