CLASSIC OFFSHORE POWERBOAT CLUB

THUNDERBOLT 2

This boat was designed by Alex McCracken for Tommy Sopwith in 1962 to enter the 2nd Cowes Torquay.
Originally powered by 3x 350hp Crusaders she proved unsuccessful owing to late delivery of engines and lack of sea trials. She then proved to be “not very fast” and was converted to a cabin cruiser. She is currently in Malta in a partially stripped condition and requiring a major rebuild. The engines were replaced with Perkins diesels which are now beyond repair but possibly suitable for spares?.
This craft is unique and could be rebuilt in her original specification and with a suitable engine installation would be a desirable classic for rally’s or with new cabin could make a fine cruiser but time is running out. Malta’s weather has been kind to the hull but further exposure could cause the laminations to start decaying.
The owner is looking for £10,000 but the agent is sure a more sensible offer may be accepted try £3000 but she would have to be shipped back also.

Please send your enquiries to: peter@woodenships.co.uk

FOR SALE    £5,000.00 or very near offer

This hull is based on the racing prototype and famous powerboat GIOVANNA and built by Halmatic

Nina III - Christina 27 - Available for Restoration

Dimensions - LOA 27 ft - Beam 9 ft 4 in - Draft 2 ft (outdrives up) 3 ft (outdrives down)

Builder - Bruce Campbell (Christina) Ltd - Launched 1974 - Built for Paris Boat Show 1968

Construction - High quality glass fibre deep-vee hull using hollow GRP ribs on close centres and marine ply stringers for high strength offshore capability - Teak decks - Teak and mahogany superstructure with solid teak corners and cappings.

Engines - Twin Chrysler TS3 supercharged diesels, 125 bhp each continuous, 150 bhp intermittent (now no longer functional). Enfield 200H outdrives with electro-hydraulic trim & tilt. Twin 36-gallon GRP diesel tanks.

Max continuous speed 27 knots

Accommodation - 2 permanent berths in fore-cabin; galley; WC with basin; full headroom; enclosed wheelhouse (space for two further permanent berths); large open cockpit

Launching Trolley - Purpose-built, four-wheeled, four docking arms

Current Condition - Now in very poor condition, requiring total restoration. She has been stored onshore for many years, on her launching trolley. The hull is in good condition, but the external woodwork is not. Deck fittings have been removed and are in storage, in good condition. New engines are required. The outdrives are stripped to component level awaiting rebuilding, and are complete with new bearings.

		«   On display on the Bruce Campbell stand at the Paris Boat Show in 1968, without engines. The boat was a bare shell when my father and I bought it in 1970—lovely woodwork but no services or engines. We had a blank canvas.
This outline line drawing was with the very few original documents that came with the boat, when we bought her, part-finished, in Lymington.   »
		«   Being craned from the yard where we finished building her, on to the launching trailer. The deep forefoot of the hull, and the pronounced spray-rails along the bottom, are evident.
First launch in 1971—on the slipway at Littlehampton (at the mouth of the River Arun in Sussex). At that time she did not have her custom-built launching trolley, and the yard didn’t have a proper boat-lift ! The very pronounced deep-vee hull form, and the two Enfield 200H sterndrives, are clearly visible.   »
		«   Moored in Brighton Marina, when that was the base for an offshore powerboat race. Nina III made an ideal spectator boat.
Currently in storage onshore on her launching trolley  »
		«   Internal view of spacious cabin

Enquiries should be sent to: John Hother at John.Hother@proneta.co.uk
or telephone: +44 796 872 6779

The 25ft Christina "CONTANGO A"

In 1961 the first Cowes Torquay Powerboat race featured 4 boats from the Bruce Campbell yard at Hamble they were Thunderbolt no 3 the eventual winner, Christina no 6, Campbell’s own boat Coralie no 4 and Contango A no 5 driven by P.Raymond.

Of those four boats, 2 are missing Coralie and Christina, which was last heard of on the east coast. Thunderbolt is now fully restored and now Contango A is up for sale.

75% RESTORED she is now looking for a new owner who can complete her revival.

She is a Mark V hull which was redesigned for Campbell by Ray Hunt. The cold moulded hull was built by Walter Lawrence Ltd using the same techniques as they used for the Mosquito fighter plane bodies and finished in Campbell’s yard on the Hamble.

Carrying race no 5 she was originally powered by 2 Palmer engines totalling 270hp then in 1963 with race no 29 was converted to stern drive using the then new and successful Volvo Penta engines totalling 170 hp.

Although she was not as successful as her sister hulls she is still never the less a very important part of the history of this race being one of the very few boats still surviving that raced in 1961.

Current photographs will be supplied soon

Works carried out are as follows:

Hull stripped and rotten wood replaced where necessary.
Top half of transom replaced.
New cabin sides and top.
New cockpit coamings.
New capping rails etc in mahogany (varnished but not fitted).
Hull professionally repainted in original black enamel finish.

All upholstery re-upholstered in red with white piping.

Specification:

Twin Volvo AQ145a 4 cylinder petrol engines with 280 legs.
Long range fuel tanks.
Separate heads compartment.
Anchor and chain.
Fenders.
Mooring lines.
Compass and sounder.
Full spray hood and cockpit cover.
Four wheel road trailer.

I have not worked on her for four years, and she has been stored under cover (barn) during this time. However the hull was painted two years ago. The engines were turned over last year. The outdrive legs are removed. A new mahogany deck/cover strip for the top of the transom has been made and shaped to fit. She currently looks rather sad, and I will endeavour to smarten her up before any one comes to view. Windows have been stripped ready for re-build. I have the period navigation lights, and also a new set of original engine controls. She also has her original "Blue Book".

Initial enquiries should be sent to: Richard Rance at maxmole@hotmail.co.uk

Price will be circa £18,000 or sensible offers

GRASSHOPPER

GRASSHOPPER - 12.06.2008

Originally built in 1969 for the Finance Director of Souters Cowes using the famous Souter cold moulding process she is obviously a Ray Hunt design and appears in hull profile to be a smaller version of Sir Max Aitkens "Gypsy Girl".

She was originally fitted with twin petrols for entry into the Cowes Torquay, although we can find no trace of this actually happening.

Grasshopper is a superb looking craft and when the present owners re engined her they found that she had also been lengthened by another 3 feet from the original by the first owner, intriguing !

Specification to follow

But includes;
Accommodation for 4 to 6 persons
2x Sabre diesels
useable straight away or can be modernised to suit

CIRCA £15,000.00

A superb Souter built craft with pedigree ideal for Classic events.

Please send your enquiries to: peter@woodenships.co.uk

Another Major Classic Race Winner is on the Market again "A´SPERANZIELLA"

Patially restored and complete with 2 FORD INTERCEPTORS but priced a little high considering works needed she is being advertised on BoatsandOutboards.

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/classic-motor-boats/levi-asperanziella-PAA34160

£20,000

1963 BERTRAM 31 "THUNDERSTREAK"

THUNDERSTREAK 1964

Built for Tommy Sopwith for the 1963 season Thunderstreak was a modified Ray Hunt designed BERTRAM 31 with a specially designed streamlined cabin complying with the then COWES-TORQUAY rule book.
She was powered then by twin 400hp Holman and Moody Ford Interceptors ( GT40 Spec) giving 47knots.
Raced for 2 years by Tommy she was then sold to Kieth Schellenberg and later reappeared for the RBR69 race with a modified cabin top by Whitby Shipyard and twin Perkins diesels.

After her racing life finished she was modified even further with the addition of a rear cabin and wheelhouse.
Now she has been put up for sale after being seized for non payment of mooring charges, her ply constructed cabin has suffered badly but her hull and internals are in serviceable condition.
THUNDERSTREAK can be viewed at Gallions Point Marina Docklands London and is priced at £9995 although no reasonable offer would be refused. She would make an ideal restoration project and an opportunity to acquire a much sought after make which could easily be returned to original design layout.

Please contact Eric on 0207 476 7054 or info@gallionspointmarina.co.uk

VIVA TRIDANTE

One of the most significant powerboat designs of the early 60’s
The Levi designed R and W Clarke built

"VIVA TRIDANTE"

The craft has been totally restored to the highest specification over the past 4 years and looks absolutely stunning in her original race livery. One of only 5 built and one of the few surviving craft actually useable.

Please contact the owner Ian Wright via email at iwright@talktalk.net
07788 140997

4litre Twin Engine Catamaran, your chance to own a piece of racing history!

Chance to buy one of the last remaining 4litre twin-engine wooden offshore catamarans from the 1980's in race condition.
Designed by Lorne Campbell built by Ron Wolbold in 1986, won the last European championship to be held around Europe in 1986, retired from active racing in 1990.

Rebuilt in 2000 with two front bucket seats for corporate work and basic racing, has raced Cowes basic three times, Littlehampton basic, Exmouth dash, will still handle with five people on board.

Equipped with mercury race midsections offshore cle gearboxes LH and RH shiftable, powerheads are 1986 spec 2litre. Tunnel compressor, two 50-gallon fuel tanks, bow ballast tank, double rideguide, cestrel speed grid compass, lifting strops.
Hull is 25ft by 8ft 2ins with 4ft wide tunnel on four-wheel purpose built trailer.

£12500

Howard Wretham
01344 844377
07831 873555

Hydrosonic

Very rare Levi Delta Hydrosonic

Built in Italy by Partenocraft of Laminated epoxy impregnated mahogany.
Fitted with NEW Volvo Penta 4.3litre I/O rated at 195hp 40HRS running.
LOA 23FT
Beam 8FT
Full documentation / test report / certificates.
Lying Ashore on the I.O.W

An opportunity to purchase a unique and very attractive craft.

Please contact the owner to discuss price.
Genuine enquiries only please via John Sheen at Tetrapanix@aol.com

CAN YOU HELP?

Classic boat enthusiast is looking for an interesting 1960’s or early 70’s Powerboat to restore.
Wood or GRP Bertram, Levi, GRP Christina or similar. Anything considered - ideally 23 to 32ft.
With or without history.
Contact David Japp at davidjapp@carlinmusic.com