Saving Old Seagulls

I think it may pay to double check a few things, making sure the carb is still clean, then all contacts on the ignition system are clean and have good connections.

The cylinder head is not water cooled, only around the sides of the cylinder, so yes, the cylinder heads will get hot.

If you hadn't mentioned that your father had installed the recoil start, I would have thought it was an optional extra that I wasn't aware of and had been fitted at the factory!

According to the handbook, the fuel mix is 20:1 and they recommend either:- Castrol XL, Essolube 40, Motorine C, Triple Shell or Mobiloil BB (don't know if any of these are still available).

The depth of a standard tank is 4 inches (apparently they did a long range tank which was a lot deeper)

Sorry, but I don't have a spare retaining clip.

Attached is an early example with original paint and decal - paint may be faded as I've seen slightly later models in a darker blue

The MK3 was introduced in 1958 and was 2.5hp. It was about the mid 60s when the 3hp appeared as a Mk4 and the Mk5 had the 'P' shaped steering hoop with tiller.

With reference to fuel mix, I have found a sales leaflet from about 1953 which states one third of a pint of oil to the gallon - but personally I would stick to 16:1 as a little extra oil in not going to hurt.

According to a handbook for a 1950s Britannia outboard with Villiers ignition, the points ...

For a 1940s Britannia Outboard it stated 16:1
For a 1950s Britannia Outboard it stated 20:1
For a 1950s Swordfish Outboard it stated 25:1
Unfortunately this is all I can find at present, when I get a bit more time I'll see if I can find some more info

A couple of great questions to which I don't have an answer, but I agree with your thoughts on reducing the water flow to ensure the engine doesn't run too hot or too cold especially when BMB were selling their engines all over the world. It would be nice if someone had an owners handbook that might ...

The con rods are solid bronze - no white metal or bearings.
Gaskets are paper except for the ones between the silencer box and engine which are copper and heat resistant material (asbestos type).






















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This looks like a British Anzani Pilot 3hp as it has the double transom clamps, but tank, tiller and shroud around the flywheel in not original. Hope this helps.

Hi Bernie
The Mariner was introduced in 1933 with a 3:1 reduction gearbox which changed to 2:1 in 1946 and was in production up to at least 1950. The majority of Middy and Mariner motors I've come across have brass instruction plates soldered to the top of the tank. The motor looks to be in good ...

Found this magazine advert which I hope might be of interest.

Found a couple of images from sales leaflets (sorry if the quality is not very good) - transom bracket is the main difference

Many years ago I purchased a set from a company called 'Classic Transfers' - not sure if they still do them.

I believe both engines are Britannias. The one on the right being the 'Service Model' dating from around 1945 as it has the fishtail exhaust, whilst the other is the next incarnation and was available from around April 1946 to sometime in 1949 when they redesigned the exhaust and replaced the 'wings ...