Saving Old Seagulls

The other day I came across a 1953 AHC, which I couldn't resist.

These things are big, great big long gearbox, huge four bladed cloverleaf prop, and based on the 102 they really do look the part.

I'm going to need a few bits, but as with every Seagull, if the block's not cracked and if it turns over, I know it'll be runner pretty soon.

I have never used one of these - my boat is just too close to the water without a ridiculous amount of dpth adjustment - so I can't say I have any experience.

Baut as they're known as barge pushers, let me ask you.

If anyone out there has one, what's the biggest 'barge' you've pushed with it?

I'm playing with this one today as soon as the frost has gone. The morning didn't go too well, I decided to be a little playful with the current primary woman, and got up to make the tea, bringing it back with:

A little pot plant from Lidl (a very downmarket store for those who don't have a local Lidl), one tiny rose bush with a very naff and deformed heart made of paper thrust into the compost.

And a used brown envelope containing a home printed 'Tesco Value' valentine's card.

Not sure she saw the joke...

Narrow boat owners with sleek seventy foot hulls sometimes get the hump at the term "barge"......

Naturally you will bear in mind that pushing a bow wave on a silted BW cut is massively different to water skiing on Poole water if any "barge" numbers come back!


Peter

Just drove my son into Poole so he can get the bus to work. Popped in to the Yacht Club on the way back, no water ski activity for me to check out their outboards.

Still chuckling over the idea of waterskiing behind a Seagull.

I do take your point, though!

Local gravel pit had an old 102 with the 4 blade clover leaf prop, a barge pusher. They had it on the barge for the suction hose to move it round the pit! Barge was 30ft by 40 ft I would think, dead slab sided... flat bottomed. Hydrodynamics of a wet house brick.

So long as it was not to windy, they got where they wanted to go. Pit is now a Trout lake and 102 gone to dump, after they dropped it in the lake!

John
SOS

I know it sounds unbelieveable...

Two years ago, a barge owner asked me for help. He has a 45(50?) feet long 9 feet width 15 ton barge, normally (over)powered by 100hp, but now with engine troubles. I told him I could try to push him with my own 20feet fishingboat. It made him laughing but as a joke we tried. And believe me or not, my 102plus did the job. (very)Slowly of course and under good conditions, no wind, but she did!!!

Needless to say: We could hardly believe our eyes.....

Albert

Hi Just read the post about pulling a barge. I have the silver centery on my 18 ft sail boat. A rather smug friend who normall has a 9 hp on his 22ft run into probs. I towed him up fareham creek for about 4 miles no problems. Took a time to build up some speed but once under way I had to throttle back. He is now concidering a gull as a get him home eng