.png.5ff10cca1d0967e44a17e4a2edde2a80.png)
Chris
-
Posts
64 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Articles
Posts posted by Chris
-
-
Only just seen this thread. I think you will all be slightly ahead of me! I leave Lowestoft for London on the 26th but should be running into Southwold for the Sunday evening.
If I can support anyone in anyway please do not hesitate to shout!
Chris
-
1
-
-
Its been a while since I've updated you all on Rake's refit so thought I'd post a few up to date photos.
Bilges are all but finished and certainly looking much better. Forward cabin was opened up to gain access to the chain locker. This was found to have a solid mass of rusted chain which had to be chopped up to get it out of the boat!
The galley has started to be pulled out ready to be replaced with something more original. The wall between the forward cabin and galley was very weak and not of any great quality so this has been pulled down and replaced ready for staining and varnishing.
Forward hatch has been taken off, cleaned up and replaced. Looking so much better.
The rear heads has been cleaned out ready for work to start on replacements.
The helm has been pulled apart. This is going to have a complete overhaul.
The original pictures of Rake's Retreat show a beautiful signal flag box. Whilst pulling the helm apart you can see where this used to be located. This will be refitted with original parts.
The original wheel has been restored to her former glory.
And to finish off Rake's Retreat will soon be renamed! She was commissioned as Estrallita in 1934 and the paperwork to put her back to her original name is being processed. 81 years later! Bad luck??? You decide!
-
11
-
-
Tidal curve looks to be returning back to normal in Yarmouth. We've been firmly on the mud at Somerleyton and listing.
-
On the afternoon of the 3rd. August 1961 the motor - yacht " Rakes Retreat " which was owned by the television personality Hughie Green who was on board at the time, was seen to be having difficulties picking up a mooring buoy in Friar's Bay. The " Field Marshal and Mrs. Smuts " was therefore launched at 5.25 pm from the Penmon and Beaumaris lifeboat stations, Anglesey, and found that the yacht's engine had broken down. A line was passed across and the yacht was towed to safety.
-
4
-
-
In June 1940 Estrellita is documented in the Ministry of War Transport list to have been commandeered by the Royal Navy. This was at the time of The Dunkirk evacuation, code-named Operation Dynamo, which took place between 27 May and 4 June 1940. We know at this time she still belonged to Mr L Clayton who was paid £12.10 for her use.
-
3
-
-
Estrellita (now Rakes Retreat) was registered in the Lloyds Register of Yachts in 1939. She is registered to the owner Lewis K. Clayton London. She is also registered has having two petrol engines. One 4 cylinder and one two cylinder.
-
1
-
-
So my father is still busy with Rakes Retreat. The chain locker has been opened up to reveal a solid lump of rusty chain. This had to be broken up with a sledge hammer and thrown out of the window. The forward cabin has then been cleaned and painted ready to be fitted out.
-
3
-
-
Hi Chris,
My wife and I would like to do the Competent Crew sailing course, albeit not on the broads, might I ask a question?
Am I right in thinking that this course would not matter if the area we took it in was tidal or not? The qualification would stand regardless.
The reason I ask is that we have done a couple of trips down the Great Glen out of Laggan with just a couple of hours basic tuition, I would like to take the course in Croatia next June and combine it with my wife's 50th. I have been told that the Adriatic, as well as the Med are classed as Non - Tidal so higher up the course ladder the qualification outcome would be different. ie Day Skipper.
Could you please clarify this point for us
Many thanks in advance
Jon & Jo
Hi Jon & Jo
I will drop you a PM.
Regards
Chris
-
1
-
-
looking at it, is it possible the bigger engine was fitted by the navy during the war to give her a better turn of speed in her role, I would assume that the main engine on its own would be enough for the broads, with the smaller engines used for close manouvering.
Grendel
Grendal
She was originally fitted with a small single engine. During the war we believe she was then fitted with the outer engines to give her her speed. The single engine was then replaced in 1997 for the larger one that in her now. Certainly the single engine is going to be more than enough for broads work. But it will be interesting to see how she behaves with all three at work. I've never had a chance to experience a triple screw boat before so I'm looking forward to the day!
-
1
-
-
A few more photos of Rake's Retreat and her current progress.
Still a bit of a clean-up operations so far. Work has started on the engine rooms to start clearing this area out of leaves, dirty and general debris. The main centre engine turns over and we are confident we can fire this up in the near future. The twin smaller engines are another story. These are older than the main engine and look like they are going to need a lot more work to get them running, we are hoping though that they can be stripped down in their current home and avoid the need to have them lifted out of the boat.
Both masts are in pretty good condition and seem to be the only part of the boat that has seen any upkeep in recent years. These have now been raised and fixed into position and look gorgeous.
The stern hatches had been removed before my father took ownership of Rake's Retreat and these were laying in the boat. They were in pretty sound condition so have had some minor repairs done and they are now back in place.
The hull of the vessel is pretty sound. Only one sprung plank below the waterline to be pulled back in the spring. The canoe stern will need some more attention. This has sprung away from various bodge fixes in the boats history.
The keel is drying nicely. There is some major damage towards the bow of the boat which will be fixed in the spring. We suspect the boat has hit an underwater object at some point and has rotted from there.
-
3
-
-
Good point JA... but no still can't do it! I think we need Rakes Retreat and Morn moored next to each other at beccles one year.. imagine that spectical .. stunning!
We can sort that one out no problems. Give us until April
-
1
-
-
Ballast weights are out, cleaned and painted. Who needs the gym when lifting these out.
-
2
-
-
I knew there was teak under there somewhere!
-
1
-
-
Hi Ron
All three are great stays for the night. The yacht station at Oulton Broad I would highly recommend. The River Centre is a great family environment and also has the benefit of a swimming pool for your grandsons.
I'm sure wherever you choose you will have a fantastic time. What is the name of your boat? I am out on the water that week and will keep an eye out for you.
Chris
-
I'm no engineer but am I right in thinking its a purge pipe that allows air to escape? Where does this pipe go? does it extend above the waterline?
Chris
-
Griff,
I will drop you a PM.
Chris
-
So since Rake's Retreat arrived on the Broads a lot of time has been spent cleaning her up. Lot of things have been found under beds and in bilges, money, unwrapped christmas presents, and buckets and buckets of thick black sludge! The bilges have now been emptied from bow to stern and pressure washed out. Bow to midships bilges have also been emptied of their ballest weights (which weigh a lot)!! A coat of paint has also been added.
-
4
-
-
Some pictures of Rake's Retreat before the restorations started. Now at her new home.
-
4
-
-
He is a very good instructor and has bags of experience so you should learn a lot from him. I can recommend powerboat advanced if you want to move yourself on further, which you should find pretty easy now you have the Yachtmaster qualification.
-
1
-
-
Hi Chris,
Welcome to the NBN and nice to have you onboard
The one course I have not done with the RYA that I wanted to do was the 'Inland waterways helms certificate' I looked into it years ago with a view for getting four of us onto the course using 'B.A'. I discovered that I was higher qualified (ala RYA) than the instructor, and that my current RYA qualifications were higher than the course I was enquiring after. I asked the RYA head office if I could send an admin fee and have the certificate - ';NO' was the reply, you need to do the course and pay the full whack for it. I then became somewhat sceptical realising it was just a moneymaker for the RYA so didn't bother, don't think I ever will do so now either
Griff
Hi Griff
What qualifications do you currently hold? There are some overlaps when it comes to RYA courses for example if you take a powerboat level 2 course you will go through leaving and arriving at a mooring. The same aspects are in the Inland Waterways Helmsman course. this can also be said for Day Skipper and Yachtmaster qualifications also.
There are options open to you though dependant on what qualifications you hold. There is still that element of doing the course but not necessarily to whole 2 days and the full price.
I'd be happy to discuss options open to you if you still wanted to obtain the certification.
Chris
-
1
-
-
Well done Clive. Was that with Henry at Eastern Horizon??
-
Hi Chris... Would most definitely interested in getting/doing the short range vhf radio course.
If you want to drop me a call to discuss I would be happy to talk to you. My number is 07570 794196. I have a couple of course dates coming up in the near future which may be convenient for you. You can also email me at info@eastcoastmotorboattraining.co.uk
Chris
-
Thank you for amending this for me.
-
1
-
-
Do they have any photos of the restoration of Morn? My father would love to see them.
Is she kept on the broads?
Rake's Retreat
in Restoration Projects
Posted
Well its been a busy winter and a long while since I've had much time to get this thread updated. Sorry!!
So what have we been up to? Well........... Rake's Retreat has continued to be cleared, cleared again and cleared some more.Focus over the inter has been on her cabins rather than her exterior. Warmer there!! Forward cabins have been started to put back together with single V berths. This had been the area that had been totally ripped apart in the last few years with nothing original remaining. The bulkhead between the galley and front cabin was pretty rotten and has now been replaced.
Working aft, we decided that the outer engines needed to be completely removed as they havent been run for many years. We expected the worst but our engineer took them away to strip them down. Once out the fuel tanks were accessible and we quickly discovered they were rotten through from the top and now full or fuel, water and rust so they also had to go. The centre engine has remained in place and runs. This will just be and serviced in place. Engine rooms have now been cleaned, cleared and painted out. We are also happy to report that the outer engines are in working order and are running well.
Once we started to strip back panels in the wheelhouse the wiring all had to go! This is going to be replaced through the entire boat. After 74 years they were a mess!
While rummaging through all of the parts that came out of Rake's Retreat we cam across a box with what looked to be a flat pack wooden item contained. We couldn't make out what it was or where it went until we stumbled across the original photo taken of the wheelhouse in 1934. We quickly realised we had an intact section of the signal flag box. It very good condition this was reconditioned and now sits back in its original location.
After much consideration we have decided to change the name of Rake's Retreat. Unlucky for some maybe but she is in the process of becoming Estrellita. Spanish for Little Ship and her original name.