Our new / old boat

bigshineybike

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Hello Im new here. Been getting advice from YBW for so long and eventually have been approved to join in.
I have just bought a wooden boat. We are currently waiting for delivery. Currently planning a floating restoration. Before we do too much remodelling I was hoping to find out a little history. Why it was built and how it may have looked when new.
The seller described it as ;
23ft Carvel wooden river launch from the 1930’s. Built in St. Mawes, Cornwall. She may have been used as a ship to shore pilot vessel in Harwich Harbour during the war.
She was once owned by the Edme Company of Mistley, Essex.
She spent three generations in the ownership of a family of fruit farmers in Essex.
The boat has a semi sheltered helm in an open aft cockpit with bench seating.
Inside a cabin with two berths and a simple galley area.
There is a substantial iron windlass, anchor and chain in the bow, more than is required in a river?.
While looking for this boat we found two very similar boats for sale, Keff built in Fowey it was suggested and a Maid Madeline which did not have a history but which is identical in many ways.

The boat is called Nesta and has been used around Walton on the Naze. I wonder if anyone knows it?


Im particularly interested in;
The windscreen looks very wrong to me I wonder if it would've had one when new?
The roof light over the cabin looks far too big, perhaps its been taken off another boat?
What size engine it would have had in 1930 Its now got a 1979 18 hp diesel

Its is currently carrying a huge quantity of lead in its bilges. A friend suggested that it was built as a Gentlemans cruiser (albeit a little small for a Gentleman of the period) and that during its war use in the sea it may have needed the additional ballast for stability.
Nesta-long-shot-no-covers-Auto-855x280.jpg



I hope to be able to update you all as things progress. Launch date is currently 31st May!
 
Just a thought. If practical use the boat for a season before starting any 'remodelling'. That way you will get a better idea of what does or does not need changing for your use.
The cockpit shelter and rooflight may well be a later additions, but could make the boat more comfortable, depending on where she will eventually be based. Tabernacle indicates a mast, might she have had a sailing rig at some time? This could explain the ballast. There will be evidence of chainplates for standing rigging if so.

All the best with the project.
 
The photograph is taken in front of Halls & Co boatyard at Walton. Trevor Hall would be the first point of contact, and if it's been in the area a long time the Walton & Frinton Yacht Club just adjacent may have an elderly member who remembers some history. There's nothing I could find in a trawl through Lloyds Registers 1930-1980. The other boat (I assume in the Wooden Ships advert http://www.woodenships.co.uk/small-craft/single-screw-cabin-cruiser/) certainly looks very similar with a much more in keeping main hatch.
 
Thanks for that. You are correct on both point Nesta is currently at Halls. Trevor is being a great help.
The wooden ships advert is a boat we looked at back when they wanted £5.5 for it, the first wooden boat we saw in our quest to find something. We were disappointed as it did not live up to the sales photos but in hindsight our cost /condition expectation was a bit out.
 
'Nesta' looks a typical launch/cabin boat type of her era. The wheel shelter is almost certainly a later addition and, as you say the skylight may be from another vessel.
Here are a couple of pics of a 25ft boat I used to own. The first is 'as found' in 1982 - with added cabin top and wheel shelter and the other in the later years of my ownership. She was very much like a Kelvin launch but we did not know how old she was. Her pitch pine planking was all full-length, there was not a scarf in the boat!
F089F03A-8049-4C51-A3B2-2384B46D16CC.JPG32DFB261-4C9B-4B0B-9EBB-7C0550903DC6.jpg
 
Thanks for the Kelvin Launch tip. googling kelvin launch brought up some interesting leads. Getting exciting now delivery is days away.....
 
WP_20170603_19_34_29_Pro.jpg
so we got her through the BSS after four weeks of fiddling with a new properly welded fuel tank (original Sabb stainless steel tank was soft lead soldered.) new fuel lines of iso rubber in place of clear garden hose! breathers on the tank with fire traps swan neck to prevent spills, new fuse board battery wiring battery isolator battery box with ventilation cabin ventilation warning signs and fire extinguisher.
We took off the gas cooker and gas bottle box.
The bilge is not filling so quickly after a month on the water. thanks partly to a bilge pump with an impeller!
Next jobs are some basic comfort items like a generator for the engine so it can charge its own batteries. The real work then begins on the wooden bits!
 
Her pitch pine planking was all full-length, there was not a scarf in the boat!

That's a proper build. I once looked over a Brooke Marine, 34ft and no butt ends.

View attachment 65139
so we got her through the BSS after four weeks of fiddling with a new properly welded fuel tank (original Sabb stainless steel tank was soft lead soldered.) new fuel lines of iso rubber in place of clear garden hose! breathers on the tank with fire traps swan neck to prevent spills, new fuse board battery wiring battery isolator battery box with ventilation cabin ventilation warning signs and fire extinguisher.
We took off the gas cooker and gas bottle box.
The bilge is not filling so quickly after a month on the water. thanks partly to a bilge pump with an impeller!
Next jobs are some basic comfort items like a generator for the engine so it can charge its own batteries. The real work then begins on the wooden bits!

Sounds like you are off to a flying start.

Solar panel?
 
Hello

Nesta was in my Family for 3 generations. She started life as Directors boat for Edme Maltings ltd. She was requisitioned as a pilot boat at Harwich during WW2. She has been on the River Stour moored at wrabness and Manningtree, where she had a launching slip way akin to a RNLI ramped launch, the steel cradle still exists at the site. She had a new engine fitted by Freddy Smmethe at the boatyard in Dedham (now boathouse restaurant).

My brother re corked her some years ago and painted her yearly. The canopy was retrofitted by my grandafather. My brother replaced it some years ago.

She is a well known boat on the River Stour, very pleased to hear she is in good hands, happy to discuss more. plbc@live.co.uk.
 
Hello Guy
Thanks so much for this. I think My wife amanda spoke to your Brother. we must get in touch again soon to fill in more details.
The boat is currently out of the water being repainted. The latest canopy alas has not survived and is currently removed ready for replacement.
The engine still runs well. The old blakes head is coming back together in polished brass. You all did a great job looking after her.
You and any of your family are very very welcome to come have a trip on her sometime after April on the river at Sunbury where she is moored throughout the year.
Alex
 
2018 Sail Pastsmaa.jpg
An update, bit late. We've been using Nesta for over a year now. She came out of the water for the winter, we did quite a lot but there is still much to do.
We are very privileged to be looking after this boat although her past is still a mystery beyond what we were told by Guy and his brother.
Sorry we haven been in touch with any of the sailing clubs on the Stour but will get round to that one day. She is very well admired on the Thames with positive comments from many who see her.
We added a memorable entry to her provenance this summer having been invited to be a tow boat with the Royal swan uppers.
It just keeps getting better.
 
That is an absolutely lovely boat! I like the lines of it a lot, and the round portholes of course. I knew joining a UK boating forum would bear good fruit. :-)
 
View attachment 65139
so we got her through the BSS after four weeks of fiddling with a new properly welded fuel tank (original Sabb stainless steel tank was soft lead soldered.) new fuel lines of iso rubber in place of clear garden hose! breathers on the tank with fire traps swan neck to prevent spills, new fuse board battery wiring battery isolator battery box with ventilation cabin ventilation warning signs and fire extinguisher.
We took off the gas cooker and gas bottle box.
The bilge is not filling so quickly after a month on the water. thanks partly to a bilge pump with an impeller!
Next jobs are some basic comfort items like a generator for the engine so it can charge its own batteries. The real work then begins on the wooden bits!

I think the S/S fuel tank might have been silver soldered. Phillip Vincent, who mad the HRD and Vincent motorcycles pioneered the use of soldered S/S, which he used for the tank sides in the pre war series A HRD's.
IIRC. a special flux and solder were required, the solder being similar to silver solder.
No wonder the BSS man did not like it!
A great Project, good luck and enjoy.
 
Thanks everyone. current news is that I am desperate for a Sabb cylinder head for the 18hp 2H engine.
Nesta is in the water and the weather has been great for boating but I have the engine in bits.
I have found one for sale in Germany at £600 ill do that if I have to but would prefer to buy one in UK that I can see.
I am attempting to repair the crack in my old one. I have been describing the fun here if you have face book;
https://www.facebook.com/groups/916532258364171/
 
A quick update. Nesta has been fitted with a good second hand cylinder head and benefits from and engine out rebuild and paint. Lots more cleaning and painting. This feels like the first time I have been able to simply enjoy sailing her for quite some time.
We are honoured to be invited for a second time to be a tow boat with the royal swan uppers. We're missing the first day but looking forward to the next week aboard Nesta on the Thames. I hope to stop off at the trad boat rally on the return trip. Do say hello if you see us.
 
A quick update. Nesta has been fitted with a good second hand cylinder head and benefits from and engine out rebuild and paint. Lots more cleaning and painting. This feels like the first time I have been able to simply enjoy sailing her for quite some time.
We are honoured to be invited for a second time to be a tow boat with the royal swan uppers. We're missing the first day but looking forward to the next week aboard Nesta on the Thames. I hope to stop off at the trad boat rally on the return trip. Do say hello if you see us.

Thanks for the update and very glad you’ve got your boat in commission. We would love to see some pictures of her now she’s in service.

Bill
 
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