HELP! - Stuart Turner inboard - P55/CY

[tomritchie]

Hi there I have just bought a clinker boat, and part of the deal was a Stuart Engine P55CY. I have no knowledge of these engines, how they work, or how to mount them! There is a mounting point in the boat and there is a fuel tank and a prop shaft. I need the equivelent of a Haynes car manual! The boat was built in 1933, and I would very much like to restore it properly and include the engine.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Most ST's were converted to Coke cans long ago. If you insist on keeping it, consult Fairways Marine in Maldon (if they still exist) and buy a reliable outboard as back up.

 

[Chrusty1]

[ QUOTE ]
Most ST's were converted to Coke cans long ago. If you insist on keeping it, consult Fairways Marine in Maldon (if they still exist) and buy a reliable outboard as back up.

[/ QUOTE ]

A somewhat jaundiced and unfair comment I feel, the P55 was quite a good engine. Stuart Turners biggest downfall, was the yotties that thought they could just leave their engines unattended for a winter, and then expect them to just fire up and go. A bit of common sense care and maintenance was all that was required.

To the OP, good luck with it, and yes, Fairways Marine do still exist and will give you all the help you require.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Jaundiced, maybe. Unfair - not in my experience. There were still a number of ST's around when I started sailing but they were being replaced because they couldn't be relied on to keep running. It's one reason that we all learnt to sail onto moorings, coz we may not have been able to motor on to them!

If you're an engineering hobbyist and that's why you go sailing, then maybe you could live with an ST. Most of us, though, want something that starts when you turn the key, and only stops when you close it down.

Incidentally, Fairways seems to have been acquired by Marlex Marine Technology of Cambrigeshire.

http://www.stuartturnermarine.co.uk/

 

[Chrusty1]

You don't need to be "an engineering hobbyist", just treat them with a bit of care, like proper winterization, taking that mag home in the winter and keeping it warm and dry (airing cupboard). I have seen some really horible neglect of Stuarts in my time, the worse one was the thing appeared to be a lump of rust in the engine space, and the muppet that owned the boat still expected it to start and run!

I would conceed though that a diesel engine is a much better proposition, just because I dislike large amounts of petrol on board, and yes, they are not so susceptible to the whims and fancies of a certain type of boat owner!

Still, the Humble Stuart Turner has it's place in the scheme of things, just like that other anathema (my opinion) the Seagull outboard.

I think that in a classic wooden yot, they have their place, if the owner of said yot has the inclination to look after them.

 

[oldharry]

I agree with Chrusty1: ST's have their place, a bit like Seagull Outboards. If you had a good one, you treasured it, and it ALWAYS started and ran perfectly.

If yours was not a 'good un' then you swore, ranted, screamed cursed, - and you blummin well learned to sail - everywhere!

Curious that there was no 'middle road' with these engines - they were either brilliant or useless.

Nowadays of course they are 50/60 year old 2 strokes - with all the ills of elderly 2 strokes. I would guess that there are very few other post war design 2 stroke engines around that are still still running viably - except as preserved, restored musueum pieces!

My boat by the way has a 50 year old Albin 4 stroke twin cylinder petrol engine which starts perfectly every time, and never misses a beat. Goodness knows what I will do for spares when I do need them though! I have so far collected 3 'dead ones' which hopefully will see me through a few more years!

 

[retsina]

Having petrol onboard is dangerous. You could install a single cylinder old fashion diesel engine and still would look original.

 

[lw395]

Are you the kind of person who can strip down and re-assemble the carb and ignition of a motorbike or say an old mini?
If not, is 'at sea' the best enviroment to learn?
Of course it will be fine say on a river, where you can always row/walk/get towed home, and many people will admire a well restored engine. In any other environment, a yamaha on the transom will be a godsend.
If you are really keen to restore the engine, look out for a book called something like 'The Vintage Motorcyclist's Handbook' written under the nom de plume 'Radco'. Lots of information to help you understand how these old engines work, how to fix them, and what you can get away with in terms of wear etc. It will give you an insight into what is involved in properly restoring a motor, and why it is likely to be quite pricey. See if your local library can summon up a copy?

 

[Chrusty1]

[ QUOTE ]
Having petrol onboard is dangerous. You could install a single cylinder old fashion diesel engine and still would look original.

[/ QUOTE ]

I expect that you have petrol on board for you dinghies outboard, do you not? Yes, me as well, and it's no use saying well it's only a gallon, because a gallon of petrol going boom, will send your old Mac, to Davy Jones.......After it comes back down that is! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[oldharry]

[ QUOTE ]
Having petrol onboard is dangerous.

[/ QUOTE ]

How many of us have gas cookers on board?

LPG = Liquified Petroleum Gas.

And you cant even see if it is leaking.

A properly installed and maintained petrol installation is probably safer than having gas aboard.

 

[Tranona]

Lived with a P55 for 10 years. For 7 it was delightful, for 3 it was awful! No reason, just how they are!. Mechanically it is beautifully made, but like all 2 strokes its weak points are fuel (dirt, water in fuel, blocked jets etc) and sparks (dodgy magnetos, poor connections, bad leads and wet spark plugs).

However, if you can get it going reliably and learn the catechism by heart (useful when praying for it to either start or not to stop at awkward moments) it will be brilliant!

Good luck!