Fairey sinks in the solent

[ecsrobin]

I know there’s a lot of interest on Fairey's on here so thought this may be of interest. Apparently 2 persons onboard and issued a mayday before sinking.

I’m going to add I thought this was a huntress but on closer inspection it may not be a fairey.

Edited by ecsrobin on Tuesday 1st September 22:11

[57Ford]

Had to look closer at the second pic - thought it was a remarkably clear underwater shot at first glance!
Hope the occupants are ok?

[fushion julz]

I have a Huntress and, whilst the hull looks similar, that isn't a Huntress, as far as I know...Although it is obviously trying to be one with Fairey-like clamshell inlets.
I presume the second picture is post recovery, given it appears to be beached.

I wonder what happened, since the hull appears to be undamaged!

[Simpo Two]

fushion julz said:

I wonder what happened, since the hull appears to be undamaged!

Propshaft/seal fail?

[Huntsman]

Its a Dell Quay Ranger Tropical. Very few of them.

The Ranger was built using a 25ft hull off the buck that built all the Huntress 23 and Huntsman 28 (not Huntsman 31, thats very different)

Rangers are all outdrive. Not shaft.

Pleased to read crew are ok.

[ecsrobin]

Cheers Huntsman, I knew you’d have the answer. A bit of googling suggests Fairey did this for a few other manufacturers but I can’t seem to find much is there a good place to read up on all of this?

[dhutch]

Huntsman said:

Its a Dell Quay Ranger Tropical....

... built using a 25ft hull off the buck that built all the Huntress 23 and Huntsman 28 all outdrive.

Good knowledge!

Is the second photo post-recovery, or pre-sinking?

Daniel

[ecsrobin]

dhutch said:

Good knowledge!

Is the second photo post-recovery, or pre-sinking?

Daniel

Post recovery.

[dhutch]

ecsrobin said:

Post recovery.

That's good. Cheers.

[Huntsman]

Apologies. I gave duff info. She is not a Tropical. She is Ranger 27 with the aft cabin lopped off. Details!

One more thing. Fairey Owners Club can provide copies of the factory drawing with instructions on how to repair the hot moulded hull.

There is also a booklet available from Charles Lawrence Chiswick tittled Fixing My Faireys which may be of use.

[follyclassics]

I have recently purchased her as a project. A lot of work needed.

[ecsrobin]

follyclassics said:

I have recently purchased her as a project. A lot of work needed.

Top lurking!

So what caused the sinking do you know? A lot of work ahead but you’ll have a nice looking boat afterwards.

[hidetheelephants]

Bellows failure on the outdrive probably, it's a big hole and if it lets go you have minutes if not seconds to beach it or otherwise lift it out, as you can't get at it to plug it and it's a funny shape anyway.

[Huntsman]

hidetheelephants said:

Bellows failure on the outdrive probably, it's a big hole and if it lets go you have minutes if not seconds to beach it or otherwise lift it out, as you can't get at it to plug it and it's a funny shape anyway.

Bellows fine.

Some carpentry needed.

[follyclassics]

Just a quick update, no it was not the bellows (no you won’t sink straight away if the bellows go it will let a trickle of water in as there is a bearing and shaft blocking the hole still). The hull had rotted out around the hog from rain water being sat in the bilge, something that was probably missed on an earlier restoration. There were holes both sides.

[dhutch]

Thanks for the update. Are the repairs at the front yours, or previous works?

[Huntsman]

In the photo it looks like you've left the keelband on the outside?

[follyclassics]

All out ours, all repaired in keeping with it’s the original design.

[Huntsman]

I see its now on ebay.

[megaphone]

Huntsman said:

I see its now on ebay.

Looks like it still needs loads of work, and an engine. Is £4300 right?