Devon Boats

[Firefly]

Devon boats are diminishing at the moment.
Fortissimo gone to Gosport
Tireur to Chichester harbour.
Furious to " a lady from London"
Supertramp under offer.
Flamboyant For sale, and probably not for long.

Boat sales still seem very buoyant, but offers are made, and surveys are still a bargaining point.
Next year I expect Marlin Express will be ready and kept at Kingswear, so not all loss.

[nickkieffer1]

Dont be to down I expect some that are sold will move back to the west and you will have summer visitors as well. I may even get down if the phantom is finished its only 4 hrs away day trip stuff . Nick

[wsmempson]

Well I certainly intend to motor down west this summer - admittedly in an omega 828 - so would love to catch up with some of the West Country chapter!!

[Firefly]

Pop in and see us in Salcombe. Two local Omega 828 owners would love to see the one you will be in.
David Johnson
Spearfish Firefly on Winters moorings at the top of the bag.

[HoneyRush]

IMG_7745.jpg

Here is an update on Marlin Express.
The engine compartment has been scrubbed, degreased, sanded and re coated, The engine mounts moved to accept the new Cummins power. New cutlass bearings and shaft seals installed. just waiting for the new shafts to arrive before I can get the engine mount heights set up for engine alignment.
The hull has been polished and the transom will have a new coat of paint soon.
There is a lot still left to do but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Rob

[Firefly]

Keep the faith Rob. The hull looks really good now with the original gel coat polished.
No apparent damage or repairs either. I will be next to you I expect some time in Oct,slightly weathered after two long seasons.
David

[HoneyRush]

Progress report on Marlin Express
Starboard engine installed, port side should go in next Monday.

[Huntsman60]

Devon Boats,

Looking at my schedule for 2022, I've pencilled in events at Brixham, Salcombe, Looe and Torquay. Now I might not make all of these (as Cowes and Bosham are also in the diary) but certainly some of them - so if the engine change works as planned, then Rosina of Netley will be around whilst her helm gets refuelled at the Fortescue!

I'd do the trip down in two hits - Portland ( as I've stories to follow up on there) and then straight across Lyme Bay:looking at the 'running order, it would make sense to do Brixham, then leave the boat somewhere down west, Salcombe (I'd expect to be there for most of the week) and then back to the Solent from there.

Exciting times....

Dougal

[davidbuttriss]

We are planning to head west to Oggie Land next year with Wight Huntsman, tie in with the West Country Chapter and events if possible, temporary boost in Devon’s numbers.

[HoneyRush]

A quick update from Devon.
Both engines in and lined up, transom painted and the name re applied. New gauges installed and wired up.
I’m planning to be afloat for July.
Rob.

[HoneyRush]

Marlin Express was launched today after nearly 2 years in the shed at Baltic Wharf, Totnes.
She is now completely rewired and re-engined with Cummins 6BT 210s.
Zero smoke on start up and hopefully better fuel economy.
She does 6.5 knots at idle speed and I've yet to open her up for a max speed test.

[Firefly]

Hi Rob
I thought I would add my congratulations to the long list of others on your work.
Marlin Express is a well known boat with a particularly nice interior, I think done when Neil owned the boat.
He who owned most/ all models of Fairey. The boat has never had a hard life and retains its original gelcoat
and diamond non slip.
You have carefully restored it and updated the technical elements. Most impressively with your engineering knowledge you have built and installed two Cummins 6bt, the preferred engine of choice.
In my view the boat is one of the best and due to its gentle life one that is particularly desirable.
Well done from somebody who has had a bit of a go with these older boats.
I have sold my Spearfish and will probably move on to something more modern, Botnia Targa, Nimbus?
though will never again enjoy the admiration gained from other boaters with the Fairey.
Regards David

[Folly Reach]

Spearfish with 6BT must be good for 30knots if done properly....
I remember when Neil had her on the Solent.
Excellent.

[HoneyRush]

I had a quick burst of WOT and achieved 31.4 knots so far and slowly climbing.
Rob

[Ben]

Thats a brilliant result for a Spearfish with 210hp.

I saw the video on facebook, she really takes off, I found the same with those engines in my H31, from standstill to plane is mega. A big difference to the M265ti I put in my 28, they were really slow off the mark, but wild mid range.