Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on December 24, 2001 at 19:46:40 from 195.93.33.177:
In Reply to: Oh yes, and,,,,, posted by Mike F. on December 23, 2001 at 08:46:41:
The motor sailer, as a type, did not really exist in the 1930's. The few that were around were more "motor" than "sail", and were called "fifty fifties". There were nice motor boats with some steadying sail to limit the rolling which is characteristic of the round bilge displacement motor boat; those designed by John Bain and built by James Silver at St Monance in Fife were considered the best (as they still are) of these.
Engine power was much lower, because engines were much heavier for each horse power. Ten knots would be quite out of the question. The first owner of my boat, built in 1937, and 37ft LOA (12 tons TM) had a Kelvin E2 petrol engine of 7.5 hp and decided that he wanted a four cylinder one (E4) of 15 hp. When the builder, Claude Whisttock, wrote to the Bergius Company of Dobbie's Loan, Glasgow, who made Kelvins, to order one, they replied (honestly!) "We have looked at the boat's lines plan and 7.5hp is quite sufficient for her; if the owner wishes to go faster we can only recommend that he buys a motor bicycle." (!)
Thames tonnage is calculated as (Length x Beam x 1/2 Beam) in feet, divided by 94, gives tons, where the length is the length measured on deck from the fore side of the stem to the aft side of the rudder post.