Humber 448

with ful she purred along nicely 2700 rpm and got 23 k. Now i reckon with the turbos cleaned and the after coolers descaled and the bottom blasted and re-painted she'll easy get to 25k
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Looks like you've got easily another 100rpm to go and you should find that extra 2kts. As I commented in my early post the 448 had a reputation for being a good sea boat so I think you'll enjoy her. Still can't like that truncated radar arch though! Best of luck with her
 
volvopaul said:
Nice to see my post resurrected , she is a very good boat has acres of wood inside her, well built and owned previously by engineers I was told.
The thread I posted was because a friend was going to buy her but was put off on the sea trial, all she made empty with clean bottom and props was 24 knots.

The hull design is just about good for that, she will never be a top 20s boat, without 1200 hp.
Enjoy her for what she is, they do not make them like that anymore I can tell you, better call than the swift for sure.
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rib said:
but your not really bothered your only going to potter
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i know, pottering is what it's all about; 10 - 12 knots is perfect for me and her. However, the satisfaction of bringing her back to her production speed was pretty good. And a boat of this size and weight [14-15 tonnes laden] going at 30 knots is pretty good also, it leaves helluva wake. Next issue is that its going through engine anodes too quickly so next time home nee
d to sort that out.
 
Hi Michael,
nice to stumble on this thread, we have been in touch but for the record here is my Humber 45, a modified 448 and the last built by Fred Booker for himself. Its listed as a prototype but is as your boat but with a few extras like a full arch and rear canopies, redesigned rear cockpit seating etc. It subsequently became the Pearl 45, before they designed their own range. The quality is outstanding and yes it can be considered looking dated now with all that wood, but Booker was a joiner after all. She made 24knots at 2200 rpm all the way from Portugal to Menorca in 4.5 days albeit with wind and waves in our favour, so comfortably a top 20s boat and the hull is as good as anything and rumoured to be a tweaked Nelson, feels like a 50 footer and very capable in the chop.
I'll be in touch about the cockpit bimini structure soon.
 

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well after getting her coppercoated and props cleaned, managed an easy 32 knots and still not really at full throttle. given that she was loaded with water, spare parts and fuel, I'd say that's not bad. she's an absolute joy to handle in close quarters, huge turning circle at speed, but hey, i prefer going forward than back.
volvopaul said:
Nice to see my post resurrected , she is a very good boat has acres of wood inside her, well built and owned previously by engineers I was told.
The thread I posted was because a friend was going to buy her but was put off on the sea trial, all she made empty with clean bottom and props was 24 knots.

The hull design is just about good for that, she will never be a top 20s boat, without 1200 hp.
Enjoy her for what she is, they do not make them like that anymore I can tell you, better call than the swift for sure.
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I have to say that 32kts is amazing. Was that a log or GPS reading? I would have thought that at that speed she'd be planing on the keel!
 
the 32 knots was recorded by way of log - I've just had all of the electronics replaced with Raymarine, so very pleased with that. That speed was of course helped by a new coppercoat bottom and polished props. It'd be unfair of me not to mention the contribution of Promarine (UK) Ltd, they have an engineer there called John, who, well just really knows what he's doing and this guy carried out a a gruelling service on both engines [cost me over 10K] and well it just reinforces the fact these these older boats' engines need to be looked after.
 
michael fesler said:
the 32 knots was recorded by way of log - I've just had all of the electronics replaced with Raymarine, so very pleased with that. That speed was of course helped by a new coppercoat bottom and polished props. It'd be unfair of me not to mention the contribution of Promarine (UK) Ltd, they have an engineer there called John, who, well just really knows what he's doing and this guy carried out a a gruelling service on both engines [cost me over 10K] and well it just reinforces the fact these these older boats' engines need to be looked after.
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What did he do for 10k? Sounds more like a major rebuild than a service.
 
longjohnsilver said:
What did he do for 10k? Sounds more like a major rebuild than a service.
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well first of all, was a normal service [Finnings wanted about 2k for that], then dismantle and clean the sea water cooling water system [heat exchanger, after cooler and transmission cooler, cleaned and vacuum tested], 2 new water pumps, new exhaust lines, the cooling system generally was filled with gunk and needed cleaning and flushing, it took 4 flushes before the water ran clean, all senders replaced, main bilge pump replaced. Problem is at 50 quid an our it soon mounts up, almost 2k of that ten was on VAT.
 
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