Fairey Huntsman

[benjenbav]

Idly thinking about giving up the rag and stick business and thinking what sort of mobo I might like, I came across a Huntsman 28 in grp. I have always admired these beautiful boats and the idea of teararsing around the Solent in one has some appeal. However, I had thought they were all built in wood and looking after a wooden vessel is not what I want to do.

Were many built in grp? Are they any good?




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[hlb]

You can still buy a new one in Plymouth.

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[tcm]

Re: Fairey Huntsman 28, oh god

oh heck. Burgundyben has one of these, and has a reputation for er teararsing around the solent, exactly what you plan to do. BB will drone on and on about how fab they are, and I have seen the loony whamming up southampton water at towards 30 knots with 33+knots of wind on the beam, very splashy but great fun, it seemed. A few for sale in various conditions of course. They are indeed quite pretty.

Inside, you need to check the condition of the Fablon. (forum mobo joke, i'm afraid - he goes on aboutem being classic and i take the mick about them being full of 60's style Fablon)

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[jhr]

You're thinking of the Fairey Spearfish, which was similar to Huntsman, but different, if you see what I mean, not least because they were grp. Lots of them were built, including a variant known as the Spear, which was developed for military use and which had, imho, a pig ugly wheelhouse stuck on it. There's also the GRP Phantome, an aft cabin version, which looks a bit '70s to me. Performance wise, they were all cracking boats, with excellent sea-keeping qualities. Like all "classics", they cost more than they should. Lots more info, and mouth watering pics, on the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.faireyownersclub.co.uk/>Fairey Owner's Club website</A>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.swordsmanmarine.co.uk/>Swordsman Marine</A> have just started building them again, using the old moulds, and the first boat was at the Southampton Boat Show. I want one, but unfortunately I left my wallet, with its contents (£150K) at home that day. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Burgundyben's yer man for further info, as tcm says.

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

 

[benjenbav]

Re: Fairey Huntsman 28, oh god

Can it go fast enough to tear the fablon off? All things considered, that is what I am looking for. S'pose could just get a big rib, but the retro chic has some appeal. I kind of see them as the mkII "blagger's" jag of the marine world. Is this fair?

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[tcm]

Re: flippinek

i have spent a good three years knocking BB down to size with his blimmin classic lines, bulldog breed, wartime pedigree, flying the flag - and now you go and make the Mk2 jag analogy! He will be utterly insufferable.

Mind you, it's a good test innit - cos i bet he *mite* try and sell you his boat. hee hee. They all do that, these classic owners yerknow. "For sale - cherished and much loved boat" (but obviously not loved as much as the cash in exchange, ahem). We'll see! Mind you, BB's boat be quite decent cos it all looks nice even though it gets a damn good thrashing...

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[burgundyben]

In short, all H28 are wood as are H31's. H31 hull used as a mould to make grp spear fish and aft cabin added to make Fantom.

Best read FOC web site.

Feel free to PM for more detail.

Now, fablon will adhere well to hull provided you only use original enamel based paints and dont exceed 32 knots upwind if the sun is shining from the west or its after nine pm and your full of gin.

P.S. Matt, I put your ropes away, what about that manky old sail rotting on the deck?

<hr width=100% size=1>My house is for sale, 2 beds, Hamble.

 

[tcm]

the manky old sail is actually a busted tarp/cover. I am sortof trying to think of a good use for it.

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[benjenbav]

Thanks.

Any idea what this is then?

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://ybw.yachtworld.com/core/uk/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp?boat_id=1219422&units=Meters&currency=GBP&access=Public&listing_id=66771&url=>http://ybw.yachtworld.com/core/uk/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp?boat_id=1219422&units=Meters&currency=GBP&access=Public&listing_id=66771&url=</A>

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[PaulF]

Er, that IS what it says it is, a laminated wood Huntsman 28 1962. Like Bens and mine. The grp one that looks like it is the Spearfish, 31ft usually with 2 x 180hp on board giving around 28-30knots. Prices vary £40-55k. Tough as old boots. Bloodey good in the rough. Drawback, not many built, hence sought after.

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[jhr]

Allegedly a fibreglass Huntsman 28, but it looks like a wooden one to me, unless sombody has had a replica constructed. I wouldn't pretend to be a world authority on the subject but I've never heard of such a boat being built. Definitely not a Spearfish, and I think the Broker's disclaimer ("The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information ") should be taken into account on this occasion.

At £22K, I suspect it's a basket case as well.............

All imho

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

 

[PaulF]

Oops sorry, Apologies it says its fibreglass, suspect its an error. For sure no 28's were built by the factory in grp, and most likely would have heard of this boat if it existed in GRP. Will read slower, or allow extra brain operation prior to next response.

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[benjenbav]

No worries. It just struck me as odd because even with my limited knowledge I thought they were all wood. Didn't know about the spearfish tho' so that's interesting.

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[tcm]

Re: £22k

hm, 28 footer millions of years old - doesn't sound too bad? What's the going rate then? And isn't the term basket case quite a compliment, cos i bet actual cases for baskets would float and so on, no?

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[burgundyben]

think there is 2 28's for sale in CI's

I think that boat is a wood 28, built with a slightly different rear deck about a foot or so long, built for a mr cadbury of chocolate fame, it has I think a jersey keel which is a long scaffold pipe bolted to the hull with allows it to dry out, the clue is 25 knots max with perks 145's, should do 30, I spoke to the owner three years ago, think he's struggling with the maintenance due to advancing years, think it might be a bit rough

<hr width=100% size=1>My house is for sale, 2 beds, Hamble.

 

[burgundyben]

Re: £22k

think H28's are about 8 to 10k for a wreck, 20 for a going concern maybe a bit scruffy with older engines, high 20's with at least 145 perks and 30 knots looking tidy, v tidy boat with perks about 30k, concours winners with harry spankers motors could be 35k plus, dont think anyone yet paid over 35k tho.

<hr width=100% size=1>My house is for sale, 2 beds, Hamble.

 

[jhr]

Basket Case

"Scaffold pipe bolted to the hull...."

"Struggling with the maintenance...."

"Think it might be a bit rough...."

No further questions, M'Lud. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

PS. The only floating basket I've heard of is Moses in the bullrushes. Similar vintage to H28, but no Fablon (heads for the hills)

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

 

[tcm]

Re: Basket Case

yeah- but that's ANOTHER OWNER talking. And so of course, he's bound to say it's quite good, but a bit rough. Also note incredible albeit riverish seakeeping qualities of fablon-free bullrush-based basket case, complete with autopilot. Or was it pontious pilot?

Anyway, i think a scaffold pole attached to the hull mite be a dramatic improvement if the rest of the boat is made of 35 year old plywood, perhaps?

Also, as regards ole boats, instead of "a bit rough" it's much more polite to say "totally original".

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[jhr]

\"Totally original\"

Tee hee. A bit like an estate agent saying "many period features retained" - including dry rot, lethal wiring and rising damp? Sounds just like home.......

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

 

[benjenbav]

Re: \"Totally original\"

...or "Classic Car: one careful owner from new"

True, but it does kinda gloss over the 7 who didn't care.

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