25' Ex-Admiralty Motor Cutter

Redwing228

Redwing228

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Jan 2010
Messages
167
Location
Pembrokeshire
www.nationalredwing.co.uk
A friend of mine and I are in the process of rescuing an abandoned 25ft Clinker-built motor cutter. She is planked in what appears to be teak over rock elm timbers. Her hull is still watertight and will fill with rain till it spills from the engine exhaust so she has been carrying tons and her keel is straight and true. No sagging, twisting or hogging visible.
My question is this:- Is this an interesting enough type of boat to be worth saving, in the forum's opinion?
Many thanks,
Bill (Clinker boat man)
 
Every boat is worth saving if...

1. You enjoy doing the work
2. Enjoy being on the water with it!

It isn't worth the trouble if you think you will be able to sell it at a profit, trust me you wont.

I spent 3 years rebuilding mine and I wouldn't get back the cost of materials and parts, that said.... the enjoyment that I get from working and cruising her is priceless.

Tom
 
Rescued a 14foot clinker built launch last year and had great fun restoring her. She was support boat at our cadet week in the summer for our Burnham Scows. Any boat in my opinion is worth saving if you can spend the time, money and effort required.
 
Definately worth saving, wont cost a lot if you do it yourself and what else could bring so much fun (perhaps when it warms up a bit!)?

Got a picture?
 
Picture of 25' Cutter

Thank you for your comments. We realise that we are taking on a lot of work but do it for the love of it, not to make any profit. My friend has refurbished a 20' clinker ship's boat and a small C/B yacht in the last couple of years and I have an old 14' Redwing and a Finesse to look after. We have been very impressed how tight this ex Admiralty boat still is, despite being almost totally denuded of paint below the waterline! The quality of her construction is outstanding - date of build as yet unknown.
A picture is attached.
Bill
 
To check what year of build
If She is of Admiralty or even any type of military vessel.
There should be a 'wd' stamp ( or similar) somewhere in the hull.
Usually on the stem.
Could be internal or external.
Along with a hull number.

The two ex services wooden boats I,ve owned both had this identity.
 
Admiralty Cutter

Go for it !! Looks a great project which will give you all kinds of new learning experiences. . .I am almost finished my 16' Fast Motor Dinghy- ex RN - 1953.
I suggest you contact Richard Hellyer at - www.BMPT.org.uk He gave me the original Admiralty build specs which were INVALUABLE ! It allowed me to keep her as close to the original as possible.
Good Luck. . . . .Erik
 
Looks like the real thing although it has had some changes made to it over the years. It would have been tiller steered and used to be fitted with an Enfield HO2 horizontal twn engine. As designed had a crew of three, coxswain, bowman and stoker. Along with the 3 in 1 whaler (had the same engine) they were the frigate/destroyer workboats in the late 50s, 60s and 70s. You ought to be able to get a hold of some photos which will show you what they looked like in service. Good strudy boats, could be launched from slips from a ship whilst under way being dropped the last foot or so with the engine running.
 
maxi77 said:
Looks like the real thing although it has had some changes made to it over the years. It would have been tiller steered and used to be fitted with an Enfield HO2 horizontal twn engine. As designed had a crew of three, coxswain, bowman and stoker. Along with the 3 in 1 whaler (had the same engine) they were the frigate/destroyer workboats in the late 50s, 60s and 70s. You ought to be able to get a hold of some photos which will show you what they looked like in service. Good strudy boats, could be launched from slips from a ship whilst under way being dropped the last foot or so with the engine running.
Click to expand...

Used to use one of these at school with that Enfield Engine. It was interesting helming it as the gear lever and throttle was on the engine, and you had to give commands to your 'engineer' for you requirements. It was good practice for thinking ahead and comunication.....

We frequently got told off for speeding as we were on the Thames, and they go well.

I personally would not bother with an old clinker hull, UNLESS its teak, so go for it.
If mine I would remove all the superstructure and have her open, with a large folding sprayhood and fastback cover. Alternatively you could put her back Navy style with seperate fore and aft cabins which were open ended. Crew aft, Officers forward. Bit antisocial these days though!
I'm sure you know but the raised bit forward is not original.
 
maxi77 said:
Looks like the real thing although it has had some changes made to it over the years. It would have been tiller steered and used to be fitted with an Enfield HO2 horizontal twn engine. As designed had a crew of three, coxswain, bowman and stoker. Along with the 3 in 1 whaler (had the same engine) they were the frigate/destroyer workboats in the late 50s, 60s and 70s. You ought to be able to get a hold of some photos which will show you what they looked like in service. Good strudy boats, could be launched from slips from a ship whilst under way being dropped the last foot or so with the engine running.
Click to expand...

Our ships boats were the same in the 60's and 70's. I had two of these in my care in 1970 when I was a seamanship instructor. I used them to accompany the rowing whalers on there excursions. Both of these had 3 cylinder Listers. Shame about the cabin lines, spoils it a bit.
 
Thank you for your replies and support. We are hoping to move the boat to a safer berth on the high tides in February. The fore cabin and 'wheelhouse' are all coming off as the intention is to return her to service appearance. Unfortunately 2 of her thwarts have been cut through but the midships bulkhead is still in place. Aft of this lurks a rusted-solid Ford 4D that we are going to hoik out before moving her. I have a copy of a building drawing for this class of boat and various original engine options are mentioned: Dorman, Fowler, Ferry and Coventry Victor (all oil engines of 2 cylinders and 10-12hp) From my experience the Enfield HO2 was a later fitment to service boats. I had experience of them as a cadet in the '70s when we used 27' 3in1 Whalers for power boat training. (Another lovely strong timber boat not often seen these days...)
Bill
 
Hi redwing228

First of all, what makes you think she is ex admirality or has military connections?

I had a similar boat a long time ago and as far as I knew she was built by Lower (Lowers?) in the early 60s.

I used to use mine mainly for shark fishing around the back of the Isle of Wight and to be honest, never really valued her, just used and abused her (I mean really abused her). I have to say that often I pushed her beyond all reason but she never let me down and I have some of the best memories of my life on her.

Mine had a centre wheelhouse similar to yours but at sometime, it had been shortened and someone had fitted a plywood back, I believe it was originally open backed.

Another poster suggested that the raised section on the foredeck was probably not original and he is probably correct because my foredeck was flat.

The question is; what do you want to achieve with it?

If it is ex millitary, you should keep it as close as possible to "as issued" If it is a civillian boat, it still needs to be kept in the "spirit of the original"!

I don't think you have taken on an easy job and as you probably realise, it won't be worth mega bucks when it's done but it will get a lot more attention than most of the overgrown shiny white plastic bath toys and the chances are that you'll love it.

I may be able to find some old photographs of mine and scan them if you are interested.

Cheers

Chas
 
Redwing228 said:
I had experience of them as a cadet in the '70s when we used 27' 3in1 Whalers for power boat training. (Another lovely strong timber boat not often seen these days...)
Bill
Click to expand...

3 in one whalers, we had these on our type 12 frigates. Must be the prettiest navy boat ever built. Never seen one since my navy days, I suspect the filler between the double diagonal planks was a problem with long levity.

The vessel in my avatar is my commercial fishing vessel and was originally a 40' navy workboat. English design and built during WW2.
 
Reading about your project makes me feel as if I've found a long-lost relative. The boatworks in Ontario, Canada, founded by my grandad built a number of 25-foot motor cutters during the Second World War. In commemoration of the 2010 centennial of the Canadian Navy, my partner and I are researching the building and whereabouts of any surviving craft from that period.

Research so far is very preliminary, but perhaps we can help each other. From the documents seen so far, I believe the Muskoka-built boats followed Admiralty specs.

Meanwhile, have you looked at the photos of a restored 1945-version motor cutter displayed in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at the Parks Canada site of HMCS HAIDA? Some good interior shots as well as views of the motor cutter afloat. Also, documentation that might be of interest.

Thanks, Redwing228 for cheering dull January days!
 
Hi Duke 1942

When I was young, my dad bought one from Crown Assets disposal yard in Halifax in the mid 60's. We used it as family cruiser around Montreal. Don't know if this is a Canadian built boat, serial no HQ56, mfg 1944 - this was carved in the stem. We found a paper in the bilge that indicated it was from HMCS Nootka.

I will try to put together a history of this boat after we got it. Brings back lots of memories.
 
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