Hello - introducing myself as a new recruit.
I'm just starting this restoration - a major job. The hull is GRP and perfect, but the wooden decks and everything above (teak and mahogany) will probably need replacing. The plan is dispense with the original wheelhouse, which never did help her looks, and go for an open, more Fairey-style cockpit. To be affordable, this will have to be mainly DIY, but I'm sure I will need some craftsman input too. So any suggestions on sources of skilled labour in my neck of the woods would be welcome. Also especially any ideas for a shed / barn to rent to put her in, in the vicinity of Brighton & Hove?
By the way, I'm replacing the original Rootes TS3MkII supercharged 2-stroke boxer 6-pot diesels with modern Ford turbocharged intercooled 4-strokes: huge improvement in power-to-weight ratio! The original Enfield 200H outdrives are already undergoing rebuilding (by me) with some internal design changes by me.
I look forward to exchanges on the forum and meeting some of you at rallies no doubt - taking a break from the woodwork!
Best regards
John (Christina "Nina III")
Christina 27 restoration / new recruit
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John Hother
- Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed May 12, 2004 12:26 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
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Bill Walden
- Midshipman
- Posts: 134
- Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2004 9:00 pm
- Location:
- Contact:
Hello John,
Good to hear from another Christina owner, even if it's a plastic one. The guy you need to contact is Nick Dean. He also has a 27' Christina which he restored beautifully. I don't have his contact details to hand, but you could get them from Tony HH.
When you say "wheelhouse", do you mean that she has been "converted" a la Weymouth bass boats? Do you have a website where you could post some pics?
Good luck with the restoration,
Bill
Good to hear from another Christina owner, even if it's a plastic one. The guy you need to contact is Nick Dean. He also has a 27' Christina which he restored beautifully. I don't have his contact details to hand, but you could get them from Tony HH.
When you say "wheelhouse", do you mean that she has been "converted" a la Weymouth bass boats? Do you have a website where you could post some pics?
Good luck with the restoration,
Bill
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John Hother
- Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed May 12, 2004 12:26 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
Hello Bill
The wheelhouse is original. The boat was built as Bruce Campbell's show boat for the 1968 Paris Boat Show, and I have a picture of her there. It looks to me as though she was finished as a showpiece in terms of the woodwork, and no engines or any mechanical or electrical fit-out was done. I understand that, shortly afterwards, Bruce Campbell withdrew from that business, and my boat lay in the corner of a boatyard close by the railway, in Lymington, from where my father and I bought her. I designed and installed the rest - hence the rather unusual arrangement. I suspect, because this was Bruce Campbell's prototype 27 with wheelhouse, the builders hadn't actually had to solve the challenge of getting two big engines under the floor of the wheelhouse, with no protrusions at all and maintaining full standing headroom throughout the boat. One obvious alternative - horizontal Perkins HT6354 would not have gone in, and would have given her a nasty list probably, being laid-over blocks. The TS3's worked well because they are perfectly symmetrical and very compact. They are also very smooth, being boxers, but awfully noisy - that characteristic bark from 2-stroke diesels, which made the boat audibly very recognisable to onlookers from far off, when she was going at full chat.
The wheelhouse is original. The boat was built as Bruce Campbell's show boat for the 1968 Paris Boat Show, and I have a picture of her there. It looks to me as though she was finished as a showpiece in terms of the woodwork, and no engines or any mechanical or electrical fit-out was done. I understand that, shortly afterwards, Bruce Campbell withdrew from that business, and my boat lay in the corner of a boatyard close by the railway, in Lymington, from where my father and I bought her. I designed and installed the rest - hence the rather unusual arrangement. I suspect, because this was Bruce Campbell's prototype 27 with wheelhouse, the builders hadn't actually had to solve the challenge of getting two big engines under the floor of the wheelhouse, with no protrusions at all and maintaining full standing headroom throughout the boat. One obvious alternative - horizontal Perkins HT6354 would not have gone in, and would have given her a nasty list probably, being laid-over blocks. The TS3's worked well because they are perfectly symmetrical and very compact. They are also very smooth, being boxers, but awfully noisy - that characteristic bark from 2-stroke diesels, which made the boat audibly very recognisable to onlookers from far off, when she was going at full chat.
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John Hother
- Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed May 12, 2004 12:26 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
In response to Tony's suggestion, I've put some pictures on the website at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/john_hother/
Unfortunately I have very few, but I'll rummage a bit deeper at home and let you know if I find some more and put them on that website. I'll write a few more words, too.
Best regards
John Hother
Christina 27 "NinaIII"
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/john_hother/
Unfortunately I have very few, but I'll rummage a bit deeper at home and let you know if I find some more and put them on that website. I'll write a few more words, too.
Best regards
John Hother
Christina 27 "NinaIII"
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Bill Walden
- Midshipman
- Posts: 134
- Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2004 9:00 pm
- Location:
- Contact:
You've got the beginnings of a nice site there John. I'm looking forward to seeing and reading some more as you add to it. If I wasn't such a plank with computers, I'd probably like to do something similar. Maybe I can talk some ten-year-old kid into showing me how to do it. I know exactly what you mean about 2-stroke diesels. "Blue Blazes" had an old series 53 4 cylinder Detroit in her before she sank at her mooring. We live about 1/2 a mile from the harbour, but on still mornings the wife could hear me starting up, (Not much chance of sneaking out for a crafty spot of fishing!).
I'm not sure I agree with you about the wheelhouse being top heavy. I think it's a lot better than some I've seen. I've got a picture of a 25" that was for sale in Jersey with what looks like a garden shed on top! I think you might regret not having the shelter when it's a bit choppy too. Don't know about the 27" but the 23" is filthy wet when heading into anything other than a light breeze.
Bill
I'm not sure I agree with you about the wheelhouse being top heavy. I think it's a lot better than some I've seen. I've got a picture of a 25" that was for sale in Jersey with what looks like a garden shed on top! I think you might regret not having the shelter when it's a bit choppy too. Don't know about the 27" but the 23" is filthy wet when heading into anything other than a light breeze.
Bill
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John Hother
- Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed May 12, 2004 12:26 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
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Nathan Homer
- Leading Seaman
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:24 am
- Location: United Kingdom
I also have a Bruce Campbell GRP Christina, also with a wheelhouse, but mine is a 25 footer, apparently there were only 6 made, which I have yet to confirm.
Mine is fitted with a single Perkins HT6.354 but on a walter v-drive (I need a new turbo if anybody knows where to locate one!)
Also I agree with Bill, if you can leave the wheelhouse on because although very good in rough weather they chuck up a lot of spray & in a open cockpit you will get very wet!
Unfortunatley I'm unable to post pictures on the computer but if you E-mail me I'll gladly send you a couple of photos if anybody is interested.
Regards
Nathan
Mine is fitted with a single Perkins HT6.354 but on a walter v-drive (I need a new turbo if anybody knows where to locate one!)
Also I agree with Bill, if you can leave the wheelhouse on because although very good in rough weather they chuck up a lot of spray & in a open cockpit you will get very wet!
Unfortunatley I'm unable to post pictures on the computer but if you E-mail me I'll gladly send you a couple of photos if anybody is interested.
Regards
Nathan
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janglesea
- Leading Seaman
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:16 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
Hi Nathan
My Christina 27 is called "Alibi" and was built by Hamble Yacht Servies for a chap called Teddy Stewart as the start boat for the Cowes/Torquay races in 1969. She is reaching the end of a 10-year restoration which has meant rebuilding the entire superstructure from the decks upwards (Halmatic GRP hull is fine). But the engines seem OK, although they were a bit choked with scale on the raw-water side. I had to fabricate intercooler casings from GRP instead of the original cast iron. I am really writing to tell you about turbos. The Perkins HT6354s on Alibi have had Holst 3LD turbos retrofitted (the ones I have are dated 1983 and the engines are respectively 1966 and 1968 vintage). These turbos are still good and I had them professionally overhauled last year by Marine Turbo of Birkenhead. Are you sure yours is shot? Marine Turbo were able to bring mine back from the dead. As to horizontal engines causing a list (see previous post) well Alibi is dead level, but the four 110AH batteries are housed in a locker along the port topside....nicely balanced!
My Christina 27 is called "Alibi" and was built by Hamble Yacht Servies for a chap called Teddy Stewart as the start boat for the Cowes/Torquay races in 1969. She is reaching the end of a 10-year restoration which has meant rebuilding the entire superstructure from the decks upwards (Halmatic GRP hull is fine). But the engines seem OK, although they were a bit choked with scale on the raw-water side. I had to fabricate intercooler casings from GRP instead of the original cast iron. I am really writing to tell you about turbos. The Perkins HT6354s on Alibi have had Holst 3LD turbos retrofitted (the ones I have are dated 1983 and the engines are respectively 1966 and 1968 vintage). These turbos are still good and I had them professionally overhauled last year by Marine Turbo of Birkenhead. Are you sure yours is shot? Marine Turbo were able to bring mine back from the dead. As to horizontal engines causing a list (see previous post) well Alibi is dead level, but the four 110AH batteries are housed in a locker along the port topside....nicely balanced!
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Nathan Homer
- Leading Seaman
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:24 am
- Location: United Kingdom
Well at the moment I'm not sure what was wrong with the turbo, as it was removed by the previous owner, & the engine, in a fashion, apapted to naturally aspirated, the problem with that being a lack of power & turbocharged engines tend to smoke like a steam train as soon as you take the turbo away! At the moment I'm waiting to get the old turbo off the previous owner as a friend of his has it trying to source a replacement for him. However I'm assured it's in pieces & totally shot with no hope of being reconditioned. The problem being until I get the original back I'm not sure which turbo I am actually seeking! But if anybody knows of a company that will be able to source a replacement turbo it would be appreciated.
Oh if anybody is interested in the 25ft GRP Christina here's one for sale http://www.opalmarine.com/brokerage/power.html
it's advertised as a "Fairey Christina" & the asking price is £22,500, which seems a bit steep to me.
Also regarding list caused by the HT engine, my boat "Orca" (formerly Lady L) sits dead level, & even if it doesn't due to excess loading on one side of crew/ passengers the trim tabs soon sort it out once your underway.
Oh if anybody is interested in the 25ft GRP Christina here's one for sale http://www.opalmarine.com/brokerage/power.html
it's advertised as a "Fairey Christina" & the asking price is £22,500, which seems a bit steep to me.
Also regarding list caused by the HT engine, my boat "Orca" (formerly Lady L) sits dead level, & even if it doesn't due to excess loading on one side of crew/ passengers the trim tabs soon sort it out once your underway.
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janglesea
- Leading Seaman
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:16 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
Yes if you don't have the fuel injection pump reset to deliver a lot less fuel when you de-turbo, you will get overheating, smoke and less power than you would with an engine built to be normally aspirated. (And waste a lot of fuel). Even after the fuel pump has been adjusted you will still be running with manifolds whose geometry is intended to accomdate the turbo connections. But if you just want to chug around then turbos are dispensable...
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Nathan Homer
- Leading Seaman
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:24 am
- Location: United Kingdom
I'll have to check & see if he had the pump timing or anything else re-set, because it certainly doesn't overheat, but anything above 1/3 throttle & you get lots of unburnt fuel out the exhaust, & anything much above 1/2 throttle you get clouds of black. Even without the turbo & running a smidging under 3/4 throttle (I tried it once & not going to do it again without a turbo, far too much black smoke!) I had 13 1/2 knots out of her, I'm eagerly awaiting the day I get the turbo back on, as I've not had the chance to see what she can do, as ever since I bought her 5 months ago, she has been turbo-less. I'm expecting somewhere around 20 knots give or take a couple.