Lifting Out

[hsl_300]

Hiya,

I've recently become the increasingly dubious owner of an ex-RAF High Speed Launch, probably a type 300 Seaplane Tender, built around 1945.

To the best of my knowledge, this boat has been in the water (and afloat) for the last 60 years, although it sits on the mud for six hours or so at low water.

The construction is double diagonal teak on oak frames and the hull is a hard-chine, planing power boat.

My question, then; I want to have this boat out of the water during the summer basically to sand it down and repaint and antifoul it. To be blunt, is this worth the effort? This boat is a static live-aboard without engines even fitted and I'm worried about what I might find when I get it out of the water. I'm planning a fortnight of solid work on it, but is this realistic considering the age of the boat and the time it's spent in the water?

Is there anything else I should be considering prior to lifting such an old boat out of the water and propping it up on bits of wood and old sleepers ashore?

Any help and advice anybody can offer will be much appreciated,

Thanks very much,

Paul

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[Casey]

Your details don't say where you are from but a visit to the Military Power Boat Trust could be well worthwhile. They have many Military Power Boats in the old boatshed they are using including an RAF search and rescue launch which they have restored superbly and are more than half way through restoring a seaplane tender the last visit I made.

They are on Southampton water in a village called Marchwood.

If you have problems finding it then let me know and I will obtain more details.

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[tritonofnor]

Hi

I work as a travel hoist driver and would recommend the following:

If the boat sits down on the mud happily and without any obvious flexing it shouldn't be a problem lifting it- we have a 50' double diagonal tender (ex HMS Tyne) which is used in the same way as yours here, although that still has the engine in.

If you have any doubts about her structural integity DON'T have her lifted. Get her slipped somewhere instead. Its much kinder to an old hull. Having said that double diagonal is an inherently strong construction whilst remaining quite light.

Make sure that the hoist driver uses a double strop on each basket to spread the load (i.e. a 4 strop lift) and that the strops sit underneath any cast iron ballast keel you may have rather than under the dead wood at each end.

Aim to have the two pairs of strops dividing the boat roughly into thirds, although with slightly more overhang at the bow than the stern, in order to evenly distribute the load, and try to get them close to, if not on, points where there are internal bulkheads.

When she is chocked, get as much weight as is possible down on the keel, chock this every 10ft as a maximum, and only when you are sure that the weight is well down should you add shores. Many boats are ruined (though not here I hasten to add!) by not being properly properly down on the keel when the shores are put in. The keel settles and the props try to push their way into the hull.

As for two weeks to do the work - not unless you've got plenty of willing mates! You may find a plank needs replacing... a real sod of a job on double diagonal.. but even if you don't you'll still find plenty to do!

I did a small refit on my own boat (carvel) last year the time scale of which was roughly as follows (she's 37')

day 1 - remove all old antifoul (five blokes with Skarsten scrapers)
day 2 - prime underwater areas
day 3 - cut out rotten planking in preparation for new
day 4 - as day 3
day 5 - prepare deck for painting (much easier ashore as it's not covered with mooring lines etc..)
day 6 - paint deck after repairing small leak by letting in graving piece and flooding with epoxy
day 7 - go to the pub!!!!
day 8 - prepare new planks
day 9 - as day 8
day 10 - fit new planks
day 11 - fit new planks
day 12 - sand topsides
day 13 - sand topsides
day 14 - fair topsides
day 15 - undercoat topsides
days 16, 17, 18, 19 paint topsides
day 20, 21 antifoul, replace anodes
day 22 back in!

That was with both myself and my father working an average 10 hour day in good weather. I'd suggest that you book a lift on a Friday, to go back in on the monday two weeks later, then at least you get three weekends!

I know this sounds quite daunting but it is worth it in the end. My boat was starting to look like a real shed, but now I don't mind people seeing me on her! Good luck!



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[hsl_300]

Hiya,

thanks very much indeed!

That's an absolute wealth of information - far more than I've managed to get out of any of the boat yards around where I'm moored (in Penryn, incidentally).

It does sound like quite a job, but I think you've put most of my fears to rest.


Thanks again,

Paul

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[tritonofnor]

have got an excellent book or two on the subject as well... I'll look up some details when I get back to the boat and post them here.

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[mickshep]

I restored a 1946 built 5 Tonner a couple of years back, She was D/diagonal Teak and the timber was like new when scraped back. Good luck, Mike.

<hr width=100% size=1>"Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me."

 

[Ifraser]

you say you are the "increasingly dubious" owner of an Ex-Raf hsl. I am looking around for an ex raf vessel to restore to operational condition. if you want to sell the boat I might be interested. Also if you know of any other ex raf Hulls I would be keen to hear. Thanks Iain

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[hsl_300]

dubious...but not despondant

Thanks for the interest anyway and if I *do* hear of another one for sale, I'll let you know...


Paul

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