burgundyben
Well-Known Member
I decided while back that I wanted a fibreglass semi displacement boat of about 31ft, not least of all because of Firefly625's perfect Mitchell 31 'Tulana'. However after 20 years with a succession of boats by Fairey Marine, all of them wood, when it came to my next boat I wanted to stick with a Fairey, which meant the Bulldog. There's not many around, I only know of 4, I know some were exported to Libya and the one I bought is hull number 12.
I went to see it in Scotland, Ardlui, top of Loch Lomond, in April last year, nice chap but we failed to do a deal. She came back on the market this year at a lower price, then dropped again. I ended up paying £250 less than I offered last year. Good result.
Here is a photo of a handsome Bulldog
Here's some pics of mine....
In a previous (hard) life as a hydrographic survey boat on the Clyde, weighed down with a lot of crap.
Arriving at Deacons
Next to my Chums Triana 25.
Rear cabin gone
Something concerned with the survey work removed from the bottom, undid 7 bolts and it fell off, weighed a bloody ton, sat on the drive outside my garage while I work out what to do with it. Made good the holes with some resin and stuff.
Captured from the Red Funnel web cam en route from the Hamble to her new home port by Firefly625 who was sat at his desk and should have been working but was messing about on whattsapp and the internet with me.
New home
First family day out
Its incredibly scruffy! I mean really really bad! But build like a brick shithouse. We now have a fridge and an electric loo, sink, but no running water. New cushions in the cabin and we've had a 3 night stay onboard. It has a 5kw eberspacher.
120hp Ford Dorset, has a huge oil leak, seems to burn about 1.5 gallons an hour, gives 7knots max through the water, but only hits 1700 rpm, it'll do for now although I desperately want to reinstate the shape of the wheel house.
Most interesting also, it that it has a Kitchen Rudder, its taking some getting used to!
All so far for less than £8k.
I fully intend that this will be my last boat. Needs a decent restoration as time and funds allow, but for now, its perfect.
I went to see it in Scotland, Ardlui, top of Loch Lomond, in April last year, nice chap but we failed to do a deal. She came back on the market this year at a lower price, then dropped again. I ended up paying £250 less than I offered last year. Good result.
Here is a photo of a handsome Bulldog
Here's some pics of mine....
In a previous (hard) life as a hydrographic survey boat on the Clyde, weighed down with a lot of crap.
Arriving at Deacons
Next to my Chums Triana 25.
Rear cabin gone
Something concerned with the survey work removed from the bottom, undid 7 bolts and it fell off, weighed a bloody ton, sat on the drive outside my garage while I work out what to do with it. Made good the holes with some resin and stuff.
Captured from the Red Funnel web cam en route from the Hamble to her new home port by Firefly625 who was sat at his desk and should have been working but was messing about on whattsapp and the internet with me.
New home
First family day out
Its incredibly scruffy! I mean really really bad! But build like a brick shithouse. We now have a fridge and an electric loo, sink, but no running water. New cushions in the cabin and we've had a 3 night stay onboard. It has a 5kw eberspacher.
120hp Ford Dorset, has a huge oil leak, seems to burn about 1.5 gallons an hour, gives 7knots max through the water, but only hits 1700 rpm, it'll do for now although I desperately want to reinstate the shape of the wheel house.
Most interesting also, it that it has a Kitchen Rudder, its taking some getting used to!
All so far for less than £8k.
I fully intend that this will be my last boat. Needs a decent restoration as time and funds allow, but for now, its perfect.
