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Restoring a World War 2 Seaplane Tender Historic Maritime boat


muzzy

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I am a carpenter looking for a project to get stuck into. Whilst I'm a complete novice when it comes to all things boat related I have been longing for a life on the water for many years now. I have come across this boat and would great appreciate any thoughts/advice on it. I would be looking to restore and convert it into to a liveaboard. I have no idea if this is a crazy and unrealistic project to take on but I have secretly fallen in love with her and am quite excited about the idea of restoring a piece of history.

 

Here she is:

World War 2 Seaplane Tender Historic Maritime boat

 

Thanks in advance

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I have no idea if this is a crazy and unrealistic project to take on.

Quite probably, but no one could deny your good taste! There are some wooden-boat specialists on this forum and I'm sure some of them will be along shortly with views and advice.

Meanwhile, welcome!

Edited by Athy
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Welcome. This and like most WW2 launches, air sea rescue, ML's, MGB's, MTB's ect, they are built quite cheaply with a life expectancy to just see the war out. Most, like the one depicted is of double diagonal construction for lightness. I'd be very careful buying it. I'd dig all around, particularly below the water line, keel and keelson inside and out with a penknife checking for soft, pappy rotten wood. With the owner's consent, of course.

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. I'd dig all around, particularly below the water line, keel and keelson inside and out with a penknife checking for soft, pappy rotten wood. With the owner's consent, of course.

Yes, you wouldn't want to ruin someone else's penknife.

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All of the above..... but oh ho ho what a beauty she is, someone you might want to speak to if possible is Jem Bates as the ad says he restored 441 to her former glory and as usual did an outstanding job. He would be an invaluable help in making your mind up on this project.

 

http://www.airsearescue441.com/?page_id=8

 

Did I say she is a beauty? cloud9.gif

Edited by AMModels
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I am a carpenter looking for a project to get stuck into. Whilst I'm a complete novice when it comes to all things boat related I have been longing for a life on the water for many years now. I have come across this boat and would great appreciate any thoughts/advice on it. I would be looking to restore and convert it into to a liveaboard. I have no idea if this is a crazy and unrealistic project to take on but I have secretly fallen in love with her and am quite excited about the idea of restoring a piece of history.

 

Here she is:

World War 2 Seaplane Tender Historic Maritime boat

 

Thanks in advance

 

Be very careful and go into this with your eyes wide open. These crafty old girls are adept at seducing vulnerable young men and emptying their wallets. That's how they continue to survive until someone with a lot of money comes along to totally rebuild them. Until then it's niggles, leaks, occasional sinkings, rot, sprung planks...

 

She might cost very little on Ebay, expect to spend many tens of thousands afterwards

 

http://www.batesboatyard.co.uk/RAF%20441.htm

 

Richard

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I am a carpenter looking for a project to get stuck into. Whilst I'm a complete novice when it comes to all things boat related I have been longing for a life on the water for many years now. I have come across this boat and would great appreciate any thoughts/advice on it. I would be looking to restore and convert it into to a liveaboard. I have no idea if this is a crazy and unrealistic project to take on but I have secretly fallen in love with her and am quite excited about the idea of restoring a piece of history.

 

Here she is:

World War 2 Seaplane Tender Historic Maritime boat

 

Thanks in advance

It's a shame that these historic wooden boats often end up rotting away and lost, and I get the impression that it tends to happen because a succession of owners underestimate the difficulty and cost of maintenance, but you sound ideally qualified. Go for it, but remember:

 

Inspect the wood first, especially the hull, and ask yourself honestly whether you have the combination of money, knowledge and motivation to finish the restoration.

 

Buy it as cheaply as you can; these boats are cheap for a reason.

 

Consider where you eventually hope to live on it, and if in a limited location (especially London) where you'd moor it. This aspect is off-topic, but endlessly discussed in other topics on the forum. At least when the restoration is done you should have no difficulty moving it to where you want, as it'll be sea-going.

Also, you could move her to London by the inland route, as it seems to me she would fit along the K&A

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I hesitate to add too much because I am no wooden boat expert but two thoughts.

Wooden boats last longer in salt water than fresh

Estuary/coastal moorings Can be cheaper and you don't have to add the cost of a license

They are great looking hulls and if you do take it on, I wish you all the very best with such a lovely thing. cheers.gif

  • Greenie 1
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Its the double diagonal that makes life difficult, two layers of planks laid at 90 degrees to each other, it means a bit of rot can mean a lot of planks removed to get at the problem.

There would also be a layer of probably tarred canvas or calico between the wooden diagonal layers.

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Being a miserable old goat git, I'm minded to remember Fairstar of this Parish,

fell to rack and ruin,

was rescued by a chap with roseat hued spectacles,

helped by many on here,

sank,

was resurrected,

painted white,

and remains in a questionable condition near what SWMBO calls Goose-poo-island.

 

Folks have dreams, so often are dashed.

 

I'm minded to surmise that the OP is primarily looking for an inexpensive liveaboard craft, rather than a project?

Perhaps a practical vessel with, say a glass fibre hull, might be better - he could spend his woodworking talents refitting it while living aboard in the dry...

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Old Goat is indeed being miserable. Search on here for posts by Marcus Warry about Lady Doris (formerly Fairstar). He has a blog too at http://ladydoris.com/ except it doesn't seem to have got past the first post.

 

11768813_10155741998325577_364201912_o-e

As John V mentioned earlier,Timber Boats usually last longer in Salt Water.

 

This picture shows that this Venerable Vessel has failing fastenings and Swollen Boards due to a Decade or more of neglect.

 

Any serious Bump or Harsh grounding could lead to a Hull breach.

 

CT

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