Brave Challenger has moved.

[burgundyben]

Brave Challenger has moved from her berth on the Itchen to Burgess Marine at Portchester and is now lifted out of the water.

Lets hope there's a rebuild about to start.

 

[Firefly625]

Brave Challenger has moved from her berth on the Itchen to Burgess Marine at Portchester and is now lifted out of the water.

Lets hope there's a rebuild about to start.

That would be something, but I can't imagine it will ever reach the heady heights of 60knots again..

 

[aquapower]

I noticed it had gone when I went past on Saturday, when was she last up and running?

 

[petem]

I believe the owner bought some replacement Rolls Royce gas turbine a couple of years ago but even so it's going to require a huge amount of money to restore it to its former glory.

 

[itchenseadog]

Hope he paid his bills !

 

[burgundyben]

She's got 42 spare engines, 6 spare gearboxes & 3 spare props. ..

 

[henryf]

It used to be berthed on the Hammerhead in Haslar next to us.

I got given a quick tour round by W H-B. A lovely interior reminiscent of a gentlemans club.

I believe she got impounded at one point and then moved over to Gunwharf where she sat under the Spinnaker tower.

Quite a history to both the boat and it's owner once one of the wealthiest men in the UK.

Henry

 

[petem]

She's got 42 spare engines, 6 spare gearboxes & 3 spare props. ..

?

 

[burgundyben]

?

Apparently so!

 

[petem]

Apparently so!

http://www.bmpt.co.uk/brave-challenger_topic54.html

"It would seem that the engines are in need of an overhaul and Prof Haydon-Baillie has purchased the Princess Anne and Princess Margaret hovercrafts at a cost of £500k, which apparently have similar engines and could be used for spare parts."

Of course, that's just a post on another forum so could be bull!

 

[BruceK]

Not knowing the boat I googled it when the OP posted. An article appears to partially confirm this. At least the aquisition previously of 2 sister boats for spares. But not the hovercraft at time of writing. It said those were safely tucked away in a museum.

 

[Whitelighter]

Not knowing the boat I googled it when the OP posted. An article appears to partially confirm this. At least the aquisition previously of 2 sister boats for spares. But not the hovercraft at time of writing. It said those were safely tucked away in a museum.

The hover craft are in a museum, but without their engines. And safely is debatable - the land got sold and the owner was about to scrap them until enough money was raised to provide a 3 year stay of execution

 

[Firefly625]

She's got 42 spare engines, 6 spare gearboxes & 3 spare props. ..

That's going to take up some space.. The owner must have a wonderful wife.

 

[BruceK]

The hover craft are in a museum, but without their engines. And safely is debatable - the land got sold and the owner was about to scrap them until enough money was raised to provide a 3 year stay of execution

Ah, that's a shame, on both accounts. I've been facinated by them since a child. Not anorak facinated but worthy of preservation

 

[burgundyben]

That's going to take up some space.. The owner must have a wonderful wife.

A chap I know has 150 Lambrettas, wife issued an ultimatum and he kicked her out!

Brave Challenger is very complex construction, it'll be a big job.

 

[henryf]

The hovercraft "museum" at Lee on Solent has always struck me as a total waste of space and a missed opportunity. The number of times I've driven down there to see if it was open only to find it locked closed and not generating visitor revenue.

I've given up bothering.

Having just popped back onto their website I do see it's now open every Saturday just as people are off doing the shopping and getting themselves ready for a Sunday of leisure visiting museums


Henry

 

[burgundyben]

Brave Challenger is back on her mooring on the Itchen. Seems a full rebuild isn't happening.

 

[Paul&Ness]

I spoke to the owner of BC last weekend and he is planning to continue the refurbishment and hopefully run the engines sometime next year. He confirmed that he has a good stock of engines so I would imagine he could get it running again... whether it could ever do a high speed run again is the question.

 

[Harvey64]

Where is she moored? Would love to see this historic craft.

 

[Paul&Ness]

Brave Challenger is moored at Itchen Marine Towage, near the Itchen bridge. She's on the outside pontoon so easily visible from the bridge.