Cecilia Update

stan · Post by **stan** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 2:22 pm

Hi All

Just wanted to pop a quick post in here on behalf of my father Stan, who I know some of the regulars may have encountered at some point due to his love and previous ownership of Fairy's. He purchased Cecilia over 2 years ago and set out to get her up to scratch and back on the water which we finally achieved yesterday with the great of help from some committed friends and family alike, I'm not sure any of us appreciated how time consuming 23 foot of wood could be..!

Anyway, Dad is not particularly well at the moment and sadly wasn't well enough to attend the launch yesterday but he was there in spirit, we are hoping to get him out on her soon if he can regain some strength. On his behalf I would like to thank you all for help and advice Dad has had along the way, some directly and some through the forum, there is a wealth of knowledge out there and your sharing is appreciated!

Apart from some fuel problems which has been hindered by not being able to source parts for a 50 year old system, she took to the water well after a number of years laid up but we would like to find a little more on her history if anyone is able to assist, sadly there is no ID plate fitted and the hull number is obscured by the cabin bulkhead structure. She is currently Cecilia but believe her to have been "My Fair Lady" previously. I've looked on the hull production archive with no joy unfortunately..!

Welcome any help at all.

Regards

Paul Johnson (on behalf of Stan)

I've been trying to upload some images with no luck, hopefully the links will work below..

https://goo.gl/photos/AM7hm4gpwJKYbNDD8

https://goo.gl/photos/FxqeLENcow7cBm9v5

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 9:15 pm

Paul

Delighted to see Cecelia back afloat, great news!

Please say hello to your father and wish him well from me.

Ben

martinh · Post by **martinh** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 8:50 am

Thanks for sharing. Always pleasing to hear news about a boat getting back into the water.

What a wonderful trailer!

CharlesL · Post by **CharlesL** » Mon May 01, 2017 11:30 am

Thanks Paul

'Cecilia' is very distinctive with her Ranger style windscreen and cut away cockpit coaming. The first record of her in the Archives appeared in 2005, when she was on Ebay, and may have been in France at the time, although I think Gordon Currey believed her to have been one of the Navy boats.

It seems that she has been on the British Register, so there should be a number carved somewhere inside, which might help trace her history. Also the Perkins diesel may be original, and if the engine number can be found, it can be checked against the build records which might confirm her origin.

Please have a look when you are at the boat, thanks. It would be great to identify another unknown.

best wishes
Charles

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Mon May 01, 2017 2:20 pm

A previous owner has just been on the phone, he's logging on now to provide more info!

Freddie · Post by **Freddie** » Mon May 01, 2017 2:32 pm

Hi Stan My fair lady was my boat about 10 years ago give me a ring Ive got some history for you.Regards Tom 07939950477

stan · Post by **stan** » Mon May 01, 2017 4:45 pm

Thanks so much for your input everyone, I've just had an interesting conversation with a previous owner who has been able to put me onto the people he purchased My Fair Lady from, hopefully I can glen a little more from information from there! (Thanks for your time Tom)

It appears the engine is not original and was taken from a Ford Cargo lorry some years ago so we won't be able to trace it from engine numbers sadly.

I'll keep an update going with any progress and pass on your wishes to Dad.

Regards

Paul

stan · Post by **stan** » Sun May 07, 2017 7:05 am

Thanks so much for your input everyone, I've just had an interesting conversation with a previous owner who has been able to put me onto the people he purchased My Fair Lady from, hopefully I can glen a little more from information from there! (Thanks for your time Tom)

It appears the engine is not original and was taken from a Ford Cargo lorry some years ago so we won't be able to trace it from engine numbers sadly.

I'll keep an update going with any progress and pass on your wishes to Dad.

Regards

Paul

stan · Post by **stan** » Mon May 08, 2017 12:13 pm

I'm afraid to report that Dad passed away last Tuesday night, peacefully at home with his family at his side.

Sadly he never got to see Cecilia back on the water but he did see some pictures which put a smile on his face!

We are planning to keep her afloat for the summer then review what we do with her long term, whilst being a labour of love for Dad, it's impractical to keep her but not use her, especially with the level and quality of finish.

We will have a prop question which I'll put on the general discussion as it would appear the prop she's fitted with presently was laying around a farm, due to the lack of a prop at sale point the purchaser was given it by the vendor who said "here, try this one it's on the small side but might work" !! That may explain the lack of speed issue, I would have expected a little more than 15 kts!

Thanks again for your support

Regards

Paul