Category: Steam power

Douglas Marine completes a Selway-Fisher designed steam launch hull

If like me you were a little intrigued by the photos of the steam launch recently completed by Douglas Marine, here are some more photos and details provided by assistant manager Andrew Bedwell.

Built for a private customer, she’s 8m long and is based on the Selway-Fisher Snow Bunting design, modified by Selway Fisher. Her hull was built by Farrow & Chambers, which closed down shortly after the construction of the hull and it was at that point that the owner engaged Douglas Marine to complete the build, including work to construct and fit all the internal furniture, equipment housings and canopy roof.

The owner designed, sourced and installed the steam engine installation himself, with Douglas Marine’s help providing various mountings, housings and bespoke machined parts.

The detailed design and planning work for the fit-out and timber machining work was done in-house by Douglas Marine using a mix of traditional boat building materials and techniques and modern materials, with the aim of minimising maintenance. Finishing methods included epoxy sheathing and coating, traditional single pack coach painting, two-pack spray painting and traditional varnish work.

To put the final touches to the project, Douglas Marine also arranged specially tailored upholstery, a flat trailing cover and an all-round cover to allow the customer to enjoy boating in harsh weather.

Thereare photos of the build and more information  here.

Douglas Marine is currently recruiting: see the earlier post for information.

 

 

Senior shipwright sought for motor launch project

A steam boat recently refurbished by Douglas Marine, and the new project

Andrew Bedwell of Douglas Marine, Preston has written to say that the yard is looking for a senior shipwright to work on a rebuild of a 1932 Dutch motor launch – the owner is a timber merchant with 3d tooling available and just wants his boat put back to new condition – not necessarily identical to the original, but in keeping.

Our senior shipwright is leaving and will be missed, and his leaving creates a gap for for the company.

The person could work on a contract only or could work full-time if they wished. There is accommodation onsite if it’s needed (a mobile home overlooking the river and moor).

Contact Andrew at tel 01772 812462 and douglasmarine1@ymail.com

The People Liner’s – Britain’s Lost Pleasure Fleets

The People's Liners

If you can see it, don’t miss this cracking little BBC programme, with great rememniscences, some lovely old films, some nice history, and some great stories. It’s one of the things that makes the BBC great – and makes me wonder whethe the folks who would get rid of it know what they’re doing…

And example of the stories is the one about the Queen Victoria. It seems the Cunard folks commissioned John Brown & Company to build a new liner on Clydebank, and decided to name her the Queen Victoria. Being upright, proper gents with a bit of access, they decided to as the King for permission to use the name.

So they went to see King George V, and duly asked ‘We would like permission to call the ship Queen… ‘

They hadn’t got to the ‘Victoria’ bit when the Royal personage butted in with ‘Mary would be delighted to have the ship named after her’. So they went back to their office and were unable to change the plan.

A small problem was that there already was a Queen Mary, a steamer operating on the Clyde. So a deal had to be done… Cunard got it’s Queen Mary, and the Clyde steamer became Queen Mary II.

The blurb, by the way, says:

‘Far more than a means of transport, these steamers attracted a devoted following, treating their passengers, whatever their pocket, to the adventure and trappings of an ocean voyage whilst actually rarely venturing out of sight of land. A highlight of the great British seaside holiday from the 1820s until the early 1960s – and open to all – they were “the people’s liners”.’