a classic then and now

AustinG

Found this video today on MGB 81. A lot of inaccurate waffling but interesting all the same. For some reason they didn't mention Phil Clabburn who originally saved the boat (was a houseboat) and totally re-built it (re-launched in 2000) with the 3 x 1000hp MAN diesels which were mentioned. Sounds like they are trying to take all the credit for rebuilding it when it's more a case of old boat maintenance. Another boat he was involved in restoring was a seaplane tender (ST1502 I think) All of these boats were sold to The Portsmouth Naval Base property trust

He also restored HSL 102 and there is a TV video item with him talking about the boat and it being driven by the reporter. They also had to re-engine the 102 due to apparent lack of maintenance and thrashing by the trust of the 3 Cummins diesels fitted by Clabburn. The wheelhouse and interior were re-built to original admiralty plans which he sent to the owner of the only other 64ft HSL here in Auckland NZ to give him information on the hull. The NZ boat has been re-modelled into a luxury launch with full aircon, pop up tv etc in a total interior and topsides rebuild, virtually back to a bare hull.

Propulsion is now by a single Detroit 8V 92T - around 430hp(from memory) which still gets the boat along at 22knots (1/2 the original speed from 1/3 the horsepower!)

I was fortunate to have been on board this boat twice, -once in 1968 when it was original, and again 50yrs later in its' new form, arranged by a friend of mine. Still a modern looking hull despite being built in 1939 (shipped to RNZAF in 1940) Pics are the various stages in its' life. I took my model of it in original form along for a few pics with its big sister as well. Its' name is its' original RNZAF number - W1 (watercraft 1) the first RNZAF boat to be numbered.

I've posted some of this before, but newer members might be interested. '

JB

https://www.berthon.co.uk/shipyard/yacht-refits-refurb/ww2-mgb-81-motor-gun-boat