Cracking bit of kit

[jhr]

Went to Yarmouth for lunch yesterday, which was a bit lively in a 21ft boat /forums/images/icons/smile.gif.

Coming home in the evening, the MTB that was restored at the British Military Powerboat Trust (and which is now moored at Buckler's Hard) passed us going up river. Pilotage in confined waters must be a challenge, as I'd guess she does 7 or 8 knots even at tickover, and she is BIG.

What a glorious piece of kit. She looks beautiful going at speed, and the noise from her engines is something else. We passed her again as they were mooring her at Buckler's Hard; I don't think I'd want to put a boat that size between the piles........

Brings out the little boy in me. Anybody know if they ever take passengers out?

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[AJW]

If its run by the BMPT then you can charter the boat for the day. Certainly could with HSL 102 the airsea rescue launch which is similarly gorgeous, sounds wonderful and is frankly the posiest boat I've ever driven. We chartered her for the day in the solent a few years ago. Cracking day out, enlivened by the fact that Phil Clabburn is a superb chap and very friendly & open to letting all have a go behind the wheel! Throttling up all three diesels to pull away from a normal Mobo and the look on the 56ft Sunseeker's owner when we anchored in Alum bay next to him and out posed him big time were highlights. If the boat you are talking about is MGB 81 (actually a restored gunboat rather than MTB) she would be even more fun as IIRC she has triple 1000hp diesels as opposed to triple 700hp on HSL102.

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[jhr]

Yes, I think you're right; it's MGB 81. She and HSL 102 are both now moored at Buckler's Hard, together with a smaller (poss. ex RAF) launch. They make quite a sight.

I'll have to investigate further because, I agree, there is serious pose value to be had here and it looked like a lot of fun. In addition, my old man spent some time on MTBs at the end of the War and I expect he'd quite fancy a day out as well, even if it's on a gun boat (though I think he might draw the line at the RAF, so HSL 102 is out /forums/images/icons/smile.gif).

I'd better leave a note pinned to their wheelhouse, next time I'm passing.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[mjf]

yep, super stuff.

She passed me at 35kn+ I should think in June 03. We were passing the Needles west bound and she drove up my wake - gave me a bit of a turn as to start with it looked like a blank of wood coming up from behind us (2m above the water!).

As she came closer you could see the superstructure and the wood bit was the teak rubbing strake!.

Absolutely glorious sound as she went past.

funnily enough when i arrived in Poole - there she was alongside in Dolphin so I went to view the beasty. I too have now seen the collection moored to piles in Bucklers'

Michael


Michael

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[Scarron]

You can contact them at http://www.bmpt.org.uk/ When I visited them at Cracknore Hard they said they were definitely available for day charters.

Perhaps we should organise a forum day out? - anyone else up for it?

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[Nick_Pam]

How wonderful!!!
http://www.yalumba.co.uk/Framesets/British Power Boat Co - page 2.htm
(Sorry the url link wouldn't post properly because of the spaces!)

Over the years there has been a great interest in preserving and restoring many of these vessels. Power Boat Restorations, based in Keyhaven, near Lymington in Hampshire, have been restoring and using boats built in the middle to late 1930s, for hire and day trips. Phil Clabburn has three craft which he uses for charter these are RAF 206, HSL(High Speed Launch - RAF) 102 and MGB 81

<hr width=100% size=1>Byeee...Gone Sailing!!!!

 

[qsiv]

My old man ran a few, when they were for real. Even as a 'real' sailor, he said it was the most fun he ever had. He ran two different types- one had the regular 4 packard petrols (fastest death trap was his comment), and the other had two engines replaced by electric motors. Officially the boat didnt exist, and was used to insert or recover agents on the Dutch coast, but lost out a bit on speed, which left them rather vulnerable to what are colloquially known as E boats (S boats would be better).

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