'Classic' Naval target towing launch sunk in Shotley Marina.

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fredrussell

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apols if this has already been raised. A couple of days ago an old wooden target towing launch was brought up from Mistley to Shotley Marina. A day later it sank and now resides on the bottom next to the fueling berth pontoon. It has a couple of Merlin engines apparently. Someone's resto project bill just went up by a few grand I'd say:

 
The marina guys finally put some half-hearted pollution booms around one side of it today, although I looked yesterday and there didn't seem to be anything oily leaking from it. The plan apparently is for divers to attach flotation bags, then try to pump it out so it floats long enough to lift it.
 
I'm guessing this is the 1380, seen here in better dayus...

2007-02-08_125406_Groves_GSP1380_63ft_GSP_as_Anglian_Volunteer.JPG


More pics of it here - http://www.foundryreach.co.uk/viewvessel.asp?id=177
 
OR4751 said:
What is it with boats sinking in Shotley?
IIRC PoH also took on water within a few days of her arrival there.
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But Phoenix of Hamble didn't sink. IIRC the Marina staff noticed it was sitting low in the water and, in the absence of the owner, took swift action to remedy the situation.

I always found the staff at Shotley very good, and I don't know the circumstances but would be surprised if the current sinking is any reflection on them.
 
LittleSister said:
I always found the staff at Shotley very good, and I don't know the circumstances but would be surprised if the current sinking is any reflection on them.
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I'm sure it's nothing to do with Shotley, but I wonder what questions they ask before letting something like that in to the marina? Do they check if it has 3rd party insurance? It probably looked like an accident waiting to happen.
 
pvb said:
The marina guys finally put some half-hearted pollution booms around one side of it today, although I looked yesterday and there didn't seem to be anything oily leaking from it. The plan apparently is for divers to attach flotation bags, then try to pump it out so it floats long enough to lift it.
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What the work on the Webcam. http://www.shotleymarina.com/

Seems to be afloat again.
 
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Drat! Missed the interesting bit. It seems to be afloat, so I guess they'll lift it next, or maybe get someone to tow it away!
 
I watched a boat sinking in Scheveningen marina a few years back and notified the harbour master and got the reply.. Oh well the owner should come check on his boat and he walked away... WTF... Bastard!
 
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Well, it's still there, and I have a sneaking suspicion it's going to be sitting on the ground at Shotley for a while longer. The thing is simply a rotting hulk; it had been in a mud berth at Manningtree for years, and had apparently been sold to some dreamer who wanted to tow it to Shotley, lift it on to a low-loader, and take it to Wales where it was destined to live on a farm as a dwelling. The sinking may well have complicated the plan. The costs of getting it out of the water were huge - divers were onsite for 3 days at £2K a day, some expensive flotation bags were ruined in the process, the giant crane needed to lift it was £3K a day, plus all the boatyard assistance needed, as the vessel started to break its back as it was lifted, necessitating rapid action to use the boat hoist as well as the crane to get it successfully out of the water. I'd guess the owner's bill so far is around £20K. And the next problem is getting it on to a low-loader; the vessel is in such poor condition that the unofficial view locally is that no responsible lorry driver would take it as a load. I can't imagine it'll be moved anytime soon....
 
There's a similar sad ex-project ashore in Fleetwood (not as big IIRC).
The double diagonal with cloth between construction is clearly visible.... as someone has chainsawed a piano sized hole to remove the engine/s. :nonchalance:
 
Such a shame, but they weren't built to last. We had a 1940's British Powerboat Company Air-Sea Rescue Launch, TRIPLE diagonal mahogany, with canvas between the layers, and repairs was uneconomic..to put it mildly!
On the off chance, I would be interested in buying some non-ferrous fairleads and other chunky deck fittings (for my present boat) from the poor owner should they be available, and if he/she is getting rid of such things, thanks LD
 
Lyndsey Doyle said:
Such a shame, but they weren't built to last. We had a 1940's British Powerboat Company Air-Sea Rescue Launch, TRIPLE diagonal mahogany, with canvas between the layers, and repairs was uneconomic..to put it mildly!
On the off chance, I would be interested in buying some non-ferrous fairleads and other chunky deck fittings (for my present boat) from the poor owner should they be available, and if he/she is getting rid of such things, thanks LD
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What about a couple of RR engines
 
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