Return To Projects - Return

Ongoing Individual Projects

Batavia

In January 2005, we heard that Roger Farrington was selling a 46 foot hull that he had been building for
 himself. This was “inspired” by the Stewarts & Lloyds tug “Pacific”, which Roger had owned and had sold to
 John Pattle. A quick trip to Braunston, a liquid lunch in the Admiral Nelson and we were the proud owner of
 the hull – with an arrangement that a cabin would be put on it during 2006. The boat will be called Batavia.

We realised that we could not put a modern engine in this unusual boat, so we started asking around about any interesting engines that were for sale. Roger then mentioned that friends of ours, Peter and Christine, who live 400 m away from us, had a Bolinder 1052 in their garage and that it might be for sale. Strangely, this fact had never come up in conversation! Two weeks later, the engine was ours and it was removed to a container in the wilds of Hertfordshire. It is a Type 1052 – 11357, Serial No. 20469.

This engine was re-built many years ago by John Pattle and was missing some of its original fittings – such as
 the water pump, air, fuel and oil filters and was only fitted with hand-start. John had replaced the missing
 fittings and added a starter motor, and although the engine has not been in a boat for some time, it has been
 run regularly and is in fine mechanical condition.

The First Sight of the English Bolinder from Down the Road

Chris and Frank Get the English Bolinder Running

Things would have halted there until early 2006 if, by chance we hadn’t found another 1052 for sale on an
 auction web site in the Netherlands (like e-bay, but without the rules). After some initial communications
 problems (the seller was the only Dutch person I have met who doesn’t speak perfect English – but his son
 came to the rescue), we offered the very reasonable asking price - on the basis that the engine had run within
 living memory and that even if it wasn’t a runner now, it would be a useful source of spares. It also seemed to
 be “very original”, with no missing parts. Ironically, the seller had decided to dispose of the 1052 because he
 had found a Kromhout-built Gardner for his boat, and thought that it was a better engine! It seems that
 Bolinders are not common in the Netherlands, but that Gardners and Listers are well-regarded.

The Container Doors are Opened to Reveal the Dutch Bolinder that we Have Bought
Looks just Like the Photo on the Web Site
 

A retrieval expedition was mounted by Chris, Frank Riches and Mark Wright and the engine was brought back
 to join our other one. We have recently had the engine running and all sounded reasonably OK – the only
 visible problem being a small oil leak through the crankshaft oil seal. The gearbox looks as if it has hardly
 been run since it was re-built, and we intend to transfer it to the English 1052, as its ratio is 2:1 rather 1.5:1.

Frank, The Geerlings, Son and Father and Mark
Relieved that the Engine Fitted in the Vehicle with a few mm to Spare

Well, We Got it Started, on the Coldest Day of the Year, with an Almost Flat Battery and Using 10 year Old
 Diesel That Looked Like Castor Oil. The English Bolinder is in the Background. Old Washing Machine Hoses
 and a bucket are Ideal for the Coolant Circuit.

Work will start on Batavia’s cabin early in 2006 and we plan to install the English engine in Batavia. We will
 then re-build the Dutch 1052 in slow time. Based on previous experience, the fitting out may take some time.

To be continued, as work in progresses……..

Top