WWII Military Canoe

[Nasher]

All.

A few of you have seen images of my Military canoe.

I've discovered recently through a friend writing a book about the series of Military Canoes that mine is the only surviving Mk9 known to still exist. In fact its the only motorised example left.

Note to all - As nice as he is, yes my 'Friend' is a little on the sad side.
But he's put 7 years of hard work and difficult research into it, so needs to be congratulated.

Note to Nos - All our discussions about putting different power plants in it may have to change as its suddenly turned out to be quite an important piece of historical record.

To go with the launch of his book ,the National Maritme Museam in Falmouth is putting on an exhibition @ the 1st December, and want to show my canoe in its current state, ie before restoration. Its featured in the book so will be an ideal companion to the couple of slightly earlier canoes they will be showing.

So I need to get it down to Falmouth some time in the next few weeks. It's currently stored at my Mothers house nr Bourne End in Bucks, so am trying to borrow a trailer for a few days that I will be able to borrow again in a few months time to bring it back.

The boat is all aluminium and Stainless steel, 18feet 6inches long, about 3feet wide with its outriggers extended, and weighs so little in its current state without an engine that two people can easily carry it.
It can break into three sections, the longest being 8feet long, but it would be much better to transport it in one piece.

I moved it about once using my old Flatacraft Force4 trailer and some planks of wood, so something similar would suit, or even a box trailer with a bed at least 8 feet long.

Can anyone help?

I'll post more info about the book soon.

Nasher

[Rogue Wave]

I.min Cardiffatth emoment butwill be coming up on Sunday, I have a trailer its got a useful bed of 6 mtres on it double axle sealed bearings. It's down here at the moment but I'm coming up on Sunday and can bring it with me.

give Roguetta a call on 07886920181 if you want to talk about it ( I remeber my number)

Cheers

[tim griffin]

We have one of those at the classic boat museum not sure what model it is though. Will have to find out.

[Nasher]

Stuart, thanks very much for the offer, however that sounds as though it will be total overkill for a very lightweight boat.
I'll see if I can get something a bit lighter first as I am going to have to tow it to and from Bourne End and to and from Falmouth a couple of times mostly at my own expense.
I'll let you know.

Tim
I've seen the one in 'your' museum and at the moment I believe its a Mk6.
Quentin who's written the book has been in to see it on my advise, but until his book is out he's keeping a lot of his very hard earned info to himself.
He has a Mk6 himself in similar condition to yours.
I'll be getting a copy of the book soon, so will pop over and run through it with you.
Yours is much more complete than mine, having its sail etc. My centre section is exactly the same, however the bow section has a much higher lift at the very Bow. The stern section is completly different as it has an engine compartment and prop tube etc. As mentioned we believe mine is the only one of its kind left.

For those who don't know what we're talking about see below.
The historic image is of a Mk6 during the Burma campaign, and the colour images are of mine @10 years ago just before I dry stored it in my mothers garage. I actually brought it 22yrs ago for £10 from a scrap man who didn't have the heart to cut it up for the Ali.

Nasher.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Nasher

For those who don't know what we're talking about see below.
The historic image is of a Mk6 during the Burma campaign, and the colour images are of mine @10 years ago just before I dry stored it in my mothers garage. I actually brought it 22yrs ago for £10 from a scrap man who didn't have the heart to cut it up for the Ali.

Do I recall they were deployed from Subs before inflatables came of age?

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by malthouse

Do I recall they were deployed from Subs before inflatables came of age?

Not to sure actually, I thought those were the collapsable plywood and canvas ones, ie the cockleshell raid ones.
I'm sure it'll be covered in Quentins book.

Nasher

[Nos4r2]

What model Royal Enfield did you say it had in it Nasher?

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

What model Royal Enfield did you say it had in it Nasher?

That may have changed now Nos, the engine mounts are being measured up and compared to some data along with the Crankshaft height taken from the prop shaft. I should know soon exactly what it should have in it.

Nasher.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Nasher

That may have changed now Nos, the engine mounts are being measured up and compared to some data along with the Crankshaft height taken from the prop shaft. I should know soon exactly what it should have in it.

Nasher.

The plot thickens!
It'd be nice if it was supposed to have something a bit easier to find in it.

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

It'd be nice if it was supposed to have something a bit easier to find in it.

Little hope of that, its bound to be something oddball, although I don't suppose there could have been too many options available towards the end of WWII when it would have been developed.

The NMM will try to identify and help try to locate an example of whatever engine is required.
Its also going onto their register of historically important small ships.

Nasher

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Little hope of that, its bound to be something oddball, although I don't suppose there could have been too many options available towards the end of WWII when it would have been developed.

The NMM will try to identify and help try to locate an example of whatever engine is required.
Its also going onto their register of historically important small ships.

Nasher

You'd be surprised what the military used in ww2-I came across a Triumph Thunderbird motor that was part of a generator a couple of years back.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

You'd be surprised what the military used in ww2-I came across a Triumph Thunderbird motor that was part of a generator a couple of years back.

Was the Thunderbird around then? I thought it was introduced in the early 50's.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by mollers

was the thunderbird around then? I thought it was introduced in the early 50's.

...'49.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Jono

...'49.

I did a quick google and you're right-the genny must have been later than ww2 then-the Tiger 100 engine (or the TR5 depending on where the info comes from) was used for them during ww2.

[doggypaddle]

Triumph twins were also used on fire pumps, we chopped one up to put the engine in a glod star frame to build a tribsa for classic scrambling.

it will be interesting to find out what engine should have been in the canoe, if its a flat twin could also be a douglas or a petter PU8 too....
I have a nice lister JP2 you could try 21hp but at 750Kgs it may be a bit heavy
any way let us know, i always sniff out old gear and its suprising what i turn up now and then.

[paul tilley]

if its that light cant you put it on a roof rack i regularly carry 3 x 25ft single sculls on the roof of my hilux

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by doggypaddle

it will be interesting to find out what engine should have been in the canoe, if its a flat twin could also be a douglas or a petter PU8 too....
I have a nice lister JP2 you could try 21hp but at 750Kgs it may be a bit heavy
any way let us know, i always sniff out old gear and its suprising what i turn up now and then.

Doggy
I'll let you know when I do what should be in there, as I'm sure I'll need help finding one.

Originally Posted by paul tilley

if its that light cant you put it on a roof rack i regularly carry 3 x 25ft single sculls on the roof of my hilux

Paul
Its a thought as it weighs @85kgs in its current state which is under the Shoguns supposed 100Kg limit. However I don't fancy getting it up and down again.

Nasher

[Nasher]

Thanks for all the interest by PM about my Canoe.

A couple of shots of the inside of the engine bay for Doggypaddle.

Note how close the crankshaft centre has to be to the false deck in there.
It rules out anything with a large flywheel.

Nasher

[Nos4r2]

Any idea if it was water or aircooled?

[doggypaddle]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Any idea if it was water or aircooled?

or both, ie water cooled exhaust air cooled barrels.