Dawn Patrol

Folly Reach · Post by **Folly Reach** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 7:51 am

Dawn Patrol (Military Spear) is now safely on the IOW and 5 minutes from my front door and undercover so time for an update.
Rob Bingham to carry out a survey on Monday and advise on best practice going forward.
The electrics were in an awful state so they have all been removed along with the fuel tanks and water tank. The engines were already out of the boat having undergone some maintenance by the previous owner before he passed away.
The work to the rubbing strakes (all new) and the teak cockpit flooring looks to have been done to a high standard, all this having been carried out previously.
The topsides and superstructure have all been painted previously and are currently in undercoat, however the feeling is that we will have her painted in Awlgrip so if that is the case then I am in for some serious sanding back to gel coat.
She has new windows in the Spearfish style and a brand new "Gordon Currey" windscreen to be fitted.
The jury is out on the engines at the moment but I am sure that progress will be made shortly.
The pulpit and aft rail are more in keeping with her workboat heritage rather than as a Spearfish so I am talking to a stainless specialist with a view to modification/replacement.
More to follow in due course.

nicky · Post by **nicky** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 3:29 pm

Will make a super Spearfish, particularly as it is one of the better Fairey built boats. Will look better than new with Awlgrip, but later engines are worth considering as the current ones will let it down.
David

robin3boats · Post by **robin3boats** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:26 am

Keep the engines and save money by not using Awlgrip

Folly Reach · Post by **Folly Reach** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:44 am

Funny you should say that Robin.
You are not the first person to make that comment.
Rob Bingham taking a look today so that should be interesting.

Folly Reach · Post by **Folly Reach** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 7:36 am

Survey took place this week. Moisture levels low, couple of minor repairs/reinforcement required in the engine room and right forward.
Apart from that nothing much to report which is great news.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 8:48 am

The current engines are Ford 212C, Dover block. I don't see Dover block fords as letting down a Fairey boat at all, far from it.

I fully agree that Dorsets are unacceptably smoky to people these days.

But Dover's are much better, the 212C is bombpoof, low cost, spares are low cost and readily available. They sound glorious and can provide plenty of HP.

If I had a pair of Dovers I'd stick with them.

Folly Reach · Post by **Folly Reach** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 11:09 am

Spot on Ben. Aestheticly I just want them to be identical hence my quest for header tank and turbo etc. One Turbo air cooled and one water cooled at the moment.

Folly Reach · Post by **Folly Reach** » Wed Oct 10, 2018 9:06 pm

Well thanks to Ben I now find myself owning 4 Ford Sabre engines. So we move forward. Anybody wanting to repower a Huntress or two I have the perfect engine for you!

JandCTurner · Post by **JandCTurner** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:57 am

The previous owner of Dawn Patrol was Eddie Smethurst of Salcombe; he was a club member. I met Eddie in 2016, when he was half way through the conversion from Spear to Spearfish, and corresponded with him re club events subsequently. I havent heard from him this year - did you buy it from him?

Folly Reach · Post by **Folly Reach** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 12:43 pm

Eddie Smethurst passed away in early June. I bought her from his widow who has now sold up or is in the process of selling up in Salcombe and moving closer to her family.

JandCTurner · Post by **JandCTurner** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 3:43 pm

Thanks Ian, very sorry to hear this; he was quite a character, and generous with his time.

Folly Reach · Post by **Folly Reach** » Tue Mar 05, 2019 4:25 pm

Update.
Fuel tanks back in. New exhaust pipes (5"rubber) All the bilges in tank space and engine room repainted. Structural repairs and all other survey points resolved. New screen fitted. Repainting of exterior and cockpit underway

Folly Reach · Post by **Folly Reach** » Tue Mar 05, 2019 4:30 pm

Update cont'd.
New sprayhood and cockpit cover framework fabricated. All new deck fittings sourced. New bilge pumps. Bottom in the process of being stripped to gel coat (hideous job) New upholstery on order. VHF, Plotter and toys on order. Engines to go in during mid April launch late April hopefully.Still under budget. Thankfully.

nicky · Post by **nicky** » Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:00 pm

Well Done. A fair bit quicker than me. Did you spray the exterior, or brush paint. As I noted before the Spear is a much better build than the Tyler Spearfish.
David

Folly Reach · Post by **Folly Reach** » Tue Mar 05, 2019 9:55 pm

Thanks.. Brush.... Work in progress.