Length - 52ft 6ins Beam - 12ft Draft - 3ft 6ins Built - 1939 Served at - HMS Dolphin, Gosport. Service No - HLD 3819 Engine - Cummins NH 252 6 Cylinder 14 liter 250 HP* Running Hours Unknown Gearbox - Self Change Gears Hydraulic 4-1 reduction* Running Hours Unknown Exhaust - Dry exhaust through silencer hiddien inside funnel Cooling System - Engine: fresh water cooled via salt water cooled heat exchanger
* Cummins and SCG Workshop manuals to be included.
National Register of Historic Vessels.
Fiona 'B' was registered with the National Register of Historic Vessels on 25th March 1999, under the following:
Name: Fiona 'B'
Certificate No. 1449
Photo' of her at around that time are on the site.
Hull Condition:
Although looking at her now she looks rather run down, it is mainly just the paint work that shows it, the hull its self is in a sound condition with the exception of the transom which received some damage when an unknown vessel collided with her whilst she was on the slipway, damage to the transom shown on photo.
The hull its self still retains its full copper sheathing, some small areas along the water line need patching.
Unfortunatley the bronze rudder was stolen for scrap by persons unknown.
Wheel House:
Not the original wheel house and in need of replacement.
Topsides:
The wooden side decks and bow area have been replaced with 3mm steel plate to give a watertight deck, through bolted at 2" intervals to the originial upper casing and screwed to the wooden gunwales at 2" intervals using 2 1/2" stainless steel screws, all bedded down on marine mastic.
The original upper casing is in good condition except for the hatch covers which are showing there age.
The Aft well deck still retains the original aft decking which has been painted over the years but still in reasonable condition. The area where the aft cabin once was has been covered with 18mm marine plywood supported by 6"x3" treated joists.
Engine & Gearbox:
The engine and gearbox are in working order, although laid up for the past 10 years, the engine has been turned over by hand on a regular basis.
Further Infomation:
Some years ago I had a conversation with the Archivist of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships and after giving him all the information that I knew about the boat he advised me to do a search as 90% of the Harbour Launches from HMS Dolphin were sent to help at Dunkirk. I've never been able to get down to Gosport or London to research this further.
General Infomation:
Over the past 3 years my circumstances have changed dramatically and I'm no longer able to commit the time to this project.
Due to my lack of work on the boat, due to an accicdent, I have been told by the boat club where she is stored that they no longer want her in the yard, and that I have to move her or dispose of her by the end of March 2011. They have increased the storage fee's to such an extent that financially the fee's are now more than the vessel is worth in its present condition. Therefore I have made the decision to try and give her away free to an organisation or individual for restoration, as I know moving her will entail some costs. She is at present stored in a boat club on Tyneside.
