Fairey Huntress 'Elle Va'

[Ben]

Here we go again....

Shipped part complete by Fairey in 1963 to Harry Lester Cars, previously been Elle Va, Korrie, Volcano and Artemis, I'm reverting the the earlier name Elle Va which is French for 'She Goes'.

Arrived at my compound yesterday.

[mps]

She looks perfect.

[Firefly]

Goodness Ben
This one looks really right. Proportions, windows, colour. What a pretty boat

[Ben]

Thank you chaps. For sure, she is a very pretty boat.

These pics give a better view of the condition right now. She was on blocks about 18 years, time flies, I remember her afloat, as you can see one of the blocks has pushed up the keel just ahead of the shaft, damage is evident inside, so that needs to be sorted, she needs an engine, plus, the biggie, every inch of her inside and out needs painting.

[wsmempson]

Many congrats on the new boat. That looks like a really exciting project and I bet you get it licked into shape pretty quickly too.

[MGabriel]

And you have a young family, how do you get away with it? Please share your secret .
Didn't Artemis have a surface driven big motor that would hit 40 knots?

[Ben]

Marcus, the rules in our house are very strict, no aeroplanes or motorcycles allowed, boats and cars are unrestricted.

First incarnation she was shipped from Fairey with the long coachroof with main bulkhead further aft to Harry Lester Cars, 23ft long, fitted for 2 Mercruisers, which were somewhat rudimentary needing wires on drum to wind up the lower legs!

Second incarnation Justin Birt, FOC Founder, installed twin Volvo Penta engines and legs, late 70's I think.

Third incarnation, sometime later, early 90's maybe, she had an Iveco with some kind of crazy surface drive, I've no idea who did it or if it worked.

Fairey Huntress -3.jpg

Fourth incarnation, late 90's a Cummins 6BTA 315 with a 1:1 downangle gearbox was installed with a shaft and rudder like a Navy Huntress, was very fast, north of 40 knots, but handling a bit scary and 9 knots at idle!

Fifth incarnation....I have the down angle 1:1 box, I'm planning a 6BT Cummins sicne I have most of the marinising stuff already, not quite so many HP as I want a controllable idle speed, perhaps 250 ish. Unless I find a Yanmar 6LP 315hp at the right price.

[Folly Reach]

Would you not be into issues with gearbox ratio with a Yanmar.?
I did drive into the yard on the way home from Brighstone on Friday. Looking forward to a better look when you are about.

[Ben]

The early Huntress had 240hp Petrol V8's that did full power at 4k rpm and were 1:1.

I've just read the prop bible again, Huntress is limited by diameter, so to absorb the power and make the speed you need blade area and pitch, the more hp the more pitch, the trouble comes at idle, where you end up marching round the marina at 9 knots! The reality is that the 6ltr straight six diesels, even the 6bt which can give 2800rpm have to narrow useable rev range for a really fast Huntress.

So, I've set my plan at 220hp 6bt, no charge cooler, simple as a wheel barrow, will clear 30 knots I think.

The trouble with following Leo Sampson's project is that it makes anything an amateur like me does look rubbish! This mornings effort.

[Ben]

By the way, I'm not claiming to be an expert, I'm not a naval architect or boatbuilder or surveyor, just an enthusiastic amateur.

[Huntsman60]

Ben..little boats with plenty of oomph do create that sort of problem at low revs!. Coming into the Hamble on the ebb is fine as you can leave the engines in tick over and be just under the 6 kt mark - come in on the flood and it is another matter all together - you have to be extra careful coming into the mooring as the boat won't steer on one prop. Things may even be worse next year if I have the props tweaked.... we shall see!
D

[Folly Reach]

I remember back in the 1990s Tony HH had a lovely Huntress called Osprey which was powered by a Sabre rated at 275hp. It was Ford based unit so a proper 275hp.
It was good for 37knots
Tickover was over 6 knots so it was a bit of a handful.
I seem to recall it going to Belgium when he sold it. There is a picture of Osprey on the website to be found when you click on the page dedicated to the Huntress

[Ben]

Long wet windy winter. Feels like spring is in the air, so time to crack on.

First pass at some prep down one side.



Looks better already.

I've shared the pic in the club whatsapp group, if you are reading this and not in the group, let me know and we'll get you added.

[Ben]

Managed a bit more prep today and started to remove some fittings.

20230204_162459.jpg

Pulpit gone, I've never like the look of a pulpit on a Huntress.

[Ben]

Big milestone, the first 2 parts ready to refit.

IMG-20230217-WA0107.jpeg