William Osborne Owners

[Bruce1679]

Hello

As owners of a 1960s, 37 foot express cruiser from William Osborne we are looking to connect with owners to share knowledge and progress.

We scoured the web for info and unfortunately looks like the owner group is down. We have set up a Facebook group called William Osborne Owners Group.

If anyone is aware of information sources around the boats or the company it would be great fully received.

 

[burgundyben]

There was a user here called Aztec, he had a Kingswift for many years.

 

[jbweston]

My mother and father owned Lillena II in the early 1970s, She was (and still is) a 37 foot Osborne. She was based in Poole at the RMYC in Sandbanks and then in Lymington.
SOLD - 37ft. OSBORNE EXPRESS CRUISER - 1968 - Project for Completion - Lying: Surrey - Classic Yacht Brokerage
and
37ft Osborne Express Cruiser Project Restoration for sale from United Kingdom

If anyone is interested I know a little of her history.

 

[Airmanconsult]

My mother and father owned Lillena II in the early 1970s, She was (and still is) a 37 foot Osborne. She was based in Poole at the RMYC in Sandbanks and then in Lymington.
SOLD - 37ft. OSBORNE EXPRESS CRUISER - 1968 - Project for Completion - Lying: Surrey - Classic Yacht Brokerage
and
37ft Osborne Express Cruiser Project Restoration for sale from United Kingdom

If anyone is interested I know a little of her history.

Hi, We are the current owners of Lillena 11 and now known as Finesse.
We have carried out a 3 year systematic rebuild of her and now completing plumbing and wiring.
She now has a good survey and almost ready to go back to sea.
Would love to hear about her past.
We are based at Thornham Marina should you wish to view her, just let me know.
Kind regards Brian

 

[jbweston]

Hi, We are the current owners of Lillena 11 and now known as Finesse.
We have carried out a 3 year systematic rebuild of her and now completing plumbing and wiring.
She now has a good survey and almost ready to go back to sea.
Would love to hear about her past.
We are based at Thornham Marina should you wish to view her, just let me know.
Kind regards Brian

Hi Brian

I just happened to be on here when you posted the above.

I'll be very interested to see Finesse, and in the meantime will put finger to keyboard to type up what I know of her early history.

I have some old photos and many colour slides but unfortunately they're not grouped by boat name but mixed with a load of family stuff. It will take me longer to sort them out. Here are a couple of pics, scanned from old colour prints so not brilliant quality. Taken when the boat was based at Berthon in Lymington, probably around 1975.

Julian

 

[jbweston]

PS I see from an old copy of Lloyd's Register of Yachts that Finesse was her original name, so you have restored that too.

Also in the above photo of her in her berth, the sailing boat at the extreme right is Clare Francis' Nicholson 32, 'Gulliver G' in which she had sailed singlehanded across the Atlantic in 1973. Just a historical note.

 

[Airmanconsult]

Julian,

Many thanks for response and the photos.
It is definitely our boat shown in the photos.
We have changed a few things following our purchase of her, she now has an Ocean Blue hull and white topsides.
Teak decks are now coated in wood skin.
The engines are untouched but thoroughly serviced with new instrumentation with electronic gauges rather than the copper capillary tubes.
We have added an 8kw generator for mains power
All hatches replaced and additional ones fitted to allow some air in the cabin.
We are currently replumbing and finishing off all new electrics.
We have fitted a navigation station in the front cabin so all instruments are inside.
A new instrument panel has replaced the old Formica white unit with new switches and gauges
Some more of the old photos would be great just to see what she was like.

 

[Airmanconsult]

PS I see from an old copy of Lloyd's Register of Yachts that Finesse was her original name, so you have restored that too.

Also in the above photo of her in her berth, the sailing boat at the extreme right is Clare Francis' Nicholson 32, 'Gulliver G' in which she had sailed singlehanded across the Atlantic in 1973. Just a historical note.

Hi Julian,
A copy of the LLoyds register would be great if you have that available ?
I cannot find anything on line.

Many thanks and regards Brian

 

[Airmanconsult]

Hi Julien,

We have now relaunched Escapade yesterday after some 24 years on the hard.
Only leaks where round the stern tube logs !
Says something for the build quality.
Hope your summer season is going well.

Kind regards Brian

 

[MoodySabre]

There's one in Bradwell called Fulvia. It was sold a few years back when the owner died and was at Burnhan YH for a while before returning to Bradwell with a new owner.

 

[Airmanconsult]

Hi,

Many thanks for responding.
We understand that only two Osborne “Martins” were built so I will do some investigating on line for Fulvia.

Kind regards Brian

 

[MoodySabre]

Hi,

Many thanks for responding.
We understand that only two Osborne “Martins” were built so I will do some investigating on line for Fulvia.

Kind regards Brian

I don’t know any more. It was berthed right across from us. I recall the owner saying that they designed to be lifeboats but some like his became private mobos. Perhaps this is not the model you enquired about.

 

[jbweston]

Hi Julien,

We have now relaunched Escapade yesterday after some 24 years on the hard.
Only leaks where round the stern tube logs !
Says something for the build quality.
Hope your summer season is going well.

Kind regards Brian

Hi Brian

That's good news. Now for sea trials?

I've been afloat moving my boat from Falmouth to Kip on the Clyde via Ireland.

 

[Airmanconsult]

Julien,

It will be a little while before the sea trials, we have the fuel line, filters, boat plumbing and electrics to finish off.
Maybe a trip round the harbour to sort out the engines first and make sure we are not a case for the lifeboats.
Hope your trip has gone without any problems ?

Kind regards Brian

 

[jbweston]

Yes, trip went well thanks.

 

[Airmanconsult]

Yes, trip went well thanks.

Hi Julien,

I must have had a mature moment as I see I called the boat Escapade, that is the name of my sailing boat which I owned for over 20 years. We are still progressing the interior of the boat with miles of wiring and plumbing.
It’s great having her afloat now and possible to stay on board.

 

[MoodySabre]

Here are some photos of Fulvia

 

[Airmanconsult]

Hi,

Many thanks for attaching the photos of Fulvia.
She looks like a later version of our Finesse as windows are a later design and extra spray rail on bow / semi enclosed wheel house.
Is this one fiberglass or wooden hull ?

Kind regards Brian

 

[MoodySabre]

Hi,

Many thanks for attaching the photos of Fulvia.
She looks like a later version of our Finesse as windows are a later design and extra spray rail on bow / semi enclosed wheel house.
Is this one fiberglass or wooden hull ?

Kind regards Brian

I didn’t think to check the hull material. She looks like fibreglass. I’m not there until next Monday to check.