When Southam was motorised and converted back in 1965 she was fitted with a BMC Commodore diesel engine.
These big 3.4 or 3.8 litre engines were also fitted in various BMC commercial vehicles. In fact, we're pretty sure that Southam's one was an ex vehicle engine that had been marinised.
When we collected Southam at Hillmorton in 1992 she had been sunk for some time
and the engine was in a poorly state. We got it running but eventually it expired in a cloud of smoke.
When the boat eventually reached Runcorn, Mike Bazley and Duggie Shaw rebuilt it with parts from a similar engine out of a fishing boat, transforming it from a 3.4 to a 3.8. The engine soldiered on for many years. It had its injector pump rebuilt and a crack in the cylinder head repaired.
Eventually, in 2014 the drive shaft disintegrated at the end of a recycling trip, so Southam was laid aside. Forget me Not took over recycling trips, having had her engine replaced.
Southam languished at Portland Basin for several years, gradually deteriorating as we concentrated on finishing Hazel and putting her to work as a well being boat.
Tameside College donated a second BMC 3.8 diesel, of a slightly later date than the one that we already had. This was timely as, although the old engine was still running, it was clear that there was no longer a lot of compression and a major, and expensive rebuild would be necessary. The new engine had never been used except for training students. Stephan got to work transferring the marinising parts from one engine to another and painting it up to look good.
Eventually, in 2019, we made a start on returning Southam to service, We put her on dock at Ashton Packet Boat Co and renewed 4 planks in her side.
The idea was that 2020 would be the year that we tackled the crumbling cabin conversion. Little did we know that the world would be shut down by a pesky little virus. Some of us got ill and it took years to get back to the level of volunteer input that we'd been used to. Poor Southam's cabin deteriorated further. Stephan had to drop out for health reasons, but a new volunteer, Tom, took over the task of getting the new 60 year old engine running. This turned out to be more challenging than anticipated. There were many setbacks, and we still needed to match it up to a gearbox.
One day, I was idly looking at engines on Ebay, hoping that someone was selling an Albin AD2 so that Forget me Not could have a spare engine. I came across a pair of BMC 3.8 diesels being taken out of a motor cruiser.
Installed from new in 1962, these engines were being replaced with modern, quieter, machines (yes, these are noisy beasts). They were both running and apparently well maintained and were fitted with hydraulic gearboxes. The price was realistic. I was concerned that Tom would be unhappy to abandon the work he'd put in on the ex college engine, but he suggested that we buy both so that we would have an heir and a spare. I negotiated with the seller and agreed the sale. One problem- they were in Falmouth, 350 miles away.
Dave and Kim got to work to finally get our big trailer fully roadworthy, but came across some setbacks
Alistair solved the problem by hiring a truck and driving down to Cornwall to collect them.
The donor vessel, Silver Bird , is interesting herself. She is a big wooden twin screw diesel yacht by John Bain, laid down in 1938 ,which saw service with the RNVR during the war.. Her owner clearly loves her and is keeping her well maintained.
The engines were lifted out, wrapped in plastic, and loaded on to the hire truck for the long trek up the M5.
One issue was where to put them. We're trying to declutter Knowl St and Southam needs some work before she is ready to receive an engine. However, we've recently cleared the scrap metal out of Lilith, she floats well and isn't doing anything much, so me and Nessie bowhauled her down to Ashton Packet Boat Co for loading.
Alistair seemed to enjoy his long journeys, though he had a fright when one of the engines fell over due to a flawed pallet. He carefully backed down the narrow track to the crane, which lifted them over GUCCC Royalty class Prince and gently placed them in Lilith's fore end.
The bowhauling had been difficult as CRT have stopped trimming the towpath edges and quite substantial trees are now growing to hinder the towline. I wasn't looking forward to bowhauling back. Luckily, Kim offered to tow Lilith to Portland Basin with his boat. This is a converted British Waterways work flat. It's quite powerful but, being short and light, is difficult to control with a heavy boat on tow. The longer the line the easier it gets, so i gave Kim the long bowhauling line to tow with.
Lilith is no longer in the best of condition and she has a plank missing from her foredeck. The line initially snagged on one of the spikes from this, but I was later able to release it.
Since returning to the Basin, Nessie and Aaron have covered the entire hold in a large tarpaulin to keep the weather out.
