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The ghosts of fittings past...
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rikky.c View Drop Down
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Joined: 09 May 2007
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Points: 44 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rikky.c Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 June 2007 at 8:15pm
Originally posted by FlyByWire FlyByWire wrote:

Hi Don,

Each of the recesses is the same size- the dodgy photo doesn't show it too well...

The photo of ST357 is interesting - if you look just to the outside of the outer two recesses on my boat, though, you can just make out two sets of holes which are about where the fairleads on ST357 are, so it's not cleats I should be fitting, then...

The rubbing strakes on ST440 are very reminiscent of my boat - I would still have thought there would have been evidence of screws/bolts, but perhaps they were just glued on?  I don't thinkmy lines go all the way forward, so it may be very much like you see on ST440...

The four holes either side of the transom were for the biggest cleats you've ever seen!  Somebody had bolted them half way down the transom in the boats house-boat years...the stupid thing was, to tie anything onto them, you had to be in the water, as you couldn't actually reach them from the roof of the aft cabin...

Thanks for the pictures,

Paul
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tramontana View Drop Down
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Joined: 06 April 2007
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Points: 418 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tramontana Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 June 2007 at 4:43pm

Webfoot would be the best person to know regarding rubbing strakes on R.A.F. Launches as he served, but from my own experience on other boats they are bolted on and not glued, the photo of Glenislay was put on to show another S.T. which was not built by British Power Boat and is in a similiar style to yours before mods, the rubbing strakes could have been retro- fitted at some point depending what the launch was required to do, but why four lines on yours all you would need is two the width of the rubbing strake to line it up before drilling and yours has no sign of drilling on what appears to be the original hull. The reference books are being sought out.
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rafwebfoot View Drop Down
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Joined: 15 May 2007
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Points: 111 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rafwebfoot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 June 2007 at 11:44pm

Hi again,

From the official construction drawing issued by the Ministry of Aircraft Production, the inner transom cross member should measure 2" sided by 2.5" moulded, of African mahogany.  The transom planking was made up of an inner skin of 5/16" mahogany, laid vertically, and an outer 7/16" mahogany skin laid horizontally.  The gunwale rubbing strips (or fendoffs) were of laminated Canadian Rock Elm, screwed in place.  This method allowed for easy replacement after damage. I would also expect there to be evidence of slinging plates between the third and fourth frames from the transom and also the fourteenth and fifteenth frames (abreast the aft wheelhouse bulkhead). The external 6" belting was fitted to ALL the 40 footers and was screwed to the frames and clenched through the planking. In addition to providing protection to the hull, it also gave the hull torsional strength and prevented it twisting in a seaway.
FAIR WINDS AND A FAVOURABLE TIDE
Donald
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FlyByWire View Drop Down
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Points: 53 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FlyByWire Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 June 2007 at 3:05pm

Hi Donald,

  that's all interesting stuff...my boat matches some of these details, but not all of them;

  My transom inner appears to be of mahogany and my transom planking is laid as you say.  My gunwale rubbing strips are single piece, moulded mahogany I woud say, or possibly teak, but certainly not laminated.  There is also no evidence that my boat ever had slinging plates...

 I take it this number I've found (440-124) stamped into one of my exhaust ports is no help in identifying my boat?

  All the best,

Paul
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tramontana View Drop Down
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Points: 418 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tramontana Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 June 2007 at 8:23am

An example of a private motor cruiser based on a Seaplane Tender design, this is the British Powerboat Co 37.5ft Sea Monarch type "Tom Tit". 
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FlyByWire View Drop Down
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Joined: 21 April 2005
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Points: 53 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FlyByWire Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 June 2007 at 8:39am

Interesting photo - thanks for that.

I like the whole boat-on-the-roof thing going on there...in a non-aesthetic sort of way, that's quite clever...  I take it the cabin extends over the engines - that must have been cramped and awkward inside.  Is that some sort of dog-house affair towards the aft of the cabin structure?

Paul
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rafwebfoot View Drop Down
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Points: 111 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rafwebfoot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 June 2007 at 10:03am

Paul,

From what you say, she may possibly not be a military boat, although her hull certainly bears the hallmark of the 40 footer.  The only two other RAF craft that match her length and breadth were No. 400 and 401, two seaplane tenders built by Vospers - but their topsides were single skinned diagonal seam and batten planking. Also all the BPC craft were of similar topside construction.
FAIR WINDS AND A FAVOURABLE TIDE
Donald
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FlyByWire View Drop Down
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Joined: 21 April 2005
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Points: 53 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FlyByWire Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 June 2007 at 10:41am

Hi Donald,

  I had wondered whether she was non-military before...and yet there's apparently a roundel on her starboard bow - would that have been scribed in if she'd been requisitioned?

  Somebody suggested she was an Army motor launch in the past...is that possible?

Paul
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tramontana View Drop Down
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Joined: 06 April 2007
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Points: 418 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tramontana Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 June 2007 at 11:14am
If she has a roundel scribed in the wood then she may well have been in R.A.F. service. The dog cabin is just there so that you don't have to bend down when you go down the steps into the cabin and it does appear that the engines may have an engineroom rather than box covers, other than that I know nothing about the Tom Tit but she was most probably requisitioned as the photo was taken before the War
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rafwebfoot View Drop Down
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Points: 111 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rafwebfoot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 June 2007 at 7:47pm
Paul can you measure the roundel and its position  relevant to the stem.  I can then check from the painting spec for the 40 footers. I hope she is ex RAF as some of them did not have slinging plates, and although all had the 6" belting, this may have been removed. There may be a number cut into the deck beam forward of the old wheelhouse position.
FAIR WINDS AND A FAVOURABLE TIDE
Donald
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