Sad photos of an old classic [Archive]

Jon Fuller

25-09-2007, 01:08 AM

Don't think anything has been done to the hull yet - just the deck removed in the last few weeks.

But seems to be common knowledge that it will be a 'new' RIB hull!

Like I say looks very much early Magnum, spray rails tie-in with that. But as to which boat I don't know.

If it's what I think it is, Ian Toll will be distraught!

So the rib in the foreground derives from a P25!....

And the Magnum will be the next 'new' thing from the CAD department of a well respected IOW Wankstain. well funny. Can't wait for the full jackanory on FIBnet.

Black_Tornado

25-09-2007, 02:27 AM

From the images it seem a 28'.
Probably the former 1968's World Champion,Tornado(better knowed like Magnum Tornado or White Tornado),former the stern drives version of the Maltese Magnum of Don Aronow in 1967.
It sunk during the Cowes-Torquay in 1968,solded to Ian Toll,then recovered by the Royal Navy and rebuilded in the deck,renamed Magnum Tornado.
It's a piece of Offshore History.....

Marco

Atlantic Xpat

25-09-2007, 04:15 AM

If it's what I think it is, Ian Toll will be distraught!

So the rib in the foreground derives from a P25!....

And the Magnum will be the next 'new' thing from the CAD department of a well respected IOW Wankstain. well funny. Can't wait for the full jackanory on FIBnet.

Yeah but manufactured to full ISO9000 standards though.:)

Wankstain .... I miss descriptive prose like that this side of the pond.

robbie

25-09-2007, 09:55 AM

Mike Ring

25-09-2007, 10:59 AM

BluFin

25-09-2007, 11:37 AM

Another One here (http://boatmad.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=13650&d=1188249437)

Respect............. but we have all thought to ourselves

littlenige

26-09-2007, 10:24 AM

hi Adam, Any evidence on the inside of the hull of an exhaust exit on the port side as per Graham's photo?

robbie

26-09-2007, 10:49 AM

Maybe some evidence of some old patchworking?

It would be interesting to see the inside.

russellramjet

26-09-2007, 02:59 PM

This boat was for sale in AdTrader last summer, located in the IOW. It was wrongly spelt as a Magnium. I tried to phone, but the wrong number was put in the advert. I even contacted Adtrader to pass my details on... I'm a glutton for boats needing loads of work and money spent on them!!:headbang:

Shelbysteve

27-09-2007, 04:17 AM

Maybe some evidence of some old patchworking?

It would be interesting to see the inside.

The two pictures show the same kind of green paint that you can see on the top rim of hull where the topdeck sits.

Adam

27-09-2007, 10:28 AM

No sign of a side exhaust. Will be back at the yard next week (the Magnum is opposite a builder who is completing an Aluminium RIB that I designed) and will see what more I can find out.

Did not get to look in detail last time. Could see where the circular wing tanks were housed and that was about it.

Jon Fuller

27-09-2007, 10:50 AM

Did this builder used to do a bit of laminating for you Adam?

Adam

27-09-2007, 11:04 AM

Did this builder used to do a bit of laminating for you Adam?

Yes - did a pretty good job too!

Just don't agree with his / their way of creating their own boats.

Matt

27-09-2007, 11:33 AM

When he started splashing, how quickly did you retreive your moulds? :hugegrin:

Jon Fuller

27-09-2007, 11:55 AM

Just don't agree with his / their way of creating their own boats.

How beautifully worded! :up:

Adam

08-10-2007, 02:31 AM

A couple more shots, transom view shows single engine shaftline, side fuel tank frames and a fair size bow tank.

Does appear that there were side fittings (now blanked off) maybe exhausts. Kindly marked on by Lee!

Matt

08-10-2007, 02:39 AM

"Adam, yes it's a magnum"
:drain: :well:

Jon Fuller

08-10-2007, 02:55 AM

Going by the british racing green on the transom in pic 2, there's every chance it's Maltese Magnum II then!

Black_Tornado

08-10-2007, 02:18 PM

Jon,you are right. Littlenige had seen correct in him post above!
That british racing green could be of the Maltese Magnum Twin of Kennerley.
You also look at the two sides of the great hole on the stern; we can see the two semicircles of the holes of the two old exhausts of the single engine.
Aronow came in Europe in 1967 with two 28'; a white boat with three outboards and a green to the sides and the white deck with a single engine.
With this last boat he raced only two races;the Naples Trophy and the Dauphin D'Or that won,before to sell it to John Kennerley.
With that victory in Cote D'Azur that boat contributed to make to win its first World Title to Aronow.
Someone must save that boat!

24degrees

14-10-2007, 10:50 AM

Yes.......please......someone save that boat!!!!!

Hi guys.......my first post.

:)

Jon Holmes

14-10-2007, 11:16 AM

Going by the british racing green on the transom in pic 2, there's every chance it's Maltese Magnum II then!

And they have got to be the worst Union Jacks i have ever seen!:down:

Shelbysteve

15-10-2007, 05:05 AM

Going by the british racing green on the transom in pic 2, there's every chance it's Maltese Magnum II then!

Has that girl sat on the rear still got her Feet!

Foolish

29-10-2007, 01:08 PM

the stern drives version of the Maltese Magnum of Don Aronow in 1967.

This one ?

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1133

Black_Tornado

29-10-2007, 04:28 PM

This one ?

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1133

No.That of the photo posted by Vintage Offshore Foundation on Boatracingfacts is the white 28' single engine and stern drive that Aronow drove only in Usa in 1967.
Like from what Vintage Offshore Found. affirms exactly I think that Aronow in 1967 drove one or two 28' with three outboard, a 28' with single engine with v-drive,a 28' single engine with stern drive,a 28' with two engines with v-drives and a 28' with two engines and stern drives. Totally 5-6 Maltese Magnum 28'.
However in Europe Aronow brought two 28' and not three; one with three outboard and one with single engine and v-drive and the sides in green. This last was bought by Kennerley.
Then Kennerley added another engine forward the cockpit.

TimB-C

08-11-2007, 10:38 AM

Marco, You are correct,
John Kennerley bought from Don and because the rules required twin engines for the RB69 the second engine was added thru a cassel v drive. The engines ran thru thru the one shaft and the torque/thrust was such that it eat thru the the rudder on every leg and Malatese Magnum eventually retired,
She became M M Twin 'cos of the second engine.
Can some one tell me where she is and will the owners release her for restoration?? Does she still belong to Ian Nurse??

MajaRIBNobba

21-11-2007, 02:28 PM

Gonna look much better in Rubber though :hugegrin:

Delta28

25-11-2008, 06:38 AM

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know that Maltese Magnum Twin (for that is who she most certainly is..!) has been bought and re-located to Surrey (yes, I know it's about as far from the sea as you can get... but at least she's safe and we'll be back!!)

My thanks to Tony Fiddy and John Iddon for their help and advise, to Lee for parting with her and Jon for the rapid registration, enabling me to post this...

A big thankyou to Black Tornado: great pictures! If any of you have any more, please can i see them? (I've got Crab Searle's RB69 book, seen Graham's Gallery, but have little else... and i need to construct a complete deck! (i've got the chopped aft end, but no cockpit or forward section)

Your help / advice / encouragement / large amounts of cash would be most welcome!!

Cheers, ian (Pics to follow..)

Scarron

25-11-2008, 06:52 AM

Well done that man - good on yer!

Delta28

25-11-2008, 06:57 AM

As you can see, there's a huge amount needs doing (deck, transom, just about eveything else..) but the hull is in remarkably good condition... a tribute to Don Aronow and Magnum Marine.

Busy making a cradle at the moment, then she's got a barn to go in.. There's a great deal of research to be done and options to consider, but i think single engine / outdrive will be simplest, therefore easiest! and (needless to say) cheapest!! Oh, and also as she was originally...

littlenige

25-11-2008, 08:40 AM

That's wonderful news - good man Ian!

Adam

25-11-2008, 09:12 AM

Good news and all the best with the re-build / restoration

Black_Tornado

25-11-2008, 11:57 AM

Good news!
I wish you a good job of restauration.
There is a lot to do but the hull is intact.
I hope that one day will get back its original livery when Don Aronow brought it in Europe in 1967.
I will check to every pics of Mag 28' that I have.

Shelbysteve

26-11-2008, 02:42 AM

Now that would be a great site seeing her at Cowes in the future!

Delta28

26-11-2008, 01:56 PM

Gave MM2 a high pressure hose (no worse than the sea at 70 mph!) to see what we've got... some of the paint is flaking, but it showed black paint and traces of the race no. 910 from when she was Black & White Whiskey (Nurse brothers) in '74...this is archaeology! Someone call-in Time Team...on second thoughts, not.

Before that she was Propulser 1 (1971 J. Tussaud, Race no. 033)...but no sign of the MM Twin no.040 or even Don's lucky no.4 ..expect they've been rubbed-down long ago in all the paint jobs.

Rubbing-down is difficult without suddenly reaching the green gel coat (which i don't want to damage - some of it looks in good condition) so i've rung various technical depts. and found Peel-Away 7, an alkaline based stripper (with neutraliser if required) can be used on GRP... Any thoughts on that? Don't want to cause any weakening of the resin.

Anyway, cop a load of where the (fairly unique) exhaust cowl was.. Adam's message ..and what's left of the deck! Thanks for the good wishes too...:rolleyes:

BluFin

26-11-2008, 02:25 PM

I just get a cold shiver every time I see the pics. You got on well so far though :up:
But a brat in shorts the last time I see it running. Best of luck with the project, what are you think of powering it with?

Delta28

26-11-2008, 02:48 PM

My earliest powerboating memory is of nearly being swamped in a small boat when Ultima Dea blasted out of Cowes in '63... Always loved our wicked-looking and so magnificent Surfury... but a treasured memory is of Maltese Magnum Twin and Ultimatum in a pre-race duel, just practising, roaring past Egypt Point. Just been to see Ultimatum, by way of research, now there's another good project... c'mon guys!!

As to engine(s) that rather depends on finances (got a mortgage to pay), luck (being in the right place at the right time, with the right money!) and what is going to be feasible. Don't think I've got the necessary for twin engines in tandem... may have to stick to the original layout. We'll see!

Thanks again to all who have helped so far and thankyou for the encouragement... now if any of you know a suitably loaded sponsor..?
Think that's a low-altitude Gloucester Old Spot just gone over...

Scarron

27-11-2008, 01:48 AM

You could try Removall http://www.paint-stripper.co.uk/removall_paint_stripper_marine.htm it comes well recommended, Haven't tried it yet but intend to as I need to strip off half a dozen layers of deck paint.

I'd have thought a single sterndrive would be perfect, perhaps a Raylar 550 may do the job? http://www.raylarengine.com/550_engine.html

http://www.raylarengine.com/images/550_engine.jpg

Dunaruna

27-11-2008, 03:55 AM

Hi Delta 28. Now that is a nice project.
And what a great find, now the fun part starts! Keep us informed on the progress of works. Cheers Duna.

Martin The Talker

01-12-2008, 12:16 PM

Propusar (033), was NOT a re-worked Don Aronow Magnum, but a new build hull, drawn on similar lines to Don A's of course.
Built I belive on IOW, but not very successful.
I knew the guy who fabricated the fuel tanks for her, in the early 1970's.
Hull then went AWOL - definitley not a USA build tho'
Anyone know where that hull ended up ?

Martin The Talker

01-12-2008, 12:26 PM

Cowes 1963 - well thats two of us !
My first ever sight of on offshore race, & at 16 I thought I had witnessed the greatest spectacle ever - and you got to see it all again when the boats completed their circuit of the Is., before setting of to TQ.
Emil Savundra in the re-engined original Jackie S, (4 jags as against triple Chryslers in '62) ramming everything in sight, until he sank a spectator boat & got a hole in the bow for good measure.
The boat I especially remember, standing in front of RYS & the cannons, was SCORPION, Mrs Gardeners (Yes, the Surfury Gardeners ), 20'+ Bertram (Pale blue + white, twin volvo 100's), seemingly racing across the line, just off the rocks in front of the RYS. No line of orange buoys inshore then, you had to judge your own line & miss the rocks !
That was Sonny Levi's year, in A'Speranziella - just saying the name is enough, & where is she now ? Adam used to have her, but I belive sold her on ?

Delta28

01-12-2008, 04:35 PM

Cheers for that, Scarron... I'll follow-up on all that info

Thanks for the encouragement Duna, will keep you posted too..

We might be getting our "Propulsers" in a twist Martin!

I've got an old MB&Y race report that clearly states she's (Propulser 1) the old Maltese Magnum Twin and Graham's photo (see: Gallery / calendar pics) would seem to verify that, but a later article i read somewhere else says the same about Propulser 2 - but this is not so... You are right in that this boat (Propulser 2) was specially built for her owner (J.Tussaud) to his own design. I've seen that in one of the C-T-C programmes or another mag. Also agree that she wasn't that successful.

Attached is the one of Propulser 1 from Graham Steven's Gallery (hope that's ok) and everything about her is MM Twin... Hope we're singing-off-the-same-song-sheet now...!

littlenige

02-12-2008, 05:13 AM

The 33' Tussaud hull ended up being converted into a pleasure/workboat - used to be moored up on one of the morrings just off Cowes. One of my old school chums knew all about it - Alan?

FLYING FISH

02-12-2008, 06:45 AM

Firstly ,I know Martin works in the fish industry,Red Herrings a speciality.O33 Sunpropulser/Titus L -Copeland design.Propulser I was ex-Maltese Magnum Twin.Highland Fling used one of her engines.
There is a close up view of MMT cockpit in the 1970 Class I & II film in Boatmad multimedia.It`s about 5 mins in.
Also some good pics of Magnum Tornado after rebuild on http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/magnum/198792-magnum-tornado-1968-a.html
There are many black & white shots of MMT,but not really useful enough to build off.There was a swedish magnum site www.magnum.se but cannot get into it nowadays.I bet some bugger in sweden could knock off a deck mould or have drawings of it,as they seem to regard it as a classic over there.Boghammar Marine were connected with the Magnum 28.Their address is on the web,but the site is to be developed.Once they hear you are rebuilding a Magnum 28,they will be all over you like a rash.

FLYING FISH

02-12-2008, 07:24 AM

From the fish files.

Delta28

03-12-2008, 04:19 PM

Thanks for the advertisements...

i get the same feelings of "if only" as when i had the chance to buy a silver DB5 (with tinted glass, black leather, wire wheels... yes, jus' like the Goldfinger one!) for £800 in 1979... but then i was only 23 at the time... and insurance would have been impossible. :puker:

I'm guessing that these date from the end of 1970? ...I was 14 then!

(mind you, bloody rotten of my dad not to buy it for me... he could have hidden her 'til i was 21...)

Adam

04-12-2008, 12:38 AM

That was Sonny Levi's year, in A'Speranziella - just saying the name is enough, & where is she now ? Adam used to have her, but I belive sold her on ?

Yes - I sold her on some years ago - to Sebastian Stapleton who was based soemwhere just north of Oxford. Have not heard anything for soem time now.

It was too much of a project for me and was going to stop me devloping new boats - whihc is what my business is all about.

A'Speranziella would have been an amazing project though. The previous restoration looked good on the surface - but underneath was pretty awful and there was a LOT of work to do. She came with many original items, down to a lot of paperwork, original bill of sale, licences etc etc.

Hopefully we will see it on the water again one day!

littlenige

18-12-2008, 04:56 AM

Adam - give Alan a call - (OK it's a bit off thread) he will remember what happened to the Titus-L/Propulser hull I'm sure.

Adam

18-12-2008, 06:11 AM

Hi Nige
Will do - just off on my holidays - so when I get back.

Try to get him and John to post on here - but going to take time!

All the best
Adam

PS - wouldn't be great to see all these restored / about to be restored boats togther, like at Cowes.

Saw what looked like a Levi Trident on the river at Tuckton bridge this week, when driving by.

Delta28

18-12-2008, 10:01 AM

Hi Adam / one and all...

Cowes-Torquay-Cowes 2010 is the 50th Anniversary (but then most of you will way ahead of me and already gearing-up for it...hopefully!).

The point is... THAT is my target date for being on the water and tested... and loads more people besides! I know that BPRC, UKOBA and COPOC are already planning and beginning to make lots of noise!

Even if MM2's restoration takes longer or funds are (even more!) limited, I shall stick her on a trailer and get her there for what promises to be some kind of carnival.

And we must get as many famous boats there as we can.

Martin The Talker

19-12-2008, 07:12 AM

Sorry Flying Fish - I did used to be in the fish industry - not red herrings either !
However, you are five years out of date by now - the company closed down long ago.
It also seems that my memory is failing too - but these are boats from late 60's & early 70's., so thats a while back.
Come to think of it, some memories from the early/mid 60's are better than the more recent ones, but thats my getting old for you !
Let us hope that some of these great boats may well be seen back at Cowes in 2010, & that we can be there to see them !
Happy Christmas everyone.

The Docta

23-12-2008, 04:35 AM

Magnum thread from SandF - thought it might be of interest

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148461

Delta28

29-12-2008, 02:50 PM

Magnum thread from SandF - thought it might be of interest

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148461

Thanks for that, Docta! Just visited their site and signed-up... i need to know as much about Magnums as possible, so that will be very useful... much appreciated.

Going to follow-up Flying Fish's suggestion of seeing if Boghammar Marine in Sweden (great name..got to use them if i can!) can assist with a new deck... Magnum Marine were unable to help.

Delta28

29-12-2008, 03:14 PM

In the mild weather just before Christmas, was able to get a few hours every evening stripping the layers of paint...

My thanks to Scarron for recommending "Removall" paint stripper...it works extremely well!

Got to be over 4 degrees C, so no good trying now it's got frosty... and must be covered with polythene, edges taped-down (presumably this prevents drying-out) in approx 4 foot sections (you don't wanna do more than this at a time, anyway), left for 24-36 hours, then you lay the plastic out and gather the scrapings... amazing!

Even more amazing, if not UNBELIEVABLE... i actually read the instructions!!

Matt

29-12-2008, 05:17 PM

I don't think you'll have any any luck with them, but I might have some contacts & info that is useful to you. Will PM you.

Going to follow-up Flying Fish's suggestion of seeing if Boghammar Marine in Sweden (great name..got to use them if i can!) can assist with a new deck... Magnum Marine were unable to help.

Arrow830

01-01-2009, 02:12 PM

I don't think you'll have any any luck with them, but I might have some contacts & info that is useful to you. Will PM you.

Or maybe a Arrow 28 deck can be a good start:)
Can be built here in Sweden! I am willing to help with contacts.

BTW This is a great project!!

Thanks
Mange

Matt

01-01-2009, 03:30 PM

That's certainly what I was wondering! Lookin forward to meeting you in a couple of weeks!
:D

Arrow830

01-01-2009, 03:43 PM

That's certainly what I was wondering! Lookin forward to meeting you in a couple of weeks!
:D

Hi Matt, Happy new year!!

I'll send you an email regarding the 17 jan. I think it gona be a long but
very intresting and fun day:up:

Mange

littlenige

03-01-2009, 09:27 AM

Great to see those old Black & White Whiskey ghost numbers on the side!

Night Nurse

03-01-2009, 12:17 PM

On behalf of the old man and myself, we would love to see her back on the water, especially for my dad Iain Nurse as he many memories when he raced her a while back. I am sure he has some photos somewhere in amongst all the other ones so ill dig some out soon and see if i can post some lol, as it may help with the restoration

Will

roofer

03-01-2009, 12:42 PM

Found this in a 1974 Speed and Power magazine of the Cowes/Torquay/Cowes race

gazza

03-01-2009, 01:13 PM

Chris

Is that Pashs boat on the front cover??

gaZ

roofer

03-01-2009, 01:51 PM

Chris

Is that Pashs boat on the front cover??

gaZ

Don't know but it was driven by Bobby Buchanan-Michaelson and fitted with 2 600hp petrol engines

littlenige

05-01-2009, 12:39 AM

Dug out the old 1974 programme - couple of pics of the boat. Looked great.

BluFin

05-01-2009, 02:19 AM

Chris

Is that Pashs boat on the front cover??

gaZ

YEP

Pash 1

05-01-2009, 11:18 PM

Chris

Is that Pashs boat on the front cover??

gaZ

Sure is :hugegrin:

Delta28

13-01-2009, 12:14 PM

Dug out the old 1974 programme - couple of pics of the boat. Looked great.

Thanks Nige... that's great ...and Will, good to hear from you! Any pics would be very much appreciated and useful too...

Matt and Mange, thanks for your all you're doing with looking into getting a deck from Sweden... this is becoming an international effort!

Finally, i am indebted to the one-and-only font of all knowledge... brilliant picture, Graham ..and thanks for permission to post!

Advert courtesy of Mr F Fish... and isn't that yellow.... well, very yellow?!!

Delta28

06-02-2009, 02:25 AM

Just been watching the '68 C-T-C... brilliant shots of UFO (still with cabin) and MMII... plus, of course, the magnificent Surfury, Telstar and Magnum Tornado...

Thankyou SO much Graham, Jon and Matt... (congratulations on ordering the Arrow, Matt - excellent stuff!)

Have acquired some old MB&Y mags that raise interesting questions.. will post if i can get my computer and scanner talking to each other again.. (they seem to have had a row and the split seems to be permanent) Have to resort to taking photos instead.

http://media.boatmad.com/gallery/v/multimedia/General-Videos/Historic/ctc/ctc68.wmv.html

Delta28

10-02-2009, 05:56 PM

Very grateful to Dr Ian Greatbatch and colleagues Dr Ken Field and Dr James O'Brien of Kingston Univesity for the 3D Digital scan of the magnum... quite an amazing (and expensive!) bit of kit.... It sends thousands of laser beams from fixed points and builds up a 3D image of the boat that can be rotated to look at from any angle, measured to within 1mm and (hopefully!) "fill-in the blanks" with regard to the deck and cockpit (by making a projection, using old photos etc.)

With the absence of any available drawings - Magnum Marine were unable to help - this may be the only option (unless Matt's Arrow turns-out to be of surprisingly similar dimensions!). It's going to be very useful in the meantime, as we can print-off any sections of the hull, at any point - great for making the cradle.

Thanks again to Kingston Centre for GIS !

See "Lifeboat Willy's" post:
http://www.boatmad.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12726

Delta28

10-02-2009, 06:08 PM

More pictures... it's even picked-out the oak branches in the distance. Take look at Lifeboat Willy's entry on You Tube too..

FLYING FISH

11-02-2009, 12:56 AM

Delta28

12-02-2009, 05:42 PM

Just a thought Ian,but if you go on to www.bananaboatco-products ,Charlie McCarthys site,it would appear that his 28ft model may well have used the Magnum 28 moulds.Look at the history parts of the site and see what you think,or `e` mail him and just say what you are trying to achieve.I`m sure he would help you out if he can.

It may be a blind alley,but who knows.

Many Thanks, Graham ...and definitely worth investigating: You're right, their 28 footer is a Magnum!

Matt has very kindly pointed me in the direction of the Arrow 830, a swedish Magnum 28 that looks very well made and good value for money.

I shall follow-up both leads and see where i get... this may be where the 3D scan can help get a deck that fits!

Thankyou both for your interest and support... it means a lot!

Delta28

30-07-2009, 04:03 PM

Before that she was Propulser 1 (1971 J. Tussaud, Race no. 033)...but no sign of the MM Twin no.040 or even Don's lucky no.4 ..expect they've been rubbed-down long ago in all the paint jobs.

I was wrong...!

Been a long time waiting for the spars to be sawn-out for the cradle, disillusioned with the lack of support and now waiting for a crane... after removing endless layers of unsound paint, was going to leave the rather nasty pale green undercoat as a protective layer, but I got bored with waiting and decided to see what the gel coat was like... Pretty poor, as you can imagine, but then... :)

There are shadows on the gel coat, outlining the 040.. log-on and take a look at the pictures. If (like me!) your eyesight is fading, I've highlighted with chalk to show where the colour changes.

The 9 is from "Black & White Whiskey" (910) days, the 3 from 033 of Propulser

Delta28

01-08-2009, 03:35 AM

Closer inspection of the gel coat has revealed a circle around the number 4 where sunlight and/or reaction with the paint has made it lighter in colour..

This means that John Kennerley's 040 was created by adding a zero on either side of what was Don Aronow's no. 4...

Matt

01-08-2009, 07:51 AM

Nice one, Sherlock. :up:

Delta28

01-08-2009, 12:31 PM

Well, yeah... I know it sounds thick (don't mind admitting it) the point I suppose I was trying to make was that the number is the original 4 used by Donzi baby, not a re-drawn 040...

Speaking of Donzi...

Matt

03-08-2009, 05:52 AM

I wasn't taking the mick! I woulda just broken out the DA sander, but you're going cautiously and teasing out lots of extra information where most people would have thought there's none, which I'm sure you'll be adding to the file as part of the restoration documentation. Who would have thought that you could do archaeology on glassfibre. :D

Delta28

03-08-2009, 06:21 AM

Who would have thought that you could do archaeology on glassfibre. :D

Thanks Matt... and apologies, I've been reading the Planatec thread too often and automatically thought I'd have the p*ss ripped out of me! (I know... it would be richly deserved..)

Seems my crappy comment about bringing-in "Time Team" wasn't that mis-placed... I was wondering how I could replicate all the markings and ensure their size and position were roughly correct... it's all there, templates supplied !!

Got the name on (what's left of) the transom too...

big_johnny

04-08-2009, 02:30 AM

Thanks Matt... and apologies, I've been reading the Planatec thread too often and automatically thought I'd have the p*ss ripped out of me! (I know... it would be richly deserved..)

Seems my crappy comment about bringing-in "Time Team" wasn't that mis-placed... I was wondering how I could replicate all the markings and ensure their size and position were roughly correct... it's all there, templates supplied !!

Got the name on (what's left of) the transom too...

Congrats for the work , keep us updated.!!!!!!!!!!!

Delta28

06-08-2009, 11:22 AM

Cheers Big J... will keep you all posted.

Not long until the lift (and a few nasty bits of damage below the chine to inspect close-up) :rolleyes:

Still need more old photos if there's any more out there... ? ;fish;

Delta28

28-09-2009, 03:09 AM

A visit to the Basildon Motorboat Museum was useful in turning-up more pictures... Their scanner was down, so these are taken with a digital camera.

Quality is a bit poor, but they'll be useful. Best view of the deck i've got...

Pictures are probably copyright MotorBoat & Yachting... hope they don't mind.

Great mag, that MOTOBOAT & YACHTING... you really should BUY IT at every opportunity....! RAY BULMAN...? salt of the earth!! Really nice bloke too... (and that is sincerely meant!)

littlenige

28-09-2009, 04:25 AM

Anybody know the reason for the exhaust extension pipes?

FLYING FISH

28-09-2009, 07:12 AM

Yeah,it was to stop that bint from sticking her feet over the exhausts.

It`s the sort of thing you put on to stop water drowning the engines from backwash.Maybe the engines were out,but why launch a boat with no engines.Miss Embassy`s exhaust went up in the air,but that was to stop frying those anaroks on the pontoon.

Jon Fuller

28-09-2009, 07:16 AM

That 'bint' is 40 years older now, and probably now deserves the title. (with the addition of 'old')

Delta28

28-09-2009, 07:57 AM

Yeah,it was to stop that bint from sticking her feet over the exhausts.

Hah! I came to the same conclusion!

I agree that they were probably to avoid backwash, especially if the rear / aft / one nearest the blunt end / whatever... engine had packed-up. She lies fairly low in the water in the film of her retiring from the fairly rough '68 C-T-C, plus the exhausts were sited halfway down the transom to start with.

They may have been added in anticipation of surviving huge seas in RB69. I'll try to remember to ask John Kennerley...

Not as efficient as straight-through exhausts... but more spectacular!

You would sort-of expect her to moo.. or utter a loud mating call

I would quite like to replicate the side exhausts (if only to cover-up all the holes!) even if we go single-engined. Any idea where I could get these made?

Budweiser

01-10-2009, 01:06 PM

Hah! I came to the same conclusion!

I agree that they were probably to avoid backwash, especially if the rear / aft / one nearest the blunt end / whatever... engine had packed-up. She lies fairly low in the water in the film of her retiring from the fairly rough '68 C-T-C, plus the exhausts were sited halfway down the transom to start with.

They may have been added in anticipation of surviving huge seas in RB69. I'll try to remember to ask John Kennerley...

Not as efficient as straight-through exhausts... but more spectacular!

You would sort-of expect her to moo.. or utter a loud mating call

I would quite like to replicate the side exhausts (if only to cover-up all the holes!) even if we go single-engined. Any idea where I could get these made?

Give Martin a Call he had his made up locally to drivers :up:

Delta28

01-10-2009, 01:15 PM

Give Martin a Call he had his made up locally to drivers :up:

Thanks Mark.. I remember now! Excellent workmanship, reckon they'd do a great job.

Will definitely follow that up.. Cheers.

Delta28

04-10-2009, 05:20 AM

Fed-up with waiting for the "mythical" lift promised by my mate with the crane, i just got on with it meself...

Big clue as to how I moved it, in the foreground of the second picture....

Delta28

06-10-2009, 10:25 AM

Not quite as reckless as it might look... The lift was carried-out in careful, planned stages.

Mind you, it is a strange sensation dangling a twenty-eight foot magnum from yer Massey Ferguson...

Now up on decent blocks, there's more layers of paint to remove and the cradle is nearly complete (needs to be in that barn before the winter).

Delta28

22-10-2009, 03:14 PM

The 3-D scanning hasn't produced anything yet - you can't push people who are doing something voluntarily (that would otherwise cost a fortune). There's a problem with one of the four scans that they did and they've either got to come back and do it again, or upload / correct some of the data manually - which is taking an age... and these splendid young men have got busy lives to lead!

So I've resorted to making templates the hard way (with some old plywood) and the cradle is going to be made of wood... This is because: a) I have no stocks of suitable metal, b) my metalworking skills are even worse than my woodwork, c) I like the idea of something with a bit of "give" (could mask a multitude of sins!) as long as it doesn't flex too much... I would assume that a metal cradle would be more rigid, but then you'd have to be more accurate in its fabrication.

Oh, and d)... I've got bleedin' loads of wood !! I've got access to over 300 acres of oak woodland, but oak is very heavy (though very strong) and like iron once it's seasoned... In the old days they used it green, then let it season - trouble is, it moves (those lovely bendy old cottages were actually built like that..).

Cutting to the chase... i got a mate to run-out some Douglas Fir, which should do the job. It'll be based on the one that Surfury had - and that kicked around (and was still used) in the G&G yard for donkey's years, long after the old girl was moved to Sussex.

Serious carpenters / boatbuilders may want to look away now...!

Delta28

25-10-2009, 02:01 AM

Think I said the cradle was "nearly ready" a while ago... I hadn't allowed for the lack of daylight...

Bit like that Python sketch where he's making a model of the Cutty Sark in the dark... Not quite as good as you thought it was going to be, when the light is switched-on!

Gel coat came-up surprisingly well in places, though (as suspected) it's badly pitted elsewhere... there had to be reason for painting her, especially as the first time was in the same colour... Just done below the chine, where the cradle is going to sit - to save craning it for a while...

There's quite a few repairs / patching where the prop shaft / skeg have been re-positioned over the years, but there's a large, bodged repair (shown) that looks pretty serious. At least it doesn't extend down to the keel... Just have to wait until a surveyor casts his / her beady eye over it

Delta28

24-11-2009, 12:19 PM

I am delighted to announce that I have recently been given substantial help by TEAM 25... and in recognition of this I would be pleased and proud to display their logo on the side of MMT (being an historic boat it will have to be a fairly discreet label, though I'm sure a few low-key sponsorship tags won't detract too much from the overall appearance)

This very professional crew have put-in some outstanding performances this season... They were leading the Needles Trophy by a country mile when they had a strange "reverse parking" incident...!

They took the lead in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes this year and only fuel problems stopped them from what would probably have been a resounding victory...

So, if there are any potential sponsors looking-in on this thread... I would welcome any further help in return for limited advertising space - and TEAM 25 have a massive, (possibly huge, if rumours come to fruition!) fast and eye-catching advertising hoarding just waiting for your company name!!

http://www.team25racing.com/

FLYING FISH

29-11-2009, 11:27 AM

Talking to a friend of mine who worked in a machine shop.He reckons he used to make the plugs of various sizes for helicopter missile bodies i.e. like mini torpedoes.They could use say 0.5mm st.steel plate,circular in shape and spin it over the plug,rather like making a condom over it.This could be laser cut in half and have a welded flange on it to make the exhaust cowls.
I would have thought there must be some machine shops that have plugs laying around or even the missile bodies maybe.Just a thought.

Delta28

29-11-2009, 03:26 PM

...There's got to be a good funny there, only I'm too tired / slow / brain-dead to think of a witty reply (like: "best not to get them mixed-up"... or, "i'd like a giant, missile-sized condom please..." etc., etc.!)

Thanks, Graham. I will certainly follow that up... definitely worth a try..! Would be good to get the boat "looking the part".

If I suddenly disappear, you'll know that certain mysterious security services have caught-up with me.... after making enquiries to companies, such as: "excuse me, have you got any old missile-making equipment lying about...? "

FLYING FISH

30-11-2009, 05:27 AM

Let me know the dia and length of the cowl.I may be able to put some feelers out re manufacture and cost.

Delta28

30-11-2009, 12:36 PM

Let me know the dia and length of the cowl.I may be able to put some feelers out re manufacture and cost.

Great stuff.. I'll have a measure-up tomorrow. I know that the stainless steel backing-plate is over a metre long, because I was looking at making it myself... trouble is that it also tapers-out wider towards the stern, though I'm sure you'll work it out...! Would this have also had something heatproof / or a heat-dispersant protective layer behind, to protect the GRP?

I can give you the dimensions and if you need me to, can trace a template to post to you - all the bolt holes are still there along the hull...

No need to email you any pictures... I think most of them originate from you!

Thankyou Graham, you're a star!

Jon Fuller

01-12-2009, 12:14 AM

It really wouldn't be at all difficult to produce a plug & mould for these exhaust cowls.

relatively inexspensive too

Some hard sandable foam (like the stuff u stick flowers in) car filler, and a small quantity of durabuild or similar. you'd soon have a plug.

If you're intending to paint the boat, and pods, you won't even need to get a particularly good finish on the plug. could just use a load of PVA release agent instead of a high finish & wax.

Some chopped strand matt and resin and you have a mould....

As long as your water cooling is dumping water into the exhaust, your stainless backing plate would be just fine. many exhaust pipes and silencer boxes on wet exhaust systems are made of GRP.

The job would also be a good learning exercise for the coming glasswork with the deck etc.

FLYING FISH

01-12-2009, 03:04 AM

All very fine Jon,until you get a s.w.inlet blockage and the exhaust water cooling goes kaput.Got the `t` shirt on that one.
I thought Ian was actually trying to make dummy cowls that looked like the original in stainless,being as he may only fit a single engine with transom exhausts.
A similar side exhaust arrgt was fitted on Highland Fling where we had a midship engine with straight exhausts out through the sides.The waterjacketed exhausts went through asbestos!!!! lined holes in the wood topside sandwiched between stainless plates which were in turn asbestos padded against the topside.All very belt and braces but when the exhaust cowls began to smoulder due to water jacketing starvation,it saved the topside going up.Looking back we did some crap things at the time.
Even `Gee` and `Ghost Rider` had similar arrgts with the backing plate extended to protect the topsde from all the shit and gravy coming out the cowl.

Jon Fuller

01-12-2009, 03:24 AM

All very fine Jon,until you get a s.w.inlet blockage and the exhaust water cooling goes kaput.Got the `t` shirt on that one.

This is true, but if that happens, and he doesn't notice, a scorched outer cowl will be the least of his worries.

Delta28

01-12-2009, 11:05 AM

The job would also be a good learning exercise for the coming glasswork with the deck etc.

Agreed, Jon ...was going to start with the engine hatches and air intakes / cowls by way of practice!

My Dad's quite an expert on fibreglass and has made loads of stuff (though, admittedly, not a complete boat)...he's just getting a bit too old and infirm (aren't we all!). Lots of "ooh, you don't want to do it like that" (Harry Enfield..) advice though...

I'll post some pictures of the (remaining) deck sections soon... they're balsa sandwich!!

Delta28

01-12-2009, 11:43 AM

Sorry, got premature with the title there...

I quite like a "belt and braces" approach, just in case I don't notice anything amiss..!

Ian Toll told me that Magnum Tornado (Balestrieri / Pruett) effectively "sank themselves" by not noticing the lack of spray of the overspill / venting (whatever) from the full ballast tank in the very rough '68 C-T-C... They were obviously a bit busy duelling with Surfury and also didn't notice that the ballast tank control was still at "fill"... she was still pumping... the tank side had come away from the inside of the hull and they just filled-themselves-up with seawater...

So it's possible that even an experienced crew might not notice things in a rough race... what chance have I got?!!

Would be nice to replicate the side exhaust cowls in stainless if possible... dunno about the asbestos! (what else is there?) ...who knows? if I win the lottery or "she" lets me dip into my pension, might have a second mercruiser (in tandem, of course!)

Need to think about this one...

FLYING FISH

01-12-2009, 12:34 PM

Don`t concern yourself about the asbestos,that was back in the days where that was the norm in ship/boat building.Thermal pads and lagging are now the thing.Trawl the internet.On the last Gas Turbine superyacht ,we had pads as used in the space shuttle,but that is an extreme.Do you need all this anyway if they are dummy.Sounds like some forward planning costwise might be the main priority,before bounding off on arrangements that may not be required.

Delta28

01-12-2009, 01:11 PM

Quite right Graham.. got enough expense to worry about (will just bear in mind having the capability if required)

Here's a picture of the offending ballast tank control ..as on a 28' Magnum

Photo via Charlie McCarthy

Delta28

01-12-2009, 01:17 PM

One thing we WON'T be replicating...

Those horrendous Union Jacks will be significantly smaller and in proportion to the boat...

There's that (old!) bint with the feet (or possibly without) again!

...plus a close-up of the forward exhaust cowls

Delta28

01-12-2009, 02:00 PM

Hi Graham, just been out to the boat...

The backing plate is 1550mm long (61" in English money) x 270mm high (10 5/8").. tapering-out to 280mm (11") high at the aft end...

Diameter of the exhaust exit hole (in the hull) is 105mm (4 1/8")

The cowl itself looks to have extended 550mm (21 5/8") from the for'ard end

If you could ask around and get an idea of price (ballpark will do..) I would be very grateful. I have a guy locally who is very good with stainless, but after expressing interest he seems to be avoiding me, so he probably doesn't want or need the work... or he's heard what a complete bastard I am! (only joking.. and I am good at paying-up, honest!)

Delta28

02-01-2010, 10:51 AM

Finally got the boat in the barn... (expletives deleted...!)

Might build a full-scale replica of the Great Pyramid, or possibly re-build Hadrian's Wall ...either would be quicker

Problem was the need to "over-build" the cradle due to the (comparatively) rough ground of the yard outside, estimating the load-bearing tolerances of the wood and allowing for full-load when (and if) deck, engine and running gear are fitted.

Anyway, can begin to make better progress now... and it has made a good start to the year.

Black_Tornado

02-01-2010, 12:19 PM

Just some frames of the boat from the video Run Sunward in those days in Naples and France.
Unfortunately the quality is poor.

Delta28

03-01-2010, 02:09 AM

One thing we WON'T be replicating...

Those horrendous Union Jacks will be significantly smaller and in proportion to the boat...

Now I can see why the jacks were so large... to cover-up the stripes..! (and who knicked the stars then? ..or is this a naval ensign? Where's that book of flags?!)

Thankyou Marco, these pictures are very interesting and will be very useful.

Black_Tornado

03-01-2010, 05:53 AM

Those red stripes sided with a dark blue vertical band and an oval sticker with the writing USA was used by Aronow on all of his boats in 1967 and on some other Magnums.
I have not followed a lot the thread and I have not understood that version you will make of the boat.
1967-Aronow-Maltese Magnum II? - 1968 and follow- British version?:wank:

Black_Tornado

03-01-2010, 07:16 AM

Here the only other three pics of the dark green Maltese Magnum II from my archive.

Delta28

03-01-2010, 02:56 PM

I have not followed a lot the thread and I have not understood that version you will make of the boat.
1967-Aronow-Maltese Magnum II? - 1968 and follow- British version?

I must confess to having a preference to the British "chin scratcher" version...!

This is how I (and many others) remember the boat, it is where the boat is located now and will hopefully be part of a revival, whereby some of the old, historic boats will be restored and cared-for...

Perhaps you are right, Marco.. A purist would "put her back to original" and, in reality, she's more likely to have that mechanical layout. Unless I can find sponsors / partners or increased funding it is probably the way to go...

However, boats "evolve" over the years and changes are made... Hah! just have to wait and see... The important thing is to make the deck as the original, not to destroy any historic features / evidence etc. and to keep options open by making it possible to have either version

If I can't make good progress (and it has to be "done right" or not at all..) I will have to find a good home for the boat... but NOT YET!

I'm sure there will be plenty of interest from the States if none is forthcoming on this side of the pond.

Delta28

03-01-2010, 03:23 PM

Returning to the problems of moving the boat, there were some important lessons learned... again! :headbang:

Due to the surfacing of the yard (hardcore + road planings / limestone scalpings) and the wet weather making it "soft going"... I knew we'd have trouble! So I needed larger diameter, wider wheels.

Scrounged some bent jockey wheels from local Ifor Williams dealer and made-up some half-decent ones (they were good!) bought a few cheap ebay ones (they were crap) and crossed fingers (always helps)

There was also the slight matter of being too mean to lay-out three hundred quid for 6 x 1-tonne-rated castors...all to move the boat a few yards! This money would be better spent on materials for the boat, surely?

Anyway.. (whatever Shirley thinks) thanks to having a Land Rover, Tractor, Tirfor Winch and a Pete, we got there... eventually!!

Got to concrete the yard (it was easy once on the barn floor), get some decent castors and / or wait for a dry spell...

My heartfelt thanks to my son-in-law, Peter Denyer (some of you will remember him helping me with the craning at Cowes) whose skill, determination and energetic assistance made this operation possible.

Black_Tornado

03-01-2010, 05:13 PM

I must confess to having a preference to the British "chin scratcher" version...!

This is how I (and many others) remember the boat, it is where the boat is located now and will hopefully be part of a revival, whereby some of the old, historic boats will be restored and cared-for...

Perhaps you are right, Marco.. A purist would "put her back to original" and, in reality, she's more likely to have that mechanical layout. Unless I can find sponsors / partners or increased funding it is probably the way to go...

However, boats "evolve" over the years and changes are made... Hah! just have to wait and see... The important thing is to make the deck as the original, not to destroy any historic features / evidence etc. and to keep options open by making it possible to have either version

If I can't make good progress (and it has to be "done right" or not at all..) I will have to find a good home for the boat... but NOT YET!

I'm sure there will be plenty of interest from the States if none is forthcoming on this side of the pond.

The thing most important for all those that love this sport as me I believe is to see guys like you save these boats.
My heart suffers in to know that two glorious boats are dying just here in Italy. I refferred me to the "my" Black Tornado Cig.36' and to the Tramontana. Unfortunately I don't have the money to sustain their restauration and not even the necessary space to host them.
I hope that soon someone saves them from a sad end.
Then my appreciation to you and those as you that with passion they hold in life these pieces of history of the sport.:up:

ufix1

04-01-2010, 11:56 PM

DO you have contacts in the states , which can be very useful??? if not PM me please.

Delta28

07-01-2010, 01:01 AM

Apart from Magnum Marine and good ole Charlie McCarthy, I'd say not.... PM sent!

Apologies for the delayed response, my PC is down at the moment.

All the best, ian

Delta28

01-04-2010, 02:11 AM

Nearly ready! Just waiting for a suitable outdrive...

See you at Cowes!!

FLYING FISH

01-04-2010, 03:02 AM

That`s the way to do it Ian.Keep quiet and just get on with it.

How about a stern shot to prove it`s not a cardboard cut out????

Carl

01-04-2010, 03:04 AM

thats is very impressive,i thought you would be yrs in the making,well done :up:

Delta28

01-04-2010, 03:08 AM

That`s the way to do it Ian.Keep quiet and just get on with it.

How about a stern shot to prove it`s not a cardboard cut out????

Doohh...!! Ya rumbled me!!

Take a look at the date everyone....

Carl

01-04-2010, 03:14 AM

git :hugegrin:

Delta28

01-04-2010, 03:15 AM

i thought you would be yrs in the making,well done :up:

Sorry Carl... and yes, your first instict was right - it WILL be years in the making.

I got bored with not being able to get on, with all the cold and damp in my open barn, so I made a "not quite a builder's model" to help get the proportions right...

Delta28

01-04-2010, 04:01 AM

Sorry Carl... and yes, your first instict was right - it WILL be years in the making.

I got bored with not being able to get on, with all the cold and damp in my open barn, so I made a "not quite a builder's model" to help get the proportions right...

Err, just noticed that should read "your first INSTINCT was right.."

Don't get very long to edit, do you?

littlenige

03-04-2010, 07:53 AM

I need glasses! I fell for it hook line and sinker! Your camera angle was perfect!!!

robbie

03-04-2010, 09:52 AM

Best April 1st for years and a pretty good model to boot. The small one is a work of art in itself.

Delta28

03-04-2010, 10:53 AM

The small one is a work of art in itself.

Thanks, but it's backfired on me nicely... I now feel terribly guilty for having (albeit very temporarily!) raised the hopes and expectations of the historic powerboat world with this cruel hoax...

It's put the pressure on me to deliver and i must now crack-on with the full-size one and make THAT a work of art!

At least it won't be so bloody fiddly to paint... (just alot more of it!)

As Graham said, I'll have to "keep quiet and just get on with it"

J Tangye

22-06-2010, 02:47 AM

I used to own Ultimatum, an Aronow Magnum 23, in 1973 and 1974. Her race number was 500.

She originally had a Daytona Scarab engine driving through a Casale V drive.

We re-engined her with a 496 CI lucas injected Weslake Mercruiser with a Sindive exhaust system producing 615 BHP and lowered the v drive and altered the shaft angle with the rudder and propellor on an outrigger. This enabled the driver and navigator to stand lower in the boat.

With this set up we finished 5th overall in the 1973 CTC. Two bulkheads had broken, the deck had split and one of the two fuel tanks had cracked. Also we had lost half the rudder.

She certainly was a wild ride, exaggerated by the single engine producing torque problems; you always ran with one trim tab down to counteract this but as you took off from the top of a wave the propellor would cause the boat to twist. The trick was to apply opposite on take off to avoid landing on the chine. Bekens have a good photograph of her in the 73 CTC fully airborne and running level. The picture in the 1973 CTC video with her stopped with the hatches open was at Torquay when we had to add extra oil to stop a surge problem in Lyme Bay.

In 1974 I bought an "open chamber" 496 ci out of Dantes Inferno with twin 1150 Holley Carbs producing a claimed 650BHP but we were plagued with transmission problems. At the start of 1974 we used this engine in Tangyes Tandem a 28ft Cougar but that is another story.

Ultimatum was fine boat, quite tricky to drive, but strong and immense fun.

If any one has any photographs of her from that period I am in the market.

James Tangye

littlenige

22-06-2010, 03:52 AM

Cool! I remember your cat!

FLYING FISH

22-06-2010, 12:04 PM

A couple attached,Now lets hear the ex-Miss Guernsey story,and if you have any colour pics of Tangyes Tandem please post them.

What you didn`t say,was that in the CTC 73,you were only 2 mins behind that lump of a boat `Passport Scotch Whisky` a 30ft heavy souter build,and 2 mins ahead of the 33ft Ford Persuader,in fairly breezy conditions.Not bad for a 23ft Magnum,with the same total horsepower.

J Tangye

23-06-2010, 03:00 AM

Thank you for the photographs of Ultimatum and the kind remarks. I failed to mention that all the rigging and preparation work was carried out by RK Marine who still operate in the Hamble. It was their good quality engineering that enabled us to do well.

At the end of 1973 we had two options. One to fit Ultimatum with an outdrive or to buy another slightly bigger boat. Various options were looked at and we asked Cougar if they could build a class 2 inboard.

Unfortunately they were too busy with Class 3 boats and with Keith Dallas's class 2 boat Wiggins Teape. However James Beard and Clive Curtis mentioned that Miss Guernsey was sitting in the Channel Islands. She was 28 foot and was designed to have a Mercruiser + outdrive mounted in the wing. The main problem with the boat was, as James Beard said, that it lacked wetted area which made it hard to get onto the plane - upsea or upwind was no problem. An interesting point was that when we unpacked the Engine and outdrive from Dante's Inferno James noticed that the skeg on the bottom of the outdrive had been machined off ; this was common practise for contra rotating twin engined boats but was a disaster for a single engined boat which would "walk" sideways on the water and spin. After a bit of expert weldin the situation was rectified.

Once on the plane it went well and was timed on the measured mile on Southampton Water at 84mph with the wrong propellor but at sea in varying conditions it was a constant problem. The first race in the Solent, I cannot which one, went well and we were lying 2nd or 3rd overall when a bearing failed in the outdrive.

The second, and final race, was held at Lymington and went to Swanage and back twice The weather was appalling with huge seas off St Albans Head - so bad that the Coastguard rang the organisers to register their concern. After the first lap we threw the towel in and headed back to Cougar's yard at Netley. The tide was out so we could not get onto the trailer and thus left the boat on a mooring. The following morning Clive Curtis rang me to say Tangye's Tandem was semi submerged and when they finally got her ashore it was found that the transom had split.

So the engine was put into Ultimatum for the 74 CTC where the rudder broke off and Round the Island Race where the V drive failed.

Not a good year.

James T

littlenige

23-06-2010, 05:08 AM

Thanks for the history lesson James! Keep it coming!

FLYING FISH

23-06-2010, 05:48 AM

Thanks James for your potted history.Fascinating stuff.This is what the history section should be all about.
Colin Banks had big plans for Miss Guernsey,and it really looked the business,but it wasn`t to be.It just shows,even the top designers can`t always produce a successful boat out of the box,but then again the ones who experiment with different configurations always run the risk of the occasional lemon.

Delta28

28-06-2010, 02:17 PM

I used to own Ultimatum, an Aronow Magnum 23, in 1973 and 1974. Her race number was 500.

Ultimatum was fine boat, quite tricky to drive, but strong and immense fun.

If any one has any photographs of her from that period I am in the market.

James Tangye

Thanks for that, James.

I've been in touch with Jim Roddick, John Kennerley's co-driver / engineer and he said that MM II was a handful too, especially when chine-riding at 70...!

I went to see Ultimatum down at Littlehampton last year (at Hillyards, now under new ownership) and she's still in fair condition.... but looks like a fruit salad where they've sanded her down and revealed layers of paint. I gather the yard owner is going to restore her, but haven't heard any more of late.

Will try and look out the pictures I took...

Delta28

28-06-2010, 03:04 PM

Taken from "Historic / Outboards for revenger 25".... a Mr F Fish said : "It`s about as unusual as seeing a Maltese Magnum Twin running past the RYS at Cowes 2010".

Now, that's a bit below the belt... or should i say waterline?

You haven't forgiven me for the model gag, have you?

Reason I've "been away" is partly due to my computer crashing - this time terminally - and because i've been busy keeping "her indoors" happy. It's a bit of a trade-off, you see... I've got the boat....

Trouble is, she should be "her outdoors" (she shudda married a farmer!) in that she wants to keep some animals... "whilst we've got the land"

So now i'm rearin' hogs fer Chrisstsakes...!!

Bin busy all spring fencing the paddock and building a sty (might move-in?!) though the research has continued...

I'm very disappointed I'm not able to (at the very least) exhibit her at Cowes, let-alone run past the RYS (and nearly make-it to Egypt Point), but i don't think it was ever going to be a realistic prospect. Offers of help / advice / funding have been very few (well, apart from your help with the exhaust cowl attempt, non-existant, actually), so it looks like I'm on-me-own!

So, rather than rush in (nothing against Russians, mind) and make a balls of it, I've been "husbanding my resources" (i.e. being bloody mean) until i have the wherewithall to do it properly. Rather like JF's avatar/quotation/thingy about "a lot more is said than done" ...I've been going on the philosophy of "do it properly, or not all"... Consequently, up until now, there's been rather a lot of not-at-all...!

Desperate to get-on with it now... Bacon sandwich, anyone?

J Tangye

29-06-2010, 09:31 AM

Interesting to hear that Ultimatum is in Littlehampton.

I mentioned previously that I thought about fitting her with a sterndrive and regret not doing so. I think she would have been very quick. In the early seventies Billy Martin ran a class 2 Magnum called Bounty Hunter in the States with a single 496 + sterndrive and was some cases, I seem to remember, an overall winner. I think she was a 30 footer but may have been a 28.

I remember that in those days you had to shut down the engine to go from ahead to astern which made maneouvering taxing; in particular getting onto the trailer at Fairey Marine with the tide running - tick over was 10 knots so you were either in danger of assaulting the tractor driver or going astern at high speed. The gearbox was made by Daytona Marine.

James T

FLYING FISH

29-06-2010, 12:08 PM

Interesting to hear that Ultimatum is in Littlehampton.

In the early seventies Billy Martin ran a class 2 Magnum called Bounty Hunter in the States with a single 496 + sterndrive and was some cases, I seem to remember, an overall winner. I think she was a 30 footer but may have been a 28.

James T

Billy Martin`s boat was Hustler II a Magnum 27 (1 x Mercruiser 450hp)which was ex-Maltese Magnum as raced by Don Aronow.The boat won many races in the U.S.
I think `Ultimatum` was the only 23ft that ever raced .

Delta28

14-10-2010, 01:53 PM

At the risk of boring everyone rigid...

I finally got around to getting some pictures of what's left of the deck.

Interesting to note the use of woven glass and what looks like balsa sandwich... bearing in mind that the deck is of winter 1966 vintage and is nearly as old as the Fordson Major...

I'll cut into it to see what's left, once I've decided if I'm going to use it as part of the formwork (for making the mould) or not... That might be a complication too many, but I'd like to incorporate it if possible.

I've been experimenting with ply to get the camber of the deck right, but those pictures didn't come out very well.

FLYING FISH

15-11-2010, 11:05 AM

At the risk of Magnum man having a relapse,these pics have appeared on the U.S. websites of Maltese Magnum restored.

Carl

15-11-2010, 11:34 AM