Boats For Sale: It’s Either A Dive Liveaboard, Houseboat or Fishing Boat
By Jim Symcox on Jun 12, 2009 in Manchester, Sale
This is aimed at those who’d love to live in houseboats, own their own liveaboard, maybe run their own boat charter or have their own sea-going fishing boat.
This post is slightly unusual as a Manchester friend has asked me to see if you’re interested in his pride and joy, a 20 metre 14 berth launch.
So here goes…
The Osprey Liveaboard
The boat is an ex-RAF launch called Osprey. My friend is an ex chief engineer who loves to make things work exactly right. So he’s taken a long time making it into a comfortable liveaboard for divers and he’s run Osprey as a boat charter operation.
He got the boat approved in early 2005 and she chartered in the Western Isles, in Scotland, during that season and was due to return for the 2006 season.
Unfortunately due to serious health problems in the family he wasn’t able to take the Osprey out in 2006 and she was moved to Yoker, Glasgow where’s she’s been cared for ever since.
The family’s health issues remain unresolved and as he’s now reached retirement he and his wife are reluctantly putting the Osprey onto the market.
Some Liveaboard photos
A Bit Of Boating History!
The boat was built in 1959 by Saunders Roe in Anglesey for the RAF as a rescue target towing launch.
She was stationed in Portrush (Northern Ireland) servicing the North Atlantic until 1968. She was then transferred to the Royal Navy as a fast despatch craft for the Commodore of the Clyde.
She was stationed in the Grand Harbour, Greenock, until 1984 when she was sold and converted into a dive vessel, with dive platform at the back and accommodation for 12 divers, plus crew and captain. You can see the layout and accommodation in the picture below:
Liveaboard Layout and Boat Accommodation
The boat is 20 metres long with a beam of 6 metres and a draft of 1.7 metres and weights 43 tons.
If you’re interested in knowing more about the boat, including equipment email me at Osprey at acornservice dot com. Alternatively just leave me a comment!
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Martin Knott | Oct 27, 2009 | Reply
A fascinating boat. Does your friend have a price in mind? What material is the hull?
Jim Symcox | Oct 27, 2009 | Reply
Hi Martin,
The boat is certainly steeped in history! I asked the same question about price for someone else yesterday and my friends answer was, “well the engines and running kit are worth £5,000 by themselves.”
The hull is made of double-diagonal iroko (mahogany) planks.
Jim
Nick | Dec 12, 2009 | Reply
Is this boat still for sale? If so:
Could you please advise if it has the original engines and what condition are they in?
Could I come along and see it some time?
Regards
Nick
joe | Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
hello is this vessel still for sale and if so do you no what kind of price you have in mind
Jim Honey | Feb 9, 2010 | Reply
Hi there,
I’ve been looking for a boat to live on now for over a year. I’m looking for something that could cope with canals. What do you rekon?
Thanks in advance,
Jim Honey
Jim Symcox | Feb 24, 2010 | Reply
Hi Joe, it’s currently being viewed and worked on. Although I don’t think the ownership has changed yet. If you’re interested email me. Guide price is that the engines alone are worth about £5,000
Jim