Tui Bird
Lantern Swinger

I would be grateful to know the average time spent in the Dockyard on refitting the older diesel boats --like the 'A' , the 'T' , the 'P&O' . I stood by a full strip down refit of AMPHION in 1953 . We were snorting on our way from Scotland to Portsmouth , when the No 8 cylinder starboard blew up --stripped timing gear ,so as we were due to go into the Dockyard anyway in 4 months ,they it moved forward .
Everything came out --ballast pump , compressors and so on to be refurbished . And of course the battery --I think we got a new snort mast (after AFFRAY ) --- didn't look much different --just strengthened inside '
We got sabotaged -- the induction hull valve played up after we moved over to Dolphin when we recommissioned and a linen bag full of bolts etc where lodged on the spider above the valve -- men in dark suits came and stared up at the hole as we watched from the motor room . And that was that !
Anyway I would like to know the average length of a diesel boat full refit , please. As it looking back it, seemed only about 8 months --I was living ashore with my wife and we can't really remember , but I have been reading a book talking about 2 years ???
Everything came out --ballast pump , compressors and so on to be refurbished . And of course the battery --I think we got a new snort mast (after AFFRAY ) --- didn't look much different --just strengthened inside '
We got sabotaged -- the induction hull valve played up after we moved over to Dolphin when we recommissioned and a linen bag full of bolts etc where lodged on the spider above the valve -- men in dark suits came and stared up at the hole as we watched from the motor room . And that was that !
Anyway I would like to know the average length of a diesel boat full refit , please. As it looking back it, seemed only about 8 months --I was living ashore with my wife and we can't really remember , but I have been reading a book talking about 2 years ???