Napier Sea Lion engine.

burgundyben

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I need a napier sea lion engine, 24ltr, 12 cylinders, lots of references to them on the web but none for sale, I know of a few but all in museums.

If not I'll have ot use something modern.

Anyone got one in the shed?

P.S. New sandvik scrapers are nothing short of miracle tool.
 

Mirelle

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Although I come from Colchester, where the Sea Lion now in the Napier Bentley was found under a woodpile, I have never heard of another.

(Which is not to say that a sortie round the back of Paxmans or Regulateurs Europa might not turn something up, of course!)

550 hp of something modern seems a more promising line of enquiry than 24 litres of naturally aspirated W configuration petrol engine.

My late father spent enough time in Hubert Scott Paine powerboats, whilst being paid by King George VI to go yachting in the Med, to develop a hearty dislike for the Napier Sea Lion and indeed the Packard, like most of his comrades he reckoned the E Boat was far better - diesel, hydraulics, etc.
 

Peterduck

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Have you spoken to anyone at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford? They seem to have a mine of spare aircraft parts from the 1940's,although I think that the Napier Lion was from an earlier period, wasn't it?
Allison also produced their own water-cooled V12 since they couldn't get the Merlin contract. It was used in the P-40 Kittyhawk. There are probably plenty of those floating around the US still.
Peter.
 

burgundyben

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I've seen the Napier Bentley and the Napier Railton in action. The Bentley put on a spectacular show at the VSCC Prescott Hill climb the year before last, I could harldy see it for tyre smoke!

The Lions I know of are one on display in the science museum, one hanging in S6B in the science museum, one in the bentley, one in the railton, one sectioned one at Brooklands, one in a museum in Malta.

I have checked the likely housboats on the hamble, have yet to check those on the Itchen or Shoreham where there is a few.
 

Casey

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Two of these engines were brought back to this country about five years ago from the Caribbean. They had been exposed to the elements for some considerable time and were badly corroded. They were regarded as not worth restoring for the project the National Motor Museum had in mind and were passed on to the Air museum in Southampton. There is another one in a garage in Nottingham - something like Donneys or Dunnys - and that one is a runner. The owner was going to build a car around it but it could be worth chasing up

Sorry my info is a bit late but I have only today seen the man with the answers!!
 

Bilgediver

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How about houseboats in the Stour at Christchurch below Tuckton....years ago Jason went walkabout once a year round IOW as that was as much petrol owners could afford /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Are they still there ????
 

Mirelle

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I posted news of your quest for a Sea Lion in Another Place, and received this reply, which looks like a very promising lead:

"I believe if anyone in the U.S. knows of an available Sea Lion, it would be this guy:

Mark Mason
New England Boat & Motor
28 Center St
Laconia, New Hampshire 03246
(603) 528-3411

He owns Baby Bootlegger and has rebuilt or recreated many of the most important U.S. Gold Cup/Sweepstakes boats in existence.

Failing that, sending emissaries to the last nations employing them in military applications may be useful. I would imagine Janes' to be of some use, if you can find a library with the collection.

I think that's how (the late local legend) Bernie Little came across a roomful of pristine Griffons in Australia..."
 
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