drewstwos
Well-Known Member
More on Grandad\'s flybridge steam yacht, rediscovered pic.
Reflections 17. More about Grandad’s steam yacht, with a fly bridge no less.
I now continue the tale of the research into what became of Grandad’s steam yacht, as requested by interested people on the forum.
Just to refresh your memories, I am trying to find out what happened to Grandad’s steam yacht.. the Runa. I knew she was in the family in 1910 but was commandeered by the Navy as a communication vessel during the First World War, but nothing more. I did post a pic of her. But its here again as you will need to see what I am writing about.
Having to leave the Isle for a few days, we called into Liverpool where they have the Maritime Museum down at the Albert Dock. I found the reference section where such things as the Lloyds Register of Yachts is kept; but hidden away somewhere in the depths of the building. Odd, that as the Register of Shipping is there on display on yards, ooops, metres of shelves. (Guess I’m past my sell by date to embrace the metric system with fervour). I had to fill in several request forms.. one for each year I was interested in. In due course a pile of books was deposited in front of me. Some years were missing, so I had also to make my way to the main Picton Library as well where I found some of the missing ones.
Well….I had thought all my life that G’Dad had had the Runa built. Wrong!!! She was originally built in 1904.
Built in Leith by Ramage and Ferguson Ltd of steel. And registered in Southampton.
LOA 85ft 4 ins Beam 16ft 1 in Draft 6 ft forward, 9 ft 4 ins aft. And described as an Aux Schooner. A schooner, sheesh and other epithets. OK her LOA /Beam is the 5 : 1 ratio usual for that era and she may well have been sailed at some time, but judging by the height of the masts. If they are the original ones which I doubt, they must have been cut down, and the what about the funnel. A schooner has the mizzen higher than the fore.
The Register tells me that motor was a 2 cyl 2cf GS 24 HS 490 120lb. C2 10”-20”-17”. Whatever that may mean, but my engineering past tells me that the 120 lb is the boiler pressure, and I think the 10” is the high pressure cylinder bore, the 20” could be the low pressure one and the 17” is probably the stroke. It then gives the NHP.. that’s the nominal horsepower as 22. Hmmmmm!!! As a auxiliary, yes, but for main engine, on an 85 ft boat ???
This is why I reposted the pic. I see no rigging, booms, yards, as on a raggie. So she must have been on engine alone. The different year books for the register show that engine as the one installed year on year. So who am I to take issue with Lloyds Register.
Maybe I should, as I now have found a book written by my Grandfather about the life of Uncle George. He who fell at the battle of the Somme. There is now proof that the Runa was completely rebuilt in 1910. There is a lot of detail of the ‘engines’ plural and their coal and water consumption, and speeds at various rpm. For example, 30 rpm = 1.64 kts. Up to 192 rpm = 10 kts.
And the suggestion that they actually reached 70 hp… each presumably, but that is not detailed. Oh joy unconfined, all is now revealed.
Also it is mentioned that she was laid up in Castletown harbour 1915 to 1917, so I talked to the HM there as to where all the records were kept. His reply was either in Douglas Harbour or the Heritage Museum. I shall check there soon. But while we were talking he said he was sure he had a photo of her in Port Erin bay. Sure enough he did. It’s a real oldie but I scanned it. It is possible to see people on the bridge, perhaps Grandmother and Grandfather, with a daughter, who could be Mum.
Now don’t you think this is the original flybridge cruiser? The bridge is surrounded by a canvas dodger as in this pic it is rolled up like a furled sail and down in the other one.
The Runa was originally named the Ieena, in 1904 and the Runa in 1910. She kept that name from that point on. The given weights are Displacement 130 tons, Gross = 80. Thames yacht measurement = 95 tons.
In 1919 just after the war she was sold to a firm in Liverpool called J Gale and Co and in 1920 to a London addressed gentleman called H.C.Hutchinson. who kept her in Preston. He was then the owner until 1924 when she dropped off the Register. But to whom and where did she go, that is the question.
I had a clue, gratefully received from the forum about a same name and year boat in Norway, being possibly renovated. Unfortunately it turns out that she is not the one, but again many thanks to Spannerman for his help.
Also just to add a bit of nostalgia here's a pic of the Ladybird.
She was the boat before the Runa... a nice little 50 ft steamer, judging by the people on deck. If you like I shall see if I can get more details of her history. I think she was built in the late 1800s, but a nice comparison with those on the forum who tend to upgrade at frequent intervals.
So let’s get up to date. The trip back to the Isle was on the Seacat. And as we were doing some 40kts I couldn’t resist posting this.
OK there have been several like it on the forum and its old hat I know, but this is on a boat a bit bigger than usual.
The seacat does go when out past the Liverpool bar. No not the alcolic sort....
Must just finish this post by mentioning that we here on the IOM have just had two more of the most fabulous consecutive boating weather days this year. Two days of no wind and flat flat sea, with wall to wall, well horizon to horizon sun. Great for us moboers, but not too good for the raggies
If only the weather persons had got it right, I’d have done the trip to Ireland that I have wanted to do all summer. Still, there’s next year……..
Drew.
Reflections 17. More about Grandad’s steam yacht, with a fly bridge no less.
I now continue the tale of the research into what became of Grandad’s steam yacht, as requested by interested people on the forum.
Just to refresh your memories, I am trying to find out what happened to Grandad’s steam yacht.. the Runa. I knew she was in the family in 1910 but was commandeered by the Navy as a communication vessel during the First World War, but nothing more. I did post a pic of her. But its here again as you will need to see what I am writing about.
Having to leave the Isle for a few days, we called into Liverpool where they have the Maritime Museum down at the Albert Dock. I found the reference section where such things as the Lloyds Register of Yachts is kept; but hidden away somewhere in the depths of the building. Odd, that as the Register of Shipping is there on display on yards, ooops, metres of shelves. (Guess I’m past my sell by date to embrace the metric system with fervour). I had to fill in several request forms.. one for each year I was interested in. In due course a pile of books was deposited in front of me. Some years were missing, so I had also to make my way to the main Picton Library as well where I found some of the missing ones.
Well….I had thought all my life that G’Dad had had the Runa built. Wrong!!! She was originally built in 1904.
Built in Leith by Ramage and Ferguson Ltd of steel. And registered in Southampton.
LOA 85ft 4 ins Beam 16ft 1 in Draft 6 ft forward, 9 ft 4 ins aft. And described as an Aux Schooner. A schooner, sheesh and other epithets. OK her LOA /Beam is the 5 : 1 ratio usual for that era and she may well have been sailed at some time, but judging by the height of the masts. If they are the original ones which I doubt, they must have been cut down, and the what about the funnel. A schooner has the mizzen higher than the fore.
The Register tells me that motor was a 2 cyl 2cf GS 24 HS 490 120lb. C2 10”-20”-17”. Whatever that may mean, but my engineering past tells me that the 120 lb is the boiler pressure, and I think the 10” is the high pressure cylinder bore, the 20” could be the low pressure one and the 17” is probably the stroke. It then gives the NHP.. that’s the nominal horsepower as 22. Hmmmmm!!! As a auxiliary, yes, but for main engine, on an 85 ft boat ???
This is why I reposted the pic. I see no rigging, booms, yards, as on a raggie. So she must have been on engine alone. The different year books for the register show that engine as the one installed year on year. So who am I to take issue with Lloyds Register.
Maybe I should, as I now have found a book written by my Grandfather about the life of Uncle George. He who fell at the battle of the Somme. There is now proof that the Runa was completely rebuilt in 1910. There is a lot of detail of the ‘engines’ plural and their coal and water consumption, and speeds at various rpm. For example, 30 rpm = 1.64 kts. Up to 192 rpm = 10 kts.
And the suggestion that they actually reached 70 hp… each presumably, but that is not detailed. Oh joy unconfined, all is now revealed.
Also it is mentioned that she was laid up in Castletown harbour 1915 to 1917, so I talked to the HM there as to where all the records were kept. His reply was either in Douglas Harbour or the Heritage Museum. I shall check there soon. But while we were talking he said he was sure he had a photo of her in Port Erin bay. Sure enough he did. It’s a real oldie but I scanned it. It is possible to see people on the bridge, perhaps Grandmother and Grandfather, with a daughter, who could be Mum.
Now don’t you think this is the original flybridge cruiser? The bridge is surrounded by a canvas dodger as in this pic it is rolled up like a furled sail and down in the other one.
The Runa was originally named the Ieena, in 1904 and the Runa in 1910. She kept that name from that point on. The given weights are Displacement 130 tons, Gross = 80. Thames yacht measurement = 95 tons.
In 1919 just after the war she was sold to a firm in Liverpool called J Gale and Co and in 1920 to a London addressed gentleman called H.C.Hutchinson. who kept her in Preston. He was then the owner until 1924 when she dropped off the Register. But to whom and where did she go, that is the question.
I had a clue, gratefully received from the forum about a same name and year boat in Norway, being possibly renovated. Unfortunately it turns out that she is not the one, but again many thanks to Spannerman for his help.
Also just to add a bit of nostalgia here's a pic of the Ladybird.
She was the boat before the Runa... a nice little 50 ft steamer, judging by the people on deck. If you like I shall see if I can get more details of her history. I think she was built in the late 1800s, but a nice comparison with those on the forum who tend to upgrade at frequent intervals.
So let’s get up to date. The trip back to the Isle was on the Seacat. And as we were doing some 40kts I couldn’t resist posting this.
OK there have been several like it on the forum and its old hat I know, but this is on a boat a bit bigger than usual.
The seacat does go when out past the Liverpool bar. No not the alcolic sort....
Must just finish this post by mentioning that we here on the IOM have just had two more of the most fabulous consecutive boating weather days this year. Two days of no wind and flat flat sea, with wall to wall, well horizon to horizon sun. Great for us moboers, but not too good for the raggies
If only the weather persons had got it right, I’d have done the trip to Ireland that I have wanted to do all summer. Still, there’s next year……..
Drew.
