Saving Old Seagulls

Hello everyone. This is my first post here. I am an outboard collector from Canada. I recently picked up an outboard that I have never seen before. I believe what I have is a Britannia Lightwin probably from the final years of its run. Would anyone here be able to help me figure out exactly what I have? I could also use some photos of other motors to help me figure out which parts are correct and which may be home made. Thanks in advance.

Hello Wayne,

I've responded to your post on the AOMCI facebook page, but thought I'd also point you to this thread here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6225&p=56277&hilit ... win#p56277

If you follow towards the end of that thread, you'll see a post there by member Ferrier120. Refer his comments re the exhaust outlet as a way of aging your Light Twin - which appears to be no more recent than 1932.

I'm not sure about all the Bronze however and suspect that the drive tube, geabox, propellor and exhaust outlet may have been stripped of their original nickel or chrome plating. Others on here may know better than I though.

Hope the above helps.

Beautiful outboard BTW. I'd love to have one similar in my collection!

Regards,
Spiro

Hi Spiro

Thanks for the response. Britannia’s are very rare in my part of the world. I’m beating the bushes trying to figure out what exactly I have. I assumed that since the flywheel and exhaust were different from the few Britannia’s I’ve seen that this one must be from the end of the production run. I’m pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s from the beginning. I think the gas cap is homemade. I’m not sure if the tiller is original. It doesn’t look like any of the other tillers.

Yes a Britannia Lightwin from the early 1930s. The early ones had this style of magneto, and it seems that a villiers magneto was adopted later. I have 2 engines, one with villiers. The coil is a dual output version.

The leg should be plated, but it looks like it has been removed, and is the skeg missing? They seem to be prone to cracked skegs, as there is a sharp bottomed cut out near the prop, which cracks appear from.

Yes, the skeg is missing. I didn’t know if it had one or not. I have yet to find any stampings that would indicate a model or serial number. I’m sure the tiller was replaced. It appears that a twist grip style tiller should pull the lever on top of the carb. Is this the only speed control? I don’t see any sort of spark advance. If I can find a good photo of the original tiller I can sandcast a replacement. Would the correct oil ratio be 16:1?

The tiller should consist of a long steel tube, that slides in and out, so if the engine is reversed you still have a tiller. I don’t have any photos to hand to show you. I have two engines but one is really for spares, and it has a tiller.. I might be able to help you out, but I’m in Germany and the engine is in the U.K., so it might be August before I can sort anything out.

It would be great if you have some spare parts that you would sell/trade. Even a good photo of the original handle would work. I could make one if I had some close up photos. I also need a fuel cap. Someone restored this motor to sit on a stand. I intend to get it running and use it at AOMCI meets.

Very Shiny.........

You will have a hard time in fitting an original style tiller/twist grip assy I am afraid. The casting for mounting everything has been....removed?

The motor ID was on this removed casting as well.


Good luck and

Cheers

BnC

I see what you mean. That might not be a deal breaker. I may be able to weld a piece onto it. I’ll have to investigate some options. There is an anchor point so all hope is not lost. Beautiful motor by the way. Very nice example.

If I can find a good photo of the original tiller I can sandcast a replacement

Do you do casting yourself or get someone to do them for you?
If you cast yourself (like I do) and your keen enough have a go at making a new part. After all if it is for yourself time is not an issue.

Good luck with it and keep the pics up.

Thanks for the encouragement. My friend and I have a small backyard foundry where we make aluminium parts for our boat and motor projects. When it comes to motors I prefer to use original parts or castings made directly from them when possible. This is one of those rare occasions when I would make my own pattern. Britannia’s are so rare here that there just aren’t any parts motors around.

my parts engine has all of those parts fitted if I recall

Oyster 49 wrote:my parts engine has all of those parts fitted if I recall

That would be excellent. I’m sure I can help you out with a recast rope sheave. It might be awhile before we fire up the foundry. It’s springtime. Boating season is starting.

I received a nice gift today from a fellow collector near me. It is a photo copy of the original Britannia booklet from 1932. It answers most of the questions I have.

That’s a real nice thing to have a copy of. Nice! Any chance of sharing a pdf?

I’m back in the U.K. in August, so I may have time to remove the parts you need at that point.