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[sheerline]

We have just bought this old Seamaster which has been languishing in a boatyard for the past 8 years. We are currently engaged in ripping it apart and refurbishing it on a very limited timescale.The original petrol Ford engine had been discarded and a 1500cc Diesel has been fittedbut we don't know what make the thing is. Any of you old salty dogs out there got any ideas given the limited pictures Iv'e managed to take.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Chris

[sheerline]

OOps. did it again !!! Here are the pictures.

[sheerline]

Some more...

[sheerline]

Another of the engine, sorry, its not a lot to go on but someone might recognise it!

[Martin (Admin)]

the draft on this may be a bit too much for the Wicksteed pond........no harm in trying though....steering comp will definately be out though.....

[sheerline]

Martin, for a 25 footer this thing is very heavily built and it's one of the reasons we bought it. It might even displace Wicksteed pond!

[cdsc123]

Hard to tell from on top, I'd say a BMC.

[Stavros]

What does it say on the manifold and can you see any markings on the block

stavros

[sheerline]

I had a look at a marine BMC engine in another boat and it had the same rocker cover as all the old roadgoing BMC engines we used to have years ago. This one has me stumped as there does'nt appear to be anything stamped on the block casting but then again, unless I take it out, I can't get underneath to see properly.
I bled the fuel system through and fired it up whilst the water pickup dangled in a bucket and she seems just fine, lit up immediately and no smoke so next step is an oil change.
I have ripped out 90% of the wiring and most of the instrumentation and a full re-wire will be done this week. There are four of us crawling all over the thing at the moment, going hell for leather to get everything done in a fortnight! It's a tall order but we might just do it if the weather holds up.
Sure does make a refreshing change from subs.

[sheerline]

More pics, lots to get through!

[petesubman]

Hi Chris, ive been doing what your doing since last september ,the subs have taken a back seat , ours has just gone back in the water ,boating 98% hard graft 2% pleasure, but that 2% will be worth it , as for the engine it may be a bmc captain , or even a perkins ,whatever Chris best of luck with her, regards Pete

[sheerline]

Hi Pete, 'Avast behind shipmate' and good to hear from you! We dicovered from the original papers that this boat is now 40 years old.I can now confirm some details re the engine,.. its a Perkins 1408! I was ignorant of the motor / box arrangement in this boat when we bought it and discovered it had been coupled to a Hurth 2:1 ratio box, an arrangement more suited to a tug than a cruiser! The prop fitted to the boat was an 11x7inch and this was originally driven directly (ungeared) from an old originally fitted Ford petrol engine. As the Perkins diesel and Hurth box has now been fitted, the ideal prop for this setup should really be a 17x 7 or thereabouts but as we have little clearance, we can only squeeze a 12inch on as we have to leave a 10% clearence under the hull to avoid cavitation. This means we have had to go oversquare in an effort to soak up the power so the best we can fit is a 12x16!! (Ruddy expensive)
We got an extension on the time for the re-fit and have completely re-worked the old girl inside and out and with a bit of luck, she goes in the water next week.
Engine and transmission all up and running, complete re-wire with new instrument panel, lighting, nav lights, horns etc. Interior completely re-fitted and carpeted throughout and a complete new 'head' installed. The whole vessel has been completely sanded and re-painted. She has passed her boat safety scheme and has now been registered... lets hope she floats ok!
I stripped, cleaned and re-fitted the fuel tank and lines and we have yet to put Diesel into it... it holds 30 gallons... it will break the ruddy bank at todays prices!
I have been away for a week and number one son has been putting some finishing touches on her in readiness for the launch but it doesn't look as though I am going to enjoy the fruits of my labour for a while as I have got a fair amount of work to get through after this weekend and will be busy for a while.
I guess the whole thing is another labour of love for me as summer will have come and gone by the time I get a chance to go out and play.
If I don't have the usual numbskull problems, I should have attached some  up dated pics to this post first go... fingers crossed... ready...




 

[sheerline]

She flies! We finally got the old lady on the water and it has taken three times longer to get there than we originally anticipated. We got to bed at around 2:00am on snday night and up again at 6:00am again and down the yard for last minute tweaks and launch preparation. She was dragged fom her deathbed and launched without incident at around 8:30am.
The new prop seems to soak up the power from the engine  just fine with no overloading or cavitation. She has a decent turn of speed given her registered 6 tons weight and crawls along at 3 -5 knots with a gentle rythmical burble from the exhaust. The chaps who advised us on props seem to have got it just about right I'd say.
The trip to her new home on the broads took around an hour and a half and was not without incident. The motor was decidedly unhappy at times and became somewhat smokey and erratic causing us to heave to on a couple of occasions. We finally nailed the problem down to a blocked injector spill rail which was caused when some clown had, in the past, soldered the banjo fittings and blocked it with solder. Once cleared, the engine cleared its throat and was transformed into a smooth running unit.
The boat turns on a sixpence (two and a half pence for the youngsters) and is a sheer delight to operate.
There are still a few loose ends like a bit more wiring and trim to fit but it's mostly done and I will get around to those jobs when I have recovered from the exhaustion of it all.
All we need now is some sunshine, a barbeque and most importantly some spare time.
Right now I am completely knackered and need a holiday!
Don't know if the pics will be any good as I took them off my video camera!   

[Martin (Admin)]

Hey, I've just had an idea for a Mayhemers weekend out on the broads... and I know where we can get a boat!  ::)

She's looking good Sheerline! 

Martin

[JayDee]

Hello Chris,

You, and your family, have every right to be very proud of your selves.
What an achievement!, a fabulous job, Well Done !!

JayDee,         

[banjo]

 
I've got to echo JD;

Terrific job....

"God Bless all who sail in her" etc etc etc....