Hm Ships / Mtb102 / Nbn

[BroadScot]

2 hours ago, BroadAmbition said:

And NO before anyone suggests it, HMS Victory is no longer at sea!

Spoil sport !!!

Iain

[BroadScot]

2 hours ago, JennyMorgan said:

Were there any similar seagoing heroes from Yorkshire?

Captain Cook, sits proud looking over Whitby Harbour. Think he was nearly a Yorkie ! (Marton)

Iain

 

 

[JennyMorgan]

I wonder how many Australian Aboriginals pay homage to Captain Cook? That aside, a hugely courageous seaman, in my opinion, even by Norfolk standards.  

[BroadScot]

1 minute ago, JennyMorgan said:

That aside, a hugely courageous seaman, in my opinion, even by Norfolk standards.  

Indeed JM, you could say, he then by modern standards, boldly went, where no man had been before !

Iain

[BroadScot]

[JennyMorgan]

8 minutes ago, BroadScot said:

Indeed JM, you could say, he then by modern standards, boldly went, where no man had been before !

Iain

That's excluding the indigenous native population then?

[BroadScot]

8 minutes ago, JennyMorgan said:

That's excluding the indigenous native population then?

Played cricket with one or two of them JM. They sure could swallow the amber nectar ! 

Iain

[BroadAmbition]

I actually did serve onboard Victory but only a loan draft for a month or so, obviously in Pompy.

You lot will want me to restore the Mary Rose next!

Griff

[BroadScot]

1 hour ago, BroadAmbition said:

You lot will want me to restore the Mary Rose next!

Absolutely !, Oh and while you're at it, take Warrior out for a spin round IOW ,! 

There i've made a start for you !  

Iain

 

[Vaughan]

20 hours ago, BroadScot said:

This reminds me of the film, The Eagle has Landed, in which MTB 102 played a starring role, and which paid for her original restoration.

The American colonel, trying to encourage one of his young soldiers before they attack, says "Son, when this is all over, pigeons are going to crapping on statues of you all over the Goddammed State of Nebraska!"

[JennyMorgan]

That original restoration was perhaps not all that was hoped for. For example her decks were clad in ply. leaving the old decks in place. That inevitably allowed rot to develop that was subsequently costly to repair. The plus was that it kept her afloat at a time when public interest  was being developed.

[grendel]

They were saying the outer layer of planking on the hull needs replacing, apparently there is an oilcloth under that that is allowing rot to develop.

[Vaughan]

1 hour ago, JennyMorgan said:

 

That original restoration was perhaps not all that was hoped for.

 

It was paid for by the film company so that she could appear in the film, so it was not what "we" would call a restoration. There is no doubt though that it saved her, at the time, from just becoming a sunken hulk like all the rest.

I have always regretted that I didn't get involved with MTB 102, during those years that she was in Brundall. I feel that I should have done. I suppose I was too involved trying to save the Albion at the time!

[Vaughan]

10 minutes ago, grendel said:

 

They were saying the outer layer of planking on the hull needs replacing, apparently there is an oilcloth under that that is allowing rot to develop.

 

That's most interesting. These boats were built of double diagonal construction, which included a sheet of oiled canvas between the two skins. The bottoms were often triple diagonal, and a lot of them were built in the sheds upside down, for ease of construction.

As she was Vosper's prototype her planking is almost certainly teak. In which case, if they are only now starting to notice rot in the canvas membrane, then it has lasted a very long time.

[BroadAmbition]

I discussed this with Richard on Thursday.  Apparently the oil cloth is in place to aid hull integrity and water tightness.  It is fitted from the keel to just above the waterline.  Their idea is to remove the outer planking in its entirety, inspect / renew / replace any timber as required, replace the oil cloth with new stuff, then re-plank using mahogany (Maybe mahogany - jury still not confirmed), whatever type of timber they decide on, they are going to need an awful lot of it and a barrel load of copper roves

Griff

[ranworthbreeze]

Hi Griff,

That all sounds very expensive, and the work is going to be long term. Will bronze gripfast nails also be used with the copper roves for those planks that have major stress on them?

There is a good potted history of MTB102 on the National Historic Ships UK website (for the benefit of the forum members):-

http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/486/mtb-102

http://mtb102.com/

Regards

Alan

[BroadAmbition]

Hi Alan, the work is planned to be carried out this coming winter.  102 will be out of the oggin and in the shed as she is every winter.  Re bronze gripast nails  -  One eyed stag to be honest

Griff

[Jbx5]

Nice flotilla out to sea.

[MTB102]

MTB102 is 79 years old and has never been restored in the accepted sense of the word. She is tender in places and needs attention every winter. She had a rough passage back from the ADLS cruise to Ramsgate earlier this year that has caused problems with fastenings around midships. The bilge pumps cope very well and after a few days at rest things improve. We are expecting to take her to Portsmouth for the Centenary celebrations of the formation of Coastal Forces.

Much has been said about the state of 102. There is only one person who really knows her and he tends to ignore most of what is said. The decks that were replaced for the film "Eagle Has Landed" were not of the best quality  and were not fitted as would normally be expected. About half of them have been replaced since to a much higher standard and when funds permit the rest will be replaced.

It is a constant battle keeping this boat operational and she does remarkably well and is a testament to the skills and standards of Vospers before and during the WWII years. She has already sailed close to 1000mls this year and weather permitting will sail another 500 before she has a rest this coming winter. It's what keeps the old lady alive and kicking well. We love her!

Richard.

 

[BroadScot]

Hi Richard,

A very warm welcome to the NBN Forum. 

Many thanks for the brief history update of MTB 102. It is wonderful to see such craft still afloat. Many more happy years on the high seas.

Iain

[grendel]

Richard, it was truly a pleasure being onboard during that play with the Navy lads, something I will remember for the rest of my life, that is certain. The smiles from yourself and the rest of your crew was testament to how enjoyable an experience it was, and I bet the old girl loved it as much as we did.

[BroadAmbition]

We love her!

Ay and you have not got the monopoly on that one mate, there's an armada or adoring fans of which I am just one

Griff

[JennyMorgan]

http://www.mtb102.com/

Are donations welcome?

[BroadAmbition]

They most certainly are.

And if anyone wants a day trip out onboard 102 (suitable wx conditions permitting of course)  just let me know and I'll get it organised.  We need 10 passengers for it to be viable at £30 per head

 

Griff

[LondonRascal]

Been busy with a bunch of things here with work and family but I should have a nice video up for everyone to watch by the weekend of BA, the Navy boats and MTB102 - just having a bit of 'music block' at the moment finding stuff that You Tube allows playback for.

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