MGB 81

Good Afternoon

I was in Bucklers Hard last February and there was no sign of MTB81 or 102 - where do they winter or have they moved away? I witnessed the various stages of 81 being rebuilt and did cross from the Soton Boat Show years ago to Husbands.

Good Morning

Thanks for the reply. Both boats were in remarkably good condition and at one stage 81 was featured in Boats and Yachting monthly in competition with modern leisure craft - there was a good picture of her with 3 others at speed on the Solent(?)

Phil, the owner, seemed to break away from the BMPT - for reasons not known and took both boats away.

Let us hope that if sold - GBP700k was mentioned somewhere for 81 that she goes or has gone to a good home.

Whit57 wrote: Good Morning Thanks for the reply. Both boats were in remarkably good condition and at one stage 81 was featured in Boats and Yachting monthly in competition with modern leisure craft - there was a good picture of her with 3 others at speed on the Solent(?) Phil, the owner, seemed to break away from the BMPT - for reasons not known and took both boats away. Let us hope that if sold - GBP700k was mentioned somewhere for 81 that she goes or has gone to a good home.

A few months ago HSL102 was ashore in Lymington at the Berthon Yard, she looked like she needed a good scrub but otherwise in good order, I beleive she is on their books for £385k, a much more sensible proposition for anyone condsidering restoring any military powerboat of that size.

As for MGB81, I have not seen her for a while, last time I saw her she was afloat at Saxon Wharf Southampton, I think was also for sale although I am not sure at what price.

johnk wrote: Thanks for that, hopefully HSL would just need that good scrub as she was fully restored but time might take its toll. Really they should be under some sort of trust and for public display under way of course, but given what is happening to our marine heritage with a few honourable exceptions, that would be a pipe dream at this time I guess.   JohnK

I read this forum on a regular basis, often we see pics of some very sad relic rotting quietly in a creek, only to be followed by posts of 'hope some one finds the funds to rebuild' etc etc, and yet, for a great deal less than the cost of their rebuilds both HSL102 and MGB81 wont sell.

A group of individuals needs to pull together to find the funds to purchase and operate one or both of these two.  I would have thought the BMPT was the right group but there seems not to be a move in that direction.

Hope I have not spoken out of turn.

Both the H.S.L.& the M.G.B. are as far as I am aware unlikely to return to " the fold" unless somebody else buy's them as there is "history" there in regards to the purchase "misunderstanding involving the M.G.B." and B.M.P.T. not having enough in the kitty and as to whether they promised to buy it. in regards to the selling they are both specialist boats, by that I mean that Phil put them back more or less to their Service spec which means that the accommodation  is quite sparse and they would only appeal to people who are keen on this type of boat (more luxury= more weight=less speed), unless you want to cabin them up which would spoil the superb workmanship that is presently in them, for £700,000 a person could buy quite a smart tupperware bowl if they want comfort which restricts their selling potential somewhat