4 wheel drive boat

[rog]

Been asked by friend if I know anything about a Dutton - see www.timdutton.com/4Wheel-Drive - as I'm the only person he knows whose had more than a row boat on the Serpentine and that makes me a sorta expert (in his eyes, at least)

Apparently he's fed up with London traffic so the plan is to drive in somewhere around Hammersmith and run down to his clients in Docklands.
Told him about wind, waves, wash and tidal stream but apparently the thing's crossed to Calais in a F5 without problem but I wouldn't fancy it much.
Anybody know more?

 

[BarryH]

If its the dutton mariner, forget it, he'd be better off buying a mediem size rib and mooring it on the thames. The mariner is based in a fiests donor, top speed, about 6 knots.
Put it this way, you would'nt get me in one on the Thames. The tide way is no place for a small boat let alone one of those death traps. I would have thought it would have to be RCD catergorized, doubt it would pass the minimum rating.

BarryH

 

[longjohnsilver]

Axshully was a force 8 and yes it did arrive safely. So did my Merc, both on the same P & O ferry!!

 

[hlb]

Reminds of the bloke who wanted to go to Devon and Cornwall with no dinghy!!

Haydn

 

[Guest]

There is one that drives into the river next to us several times every summer. Frankly it has trouble getting up and down the Thames here (Henley) and shows very little in the way of steering control. Not only that but it's not up to much on the road. A fun toy I suppose, but nothing more.

 

[BarryH]

Seen an old amphibious military truck thing painted pink, i think, and used in central london on the Thames. Called the Frog Bus, so I am told by SWMBO, but only goes at slackish water or on neaps. Cant see the attraction really. I blame it on the froggies, they had the Amphicar in the 60s. Damn stupid idea if you ask me.

BarryH

 

[Col]

So what about an Alvis Stalwart ?
6 wheel drive + water jet propulsion, bit thirsty though-big 8cyl Rolls Royce engine!

 

[byron]

I don't believe that the Dutton could go to Calais in a F1 let alone a F5 except on a Ferry. As regards the Frog Bus, I have driven this, it is a WW2 DUKH and the firm who operate it have 5 of them that they use to give Tourists an unusual ride around.

ô¿ô

 

[jfm]

Yup there is a daytipper DUKW on the thames, oes in at that slipway just by the bendy road in Battersea village, roughly opposite Chelsea Harbour. They also have them in Southport on the beach, I went in one to rescue my sisters Renault 4 when I parked it to walk the dog and the tide came in (over the roof).

 

[Bergman]

There's a chap on Little Ross Island near Kirkudbright (or was a couple of years ago)

He has a Stalwart as a "shopping car" (no shops on island)

Looks a great bit of kit apparantly can mount a machine gun so no worries about pirates etc

 

[burgundyben]

Similar kind of thing is used at St Vaast for trip out to the Castle type touristy place.

BTW St Vaast much nicer alternative to C'bourg for weekends in France.