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Buying an Army Boat... What a disappointment!


Sisu

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Just by surprise some guy bought my assault boat few days ago. I actually wasn't prepared for selling it, but as I already had plans of having something around 10m in size I thought why not (the assault boat was about 6m). So last few days I've been searching a replacement - something bit more serious and certainly bigger.

 

Seemingly the problem is, if there's old army boat/ship they are usually converted for civilian use - and I want the real thing, no soft beds for me :-D... This one caught my eye, but someone had a grand idea of building it for civilian use, calculating they get 130m2 room inside. Unfortunately, they only disassembled the top part and likely realized it will be a huge project! So now its real rought project missing a lot, for example the upper deck!

 

The bad point is, the price range for these boats (or ships?) is exactly what I could afford - the bad point is, now there's too much of work! If they had never done anything for it I would give my money, right arm and subscription for Penthouse 2009.

 

Damn, I'm mad!! 22m long, 6.5m wide, weight 30 tons. This would have been my dream boat... I may offer half the price they are asking, but this boat requires a lot of work/money/time - first time on water maybe 2010...!

 

Photos of really good ones seen here (boat 38 is in museum now): http://vanhanaikainen.blogit.kauppalehti.fi/2007/05/31/sotasalaisuus/

 

But what's for sale is number 5, ex-Finnish Army boat/ship in Nuoli-class (ie. "Arrow-Torpedo boat"), usually powered with triple V12 Diesels (3 x 520bhp Model V-55) from T-55 tanks giving 42-45 knot top speed. I'm mad because very rarely they come up for sale!

 

Below are some photos of the boat for sale:

 

2191669530102303344S600x600Q85.jpg

 

2101718900102303344S600x600Q85.jpg

 

2258364660102303344S600x600Q85.jpg

 

...Below its current status, missing most of the upper deck!

2950519630102303344S600x600Q85.jpg

 

...and below seen in original condition...

2036300780102303344S600x600Q85.jpg

 

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Edited by Sisu
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Here's some further info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuoli_class_motor_gunboat

 

Only 13 built, 2 scrapped, 1 in museum and now this one ruined... Damn!!! First time I was looking for these was year 2000 - my chances to get one are diminishing... One is in Exeter, UK - lucky sod!

 

Regarding the boat in UK - here seems to be a photo of it ( Nuoli )! World seems to be really small - you won't believe but I have actually been living on two of those buildings seen in the background , both the white (on the leftmost building) and the red one! Picture is taken from Helsinki. Actually not showing here, but the leftmost white building has my favourite beer bar, called Sailors (no, its not a GAY bar, LOL). I have no connection with the guy who took this picture, but funny as I'm now here in Germany and from this photo I found my old apartment(s) in Helsinki, just by using google and search word "Nuoli class"! Maybe this is a hint I should get the boat... OR A BEER!

Edited by Sisu
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You guys should stop me - not push me into buying crazy thing! :D I'm exactly the right type of buyer to purchase something like this, the bigger the better.

 

Main problem is how to move it from its current location, to lets say to UK. I would also need some space where to work on it, and certainly this needs to be very close to water (can't afford a full blown road transport operation with police cars, remember its 6.5m wide... Maybe I transport it myself with rent-a-trailer and don't tell anyone...).

 

On the other hand 22m long boat is actually a ship, I guess. So, the yearly costs for storage, harbour, insurance could be quite high? I would have no problem buying this if I would still live in Finland, but as I'm already half way to UK the space for these things is not easy to come by.

 

But, from looks I'm something between Captain Stubing and Kermit, so maybe I could call it the Love Boat and run a Muppet Show every evening - that could help paying the expensies?

 

I think I will tomorrow call the owner and see how firm he is with the price... I'm known for quick decisions so be prepared...

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Guest catweazle (Banned Member)

Moorings for that at present £10.000 a year,unless you go on the mud.I have been down this rd with a nasty class.fuel about 3/4 ton per hour,in november it will be the same price as rd diesel here.So put your sensable hat back on and buy the Victory:rofl:

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I can always turn the ship to a Viking Boat, you can have the first oar. We could all make a trip to France and back, over the Channel (looking from the map, that seems to be the easiest way) - I could find a 5bhp outboard which could help us to proper the ship to astonishing .005 knots per year.

 

So its expensive to have a ship/boat in this class in UK, eh? I'm really looking forward to UK Pound devaluation before I move there. If I could get the ship for free, free brand-new engines for it, free upper deck, free painting, work etc. I still couldn't afford to keep it! I have to call Donald Trump for business advice, I need to earn more! Maybe I just start an acting career in Muppet Show, even as Miss Piggy but it has to pay me enough to keep my ship on the water. If it doesn't work, I will commit insurance fraud and sink the ship... ;) Its really easy to make plans for life.

 

Earlier I discarded the idea of buying Victory, they said they won't allow me to start a career as pirate, also the seven numbers up-keep costs are bit expensive so I would have to rob ships every day.

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Thanks, you are a real friend ;) I wasn't man enough to make the call today, but I have already placed an advert for finding/buying Nuoli-class torpedo boat. If I could find something that is complete and still in working condition, it would save me at least 2 years of additional work. As Catweazle already told, the mooring is expensive - so rather have the boat on the water as much as possible. I'm not so scared about the costs of using it, as I would maybe use it for once a month for a shorter diving trips or just go fishing somewhere (with 5-10 person, all paying part of the diesel), anyway the season for using it would be only 4-6 months per year. On the rear deck it should have small crane and black Zodiac with 30-50bhp outboard. To me the hobby would be keeping everything in good condition and also to get some sort of licence for using it. Who needs a summer cottage when you can have your own ship and get a nice tan on the deck! Too bad my Northern skin type burns easily, but I could also spent my time on the "command deck" next to the fridge sipping some cold beer...

Edited by Sisu
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Guest catweazle (Banned Member)
. I'm not so scared about the costs of using it, quote]

Thats because you havnt done it yet,If you dont have a comercial licence 12 people are the max you can have,if you train for a skippers licence and pass the boat will have to be coded for use.dont wont to frighten you off cos i am as crazy as the next man,but it doesnt sound very feasable if it was we would of had one of these.

nastyclass.jpg

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That looks great, is it for sale;)

 

I know the costs are high, lets say very high. If they were slow boats the mpb (mileage per barrel) would be easier to live with. Still its cheaper than buying a training Jet from Whitthams...

 

There actually is no good reason to buy one as smaller Uisko-class boats are easier to find and usually come with a 10 meter trailer (total width 2.75m with boat) - but - the problem is, I know its still theoretically possible to get one so I can't stop myself for not wanting one! If I find one in usable condition I will certainly try one year whether I survive the running costs...

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Hanno - Hehe, funny to see them emerging from everywhere ;) I'm not sure what the law says about towing them? Seems the price is still quite good for it.

 

Here's one Uisko-class boat for sale in Finland, this is expensive and I'm not fond of the rear cabin but of course its possible to modify the construction a bit. Good point with boats in this class is you usually always get a trailer with the package - which can be towed behind a Sisu truck... http://www.nettivene.com/viewBoat.php?status=F&id_boat=309664&PN[0]=latest&PL[0]=listBoat.php Still, I would rather buy straight from the Army, usually they cost less and no-one made any mods, new paint etc.

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  • 9 months later...

Hello all, just found this page thread.

 

I just wanted to say that I own one of these boats and she is ashore on a purpose build trailer on the south coast of England. She is ready for conversion and for new engines and over all is in fantastic condition. She is 68ft by 19ft beam weighing in at around 25 tons.

 

I am not sure which way to go with her at the moment so perhaps you all may have some ideas.

 

RTTL.

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Guest catweazle (Banned Member)
I thought you might like to se a photo of the boat tied up at Portsmouth.

Thats a very nice boat looks like a 60s vosper probably has some vosper input in it,or built under licence,You know the saying,two good days,the day you buy it and the day you sell it.Why re engine are you making it into a dispacement live aboard.I am sure we would like to see more pics please.You may know i have a boat on the South coast out of the water due to the present economic climate.i would love a look around.we nearly bought the.Nasty class with the Napier deltics.7.000 hp :cool2:CW.

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Guest catweazle (Banned Member)

PS. the Harbour master gets the raving hump if you hang on that outside pontoon.

Not that he has told me off.:whistle:

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PS. the Harbour master gets the raving hump if you hang on that outside pontoon.

Not that he has told me off.:whistle:

 

 

I used to have problems with a certain harbourmaster in this area until I suggested to him that I might just speak to the local council regarding how newcomers with bl--dy gin palaces got all the best moorings and yet people whose families had owned boats moored in the harbour for generations were relegated to the worst moorings. Strange how he suddenly came round to my way of thinking.:cool2::-D

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Guest catweazle (Banned Member)

the MOD police get very twitchy about anything moored opposite the docks,after all if an attack wiped out a couple of ships that would be half our navy gone.they do carry live weapons so its a bit one sided.they would come around the marina several times a night making a lot of noise with there old clapped out ford sabres,patrolling you know .i managed to stir up a bit of rebellion amongst the birth holders.£6.000 a year to be woken up by these muppets,i dont think so.:-D

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello Catweasle,

 

This photo was taken ashore on a purpose built Royal Air Force trailer. She weighs around twenty five tons at the moment and is stripped out ready for work to commence inside and out. She is 68ft long with a beam of 19ft and was laid down in 1956 at Vosper's yard in Portsmouth and was originally powered by three Napier Sea Lion engines of 550hp and was re-engined in 1960 with two Rolls Royce Griffon 36 litre V12's giving a speed of 40 knots at a service weight of 50 tons. The Griffon's have long gone, and two small diesels are currently fitted.

 

I want to return her to her original condition externally although she is pretty much original as she is, but inside she will become a comfortable long distance cruiser.

 

RTTL.

Copy of DSC00208.jpg

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