PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONS 

These specifications are provisional - subject to confirmation 

BROKERS COMMENTS 

Restored to concourse condition over some 26 years and presently undergoing final fitment, the hull and decks have been well constructed and beautifully finished – also with original fitments and a superbly restored engine appropriate to the boat’s origins, properly installed. Satisfactorily tested in the water for only a short time, her capabilities for any longer period, including extended operation of the Brooke engine and gearbox, have yet to be fully operationally assessed. This vessel, such a fine example of her marquee with its most interesting history is an aficionado’s dream fully realised. 

HISTORY 

Believed to be the oldest Brooke seaplane tender now in existence, this boat ML117 was originally built as boat BYC 26 (P.L.R.S. Ref. 26) to an Admiralty contract (ref. CP4443/12) placed with J. W. Brooke & Co. of Lowestoft on January 13th 1912. When completed on 24th April, she was allocated pennant number 117 and despatched to the RN Torpedo range at Loch Long where she remained in service, until being de-commissioned and sold as surplus around 1935.

Impounded for Brandy running circa 1941, HM Customs & Excise had the original Brooke 45 HP engine removed and stripped to use for spares. After her release, a much smaller Meadows 28 HP long stroke Power-Four ‘Kittiwake’ marine motor was installed for post war river cruising. Given the earlier incident BYC26 was affectionately known thereafter as SMUGGLER.

Her restoration began when the owner’s late father, J P Clements purchased her from a Mr. Brown on the Furness-Vale Canal in Derbyshire in 1984. With little inkling of her origin as one of the “Tyreless” Class; the basis for many AOC, RFC, RNAS and RAF Seaplane tenders in a rapidly evolving Air Service, he fitted her with a small, low cabin. Prior to completing the 1993 lay-up however, her true identity was revealed when engine bed dimensions were found to match the Brooke 65-F/10 Marine Motor. JW Brooke & Co had manufactured these engines specifically for use by the Air Services in their fast Seaplane Tenders. Having already removed the Kittiwake petrol engine, the decision was taken to install an authentic engine, the 40-F/28/30 103 HP version, completely rebuilt by John Brooke - and remove the cabin to bring her back to her original lines.
 

CONSTRUCTION 

General
- Constructed of carvel laid mahogany planking over steamed oak timbers with slightly raked straight stem, rounded bilge, tumblehome aft and transom stern
- Keel; well seasoned oak from original hull, in good order
- Fitted new keel band; full length from stem head to skeg

Below waterline
- New Spanish mahogany planking throughout, copper fastened with roves.
- Stem post, stern post, hog, shaft log & floors; new well seasoned oak
- Keel bolts; replaced throughout; new silicon bronze

Above waterline
- Original, well seasoned Honduras mahogany planking, all copper fastened and roved
- Transom; new well seasoned mahogany

Hull overall
- Caulked with boat cotton, payed, sanded fair, then coated with numerous layers of varnish well rubbed down between each coat giving a superior finish

Deck
- Long high foredeck, planked in teak with mahogany king plank and margin boards
- Margin boards edged in English oak
- Matching 4 piece engine hatch & fore hatch similarly constructed

Long cockpit
- Teak well deck with lift new up floorboard sections
- Cockpit not self-draining but has one Jabsco type electric water pump and two hand bailers
- Forecabin; end in T&G mahogany with access door to rope locker, head
- Interior and sole; all new framing beams, stringers and other detail structure
- Cabin space under foredeck still to complete
 

ACCOMMODATION 

- Open cockpit with seating port starboard and aft
- Forward cabin head with hand pumped Simpson Lawrence WC and stowage
 

DECK EQUIPMENT AND GROUND TACKLE 

Bronze fitments including
- Mooring cleats
- Dorade vents
- Mushroom vents
- Rubbing strake
- Porthole surrounds

- Navy pattern anchor + 10 ft / 3 m chain and 100 ft / 30 m rope

Cotton mooring lines; all spliced and set
- 2 x 16 ft / 5 m breast
- 2 x 43 ft / 13 m springs
- 1 x 62 ft / 19 m spring
- 1 x 52 ft / 16 m spring

Fenders with lanyards, spliced and hooped
- 2 x 15 inch diameter jute ball fwd
- 4 x 8 inch x 17 inch sausage mid / aft
- 2 x 18 inch by 18 inch sisal transom corner
 

MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL AND TANKAGE  

- Brooke 40F 28 / 30 water cooled 6 cylinder petrol / paraffin marine motor, rated at 103 HP
- Serial No L4407 completely rebuilt by John Brooke
- Bosch magneto, inertia hand start
- Lucas electric electric solenoid start
- Drip tray under fwd oil inlet
- Budenberg oil gauge
- Single lever engine forward and reverse drive control
- Throttle with setting fix
- Propeller shaft and stern tube assembly refurbished ‘as new’ (F Bamford & Co)
- 3 bladed bronze propellor; 16 in x 13 in (with some abrasions to edges)
- Lucas 12 V dynamo
- Electrical distribution box, relays, fuses (and spares) and full circuit diagram
- 110 AH lead acid battery in box

Lights external
- Masthead, steaming, stern, port, starboard
- Francis Mk1 searchlight

Lights internal
- Fwd bulkhead Davey & Co
- Engine room Fwd bulkhead x 2
- Engine room Rear bulkhead

- 30 gallon / 136 litre fuel tank under aft deck with provision for 2 x 40 gallon / 182 l tanks
- Fuel pipes run in copper
 

NAVIGATION 

- Helm wheel and tiller steering 

SAFETY 

- Electric bilge pump in engine room
- Electric bilge pump in well deck
- 2 x manual bailing pumps in well deck
- Fire extinguisher
 

DISCLAIMER

These particulars have been prepared from information provided by the vendors and are intended as a general guide. The purchaser should confirm details of concern to them by survey or engineers inspection. The purchaser should also ensure that the purchase contract properly reflects their concerns and specifies details on which they wish to rely.