johnnywalker Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 Does anyone know the whereabouts and /or owner of a 52' BCN style tug, built in 1979 and originally called Sultan? She was fitted with an Armstrong Siddley 3 cylinder. I designed and co-built her with Malcolm Pearson in Freeth Street, Birmingham and am curious to know if and where she is now. I still have the original drawings, if the owner would be interested in a copy? Also, I advertised her for sale (in Waterways World - a line drawing advert across the bottom of the page - I think), sometime in 1979. I don't suppose anyone has a copy of that advert? Any news gratefully received! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FidoDido Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 Saw Sultan at Sawley a couple of months ago, so definitely still around. (yes, BCN style tug, massive thudding engine, so likely the same). Was just passing through, not permanently moored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spud Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 (edited) Edited October 24, 2015 by harry peterson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junior Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 Pete Harrison would know i expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 Sultan is moored at Bedford Basin, Leigh, on the Bridgewater Canal. You could contact the owner through Lorenz Canal Services. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnywalker Posted October 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2015 Thank you all for your replies - much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimAfloat Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 Hi there Johnny. I have just taken ownership of Sultan and would be very keen to have a copy of drawings and any historical info from that time. Looking fkrward to hearing from you. tim@onboardsolar.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 3 hours ago, TimAfloat said: Hi there Johnny. I have just taken ownership of Sultan and would be very keen to have a copy of drawings and any historical info from that time. Looking fkrward to hearing from you. tim@onboardsolar.co.uk Congratulations on owning such a nice looking boat. @johnnywalker has only ever made two posts on CWDF, both in this topic back in 2015, so isn't a regular contributor. However, he last logged in during May this year, so there is a chance that he will see this at some point. Fingers crossed. Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 The boat used to be based at Bedford Basin but was sold a few years ago and is now based on the River Weaver. Earlier in the year the AS3 engine was replaced with a Lister HA3 and has been recently advertised for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stagedamager Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 .......and I know where the AS3 is....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 20 minutes ago, stagedamager said: .......and I know where the AS3 is....... I wonder where that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartland Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 The building location also seems of interest. Where in Freeth Street was the tug assembled ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnywalker Posted July 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 I know where the AS came from - I'd be very interested to know where it is now? Also, this is the Freeth Street yard... and Sultan being launched 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 7 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said: Congratulations on owning such a nice looking boat. @johnnywalker has only ever made two posts on CWDF, both in this topic back in 2015, so isn't a regular contributor. However, he last logged in during May this year, so there is a chance that he will see this at some point. Fingers crossed. Jen And just 7 hours later your quoting @johnnywalker brought about a 5 year awaited reunion! Nice work Jen! (Lovely looking boat!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noddyboater Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 Plenty of current "boat builders" should have a good look at that lower photo. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 (edited) I think I remember that boat moored near Cropredy in the late 90s. By the bloke who used to so the fenders and the old wooden narrow boats. Maybe getting confused. It was a boat of the same name anyway, looked like an old boat but obviously not specially old however it was a nice job. ETA I think it was another one as did not have the long stern deck and extended tiller. Edited July 29, 2021 by magnetman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stagedamager Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 5 hours ago, johnnywalker said: I know where the AS came from - I'd be very interested to know where it is now? Also, this is the Freeth Street yard... and Sultan being launched The AS3 is in my collection at Langley Mill. Kind regards Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stroudwater1 Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 Beautiful boat, She certainly has a good size propeller too . Looks like there’s some work to do but not one to skimp on, they don’t make them like that often anymore. What is the metal bar for between the prop and rudder? I was talking to someone epoxy painting a boat with one the other day who hadn’t been aware of one before. Is is merely to keep the rudder attached more securely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnywalker Posted July 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 3 hours ago, stagedamager said: The AS3 is in my collection at Langley Mill. Kind regards Dan I assume you are aware of it's history? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stagedamager Posted July 30, 2021 Report Share Posted July 30, 2021 I am not, if you wouldn't mind sharing it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted July 30, 2021 Report Share Posted July 30, 2021 16 hours ago, Stroudwater1 said: What is the metal bar for between the prop and rudder? I was talking to someone epoxy painting a boat with one the other day who hadn’t been aware of one before. Is is merely to keep the rudder attached more securely? I think is is to add stability to that really long skeg, the long skeg being necessary due to the decision to have quite a large gap between the blade and the rudder, I would imagine. Cast braces of this type are seen on the stern gear of one or another type of historic boat but I can't remember which. There was a long thread on here discussing them (with photos) seven or eight years ago. I dunno how to go about finding it, perhaps someone here remembers it too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post johnnywalker Posted July 30, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 30, 2021 2 hours ago, stagedamager said: I am not, if you wouldn't mind sharing it? Your Armstrong Siddeley 3 cylinder engine (recently removed from Tug Sultan) was rescued from a sunken ‘barge’ called Spyder in Yorkshire, in around 1978. Not sure exactly what kind of boat she was - absolutely cavernous compared to a narrowboat. Nor can I remember exactly where. What I do remember, location wise, was a huge pump out barge that came up daily to collect sewage waste from a few hundred yards away, just up the river. So probably one of the members of this forum will be able to place that? I bought the barge from BWB for £10 on the understanding that we would remove her from where she was and scrap the hull. Mark, a friend and I were trying to pump her out for a couple of days to refloat her and get access to the engine, which was totally under water. We couldn’t even see what type of engine it was. Luckily it was completely submerged and under an oil slick, so it wasn’t corroded. All we had was a little ex-GPO petrol pump. The guys on the waste barge, seeing our continuing efforts, very kindly came alongside and connected their pumps and she popped up like a cork. Two days later, to their great surprise, we had dried out the engine, oiled it, connected a battery and we motored past them going upstream, towards the scrap yard which was beside the river, a little further up. They don’t make ‘em like they used to! The scrap yard lifted the engine out for us and we took it back to Birmingham, where Mark rebuilt it. Not very well, I’m afraid. Because the subsequent owner had to have it sorted shortly afterwards. She was always a bit smoky. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonka Posted July 30, 2021 Report Share Posted July 30, 2021 29 minutes ago, MtB said: I think is is to add stability to that really long skeg, the long skeg being necessary due to the decision to have quite a large gap between the blade and the rudder, I would imagine. Cast braces of this type are seen on the stern gear of one or another type of historic boat but I can't remember which. There was a long thread on here discussing them (with photos) seven or eight years ago. I dunno how to go about finding it, perhaps someone here remembers it too? I think it was discussed in the thread about Canopus & Sculptor. I wont say anymore in case I upset someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted July 30, 2021 Report Share Posted July 30, 2021 Previously owned by @DRP and before that, Ken Farr who unfortunately is no longer with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stagedamager Posted July 30, 2021 Report Share Posted July 30, 2021 1 hour ago, johnnywalker said: Your Armstrong Siddeley 3 cylinder engine (recently removed from Tug Sultan) was rescued from a sunken ‘barge’ called Spyder in Yorkshire, in around 1978. Not sure exactly what kind of boat she was - absolutely cavernous compared to a narrowboat. Nor can I remember exactly where. What I do remember, location wise, was a huge pump out barge that came up daily to collect sewage waste from a few hundred yards away, just up the river. So probably one of the members of this forum will be able to place that? I bought the barge from BWB for £10 on the understanding that we would remove her from where she was and scrap the hull. Mark, a friend and I were trying to pump her out for a couple of days to refloat her and get access to the engine, which was totally under water. We couldn’t even see what type of engine it was. Luckily it was completely submerged and under an oil slick, so it wasn’t corroded. All we had was a little ex-GPO petrol pump. The guys on the waste barge, seeing our continuing efforts, very kindly came alongside and connected their pumps and she popped up like a cork. Two days later, to their great surprise, we had dried out the engine, oiled it, connected a battery and we motored past them going upstream, towards the scrap yard which was beside the river, a little further up. They don’t make ‘em like they used to! The scrap yard lifted the engine out for us and we took it back to Birmingham, where Mark rebuilt it. Not very well, I’m afraid. Because the subsequent owner had to have it sorted shortly afterwards. She was always a bit smoky. An amazing bit of history. Thank you for taking the time to share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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