Saving Old Seagulls

I'm pretty sure that the more modern smaller outboards are rather more fragile in general terms. I've seen Mariner/Mercury motors with holes in the water jacket, and I have had the top bearing break up in a 3.3 Mercury of my own. That one had a busted tiller arm, and more than once I've ruefully wat...

I simply can not envisage being allowed such a thing in the house.

She Who Must Be Obeyed would throw a hissy fit.

This member has left the building due to popular demand.

Jeremy I will pop down to the workshop tomorrow and have a look. The darkness and the chill and the Rioja persuade me not to do it right now.

Yes, that's right.

SJM23 doesn't have the cotton reels. I believe John Williams has SJM 1 - it would make sense to ask him (unless you already have, Jeremy!) The "R" does suggest a return to British Seagull for a rebuild at some point during its career. I would be surprised if the chaps at the factory didn't...

Nice one. Why on earth anyone would suggest turning it into an SD I have no idea! I have an AHC in the shed; it has a cap without an oil filler that is a little more streamlined and pointy than the ordinary barge pusher shape - is yours similar? Mine also has a three blade prop. It's a bit of a reli...

Those are the three legs for a British Seagull motor display stand. They would bolt on to a black rectangular wooden pad which bore the logo.

I suspect it's strictly one motor for each tripod, even if they are little ones.

Under way!

Respect!

It was going to be a straightforward job. 1) Take gearbox from Model 90 in the workshop that has a knackered block 2) Put gearbox onto Model 90 that's hanging on the boat transom. Surely a simple task? Only 2 nuts to undo, heave power head off, bolt it onto good leg, and off we go. But no. I bolted ...

The thing about Frost's web site is that it can be a bit of a time stealer! Bags of interesting stuff on there... But in the end, in the interests of speed, I've decided to fudge the idea. I will simply use the tube that's already attached to the gearbox I will be using. The final decision will be m...

It's the drive shaft tube I'm talking about, on my model 90. The rust spots have gone past the acceptable stage. Chrome plating is expensive, and frankly not as good as it was, besides it takes time. So I'm going to rub it down and paint it. Those bits that left the factory sprayed silver will get a...

For complete authenticity it'll need a drive shaft tube, too, 'coz the clutched version will have the threaded hole at the top. Is there any possibility this could have been a pre-war conversion done, perhaps, by British Seagull? Does yours have the pen nib extension at the bottom of the exhaust tub...

Quite a few of these have turned up over the years, usually fitted to a wartime motor. After the war loads of motors were sold off as war surplus - there's an Arthur Bray advert somewhere for ex-ministry motors at a handsome discount when compared with the new British Seagull prices. The ones suppli...

That's an interesting serial. The SN motors are very scarce, in fact I don't think I have ever seen a complete one. It would have originally had a steel tank. Photos would be of immense interest; the information available about these motors is almost non-existent. Does it have the finned block? What...