63’ HSL’s How many are left
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=165
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 1:33pm
Topic: 63’ HSL’s How many are left
Posted By: dgray
Subject: 63’ HSL’s How many are left
Date Posted: 05 June 2006 at 9:47pm
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RAF HSL 125 : Abandoned West Mersea RAF HSL 2548 : Abandoned in Spain RAF HSL 124 was on Taggs Island until around six years ago - the new owner tried to give her away but there were no takers and so bit by bit he cut her up and burned her. HSL165 Jalna broken last year at Shoreham. HSL142 sadly broken up at Marchwood 2004. Apparently two others were broken up at at Ash Island,and another at Bowling Harbour. HSL186 Robrina is still apparently at Shoreham. Does anyone know about the two at Ash Island,and Bowling Harbour. Are they actually broken up or are they still there? If HSL 125 is to have a chance, I need a carcass for timber. Anyone know of any more scrapped, for sale or abandoned HSL's? Thanks Don ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Replies:
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 06 June 2006 at 3:01pm
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Hi Don The West Mersea boat is HSL145,not 125. As mentioned on the other thread,Buccaneer HSL2550 is listed with the nhsc. The two at Ash Island;one is HSL124 at Taggs Is.,(next door)and the other was MGB84,also gone. I'll be finding out more about the Bowling wrecks soon,I'll let you know. Do you include the Miami in your 63ft HSLs or just Whalebacks-there are plenty of Miamis on brokers listings as we speak. Kind Regards,Christian |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 06 June 2006 at 3:13pm
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Hi Christian, Sorry, HSL 145 of course - it was late and big fingers....small keys I'm just looking for old HSL's to see if a wreck can be found to make to do up HSL145 or HSL145 to fix the wreck. I want to see if saving a whaleback is possible before they are all gone. The more original the better. Miamis are expensive (well ones I've seen are). Anything looking original out there? Thanks Don ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 06 June 2006 at 3:54pm
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HI Don Let's see if we can do another two-pronged assault to find out about Buccaneer. Cheapest Miami is the AVR (wrongly listed as 62ft) for sale on http://www.Yachtworld.com - www.Yachtworld.com I think they are pretty much taking offers on her.For pics you have to send a request,she looks OK but she's on the wrong side of the pond though. Regards,Christian |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 06 June 2006 at 4:50pm
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Hi Christian, Personally I'm a Scott Paine/Selman fan so US boats not of great interest to me although they look great. Do you think poor old 145 is nearly the last (other than 2548)? It doesn't look too good for her. Hopefully the ASR people may be some help..... How best to search for Bucaneer? Cheers Don ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 06 June 2006 at 4:56pm
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Good question.I'll ask the nhsc where to start. Regards,Christian |
Posted By: Jim
Date Posted: 07 June 2006 at 12:46pm
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Sorry guys Bowling Harbour is empty of interest,the whale back is only the keel. the other "boat" Is said to have been moved to sandpoint marina in Dumbarton taken out and worked on by a former crew members daughter....and there the trail goes cold!
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Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 07 June 2006 at 2:17pm
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Hi Jim Sad news,as so much of it is when trying to track down the survivors.It looks like Don is quite right to be concerned that there will soon be no more of these iconic boats which have such legendary status and seem to embody the ASR service.Ask anyone in the street to name an MTB and they'll tell you Vosper,ask anyone to name an RAF Rescue Launch and they'll say Whaleback (Although this may be partly due to Messrs Airfix and Co).Someone is trying to contact owner of Buccaneer for me,I'll keep the forum posted on the outcome. Regards,Christian |
Posted By: Jim
Date Posted: 07 June 2006 at 2:55pm
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Hi Christian I'm pretty sure the other hull was an early MTB/ASR as seen in "Fast Attack Craft" by Keiren Phelan & Martin H Brica....pages 80 & 88 (scaned page to follow) As I remember the two small cabins before the wheel house. I am still waiting to find out her fate!(The saved by his daughters boat?) As for the poor remains of the other,well sad to say it was the real deal....pity when I was younger i did not have the common Scence to photo these boats..Ah Well.
Jim |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 07 June 2006 at 11:09pm
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Hello Jim, Thanks for all your excelleny input. Very much appreciated. If anyone else has current photos of old RN/RAF boats even if complete wrecks, please email me a photo and location and I'd be happy to put upa website with a rogues gallery showing details. It would be really great to know where they are now. Please everyone, send in ANY photos to don@rania.co.uk. Christian likes a challenge identifing these craft! Thanks ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 07 June 2006 at 11:09pm
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Hi Christian, Is HSL186 Robrina still at Shoreham (any photos)? Cheers Don ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 9:30am
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Hi Don According to Phil Simons book "Retired On The River",yes she is.The photo in the book is black and white,and copyrighted so I'm reluctant to scan and post.Perhaps someone living closeby (she is at Surrey Boatyard,Shoreham) can pop round and take a nice colour pic for us all.Robrina is pretty shabby though,Jalna was looking very much better (in the book),I was surprised she did not outlast Robrina. This book can be obtained through the Small Craft Group of The World Ship Society for £12.00. Regards,Christian |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 2:37pm
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Thanks Christian. I spoke to the Surrey boatyard. Yes, Robrina is still a houseboat there. Anyone know of 2550 that sunk on the Trent in the last 12 months? Cheers Don ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 2:52pm
| You mean Buccaneer?This is getting ridiculous! |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 2:57pm
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Hi Chistian, HSL 2550 is Bucaneer? Well she is/was sunk on the Trent some time ago, within the last year I believe. I am getting a letter from Mr Burke tomorrow or the next day with the contact details of a Mr Tony LLoyd who knows more about her. I'll post it when I know it! Cheers ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: Jim
Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 11:35pm
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The class of the possible survior of Bowling harbour!! This is what I saw,(In my early 20s in Bowling Harbour half sunk) and hope is the boat that was saved by a crew members daughter. My contact says it is being rebuild in a barn in Dumbarton(Oxhill)..the last confirmed sighting was a few years ago by my boss...when he was on the "tools" at Sandpoint Marina in Dumbarton being dried out!(the boat not him) it was moved by lorry a year later....I cant find it in Dumbaton....but the search will do on!!! will be in touch soon!
Jim. P.S The plan was to more her down south...if she made it please let me know..My contact is the guy who told me of the MTB at Girvin,the lead was good but the boat had moved on, so im' ok with his word so far!!!! P.s Christian he owns the Diana II.
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Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 6:55pm
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Spoke to Mr Lloyd Re Buccaneer. He said the boat on the Trent was named Buccaneer but was HSL2005 (!?!). Now I'm confused. Apparently she broke her back in a clumsy lift attempt. He is trying to find out what happened to her since. He has contacted the East Anglian ASR branch to what they can and hopefully will do with 145. I have assured him that as far as I'm concerned, it's their boat so hopefully they can adopt her!!. Otherwise, it's plan 'B' ....whatever that is. Will let you know of any updates re the shipwrights visit on Monday/Tuesday. Who is going to bid on the ebay boat? I'm not but I hope someone who wants to restore her does ( and removes the trawler cockpit). Cheers Don ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: northeastuser
Date Posted: 10 June 2006 at 3:15pm
| If I could get the cash together quicky id buy her..but like most people its just not possible for me to find that sort of cash in a hurry.I just hope that somone makes a good offer to stop her from ending up in long term storage. |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 14 June 2006 at 10:03pm
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Re 2550 Buccaneer She is gone too. Apparently was attached to a pontoon at a boatyard. on the tyne. Flash flood and she and the loose pontioon went over a weir? I can find out no more? Can anyone help? ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 17 June 2007 at 2:09pm
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Anyone know if HSL186 Robrina is due to be scrapped ( replacement houseboat) in July as mentioned elsewhere? Thanks Don |
Posted By: tramontana
Date Posted: 18 June 2007 at 2:59pm
| As far as I am aware 2550 Buccaneer was moored on the Trent when she was struck hard by an unknown vessel and sank. the owner was asked to move it because it was a navigation hazard, she was patched and pumped out but while she was being lifted out she "fell to bits" and is now Bryant & May. It can be confusing when boat's have the same name, there are at least two Pheonix's and I have lost count of the number of boat's called Hyperion |
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 18 June 2007 at 3:48pm
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Thanks for that. She was the best of the lot. I don't suppose you know where her bits were deposited? Long shot I know but any fittings would be a help... Cheers Don |
Posted By: tramontana
Date Posted: 18 June 2007 at 6:22pm
| Sorry dgray her demise was some time ago, her bit's are most probably long gone, she was as you say a very nice boat. |
Posted By: BoatBird
Date Posted: 19 June 2007 at 7:08am
Don't forget HSL2625 sadly rotting in Limassol! http://www.picasaweb.google.com/katcress/2625 - www.picasaweb.google.com/katcress/2625 (can't get the link to work, but the photos are there! ------------- are you lost? http://lost.eu/511b6 |
dgray wrote:Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 19 June 2007 at 8:06am
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Finally got your 'link' to work Regards ------------- Pioneer - Forum Moderator |
Posted By: spacemutt
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 12:49am
This was Luckey Dollar. We raised her for her owner. She was in a poor state having been sunk, and suffering fire damage. She was towed up to Paisley where she was eventually destroyed with a JCB. :( |