Sundowner

[Mike Spooner]

Great news for the Sundowner boat however apply caution here its only at the fund-raising stage before any work starts.
After a full restoration a museum is not a good place for a wooden boat. The timbers will dry out and crack the vanish. Much the same if exposed long periods of hot summers. Kept in water will help keeping the timbers tight and keep out of the sun light when not in use.
I am quite sure Dennett boat yard know one or two things when it comes to refurbishment of the many wooden boats they have done so over the years.
If one looks at the bow of Sundowner, it may look bad but to Dennett not a problem. As the boat to the right looks like in a right old mess. But again, is recoverable and will not be scrapped.

 

[Seumas]

Great news for the Sundowner boat however apply caution here its only at the fund-raising stage before any work starts.
After a full restoration a museum is not a good place for a wooden boat. The timbers will dry out and crack the vanish. Much the same if exposed long periods of hot summers. Kept in water will help keeping the timbers tight and keep out of the sun light when not in use.
I am quite sure Dennett boat yard know one or two things when it comes to refurbishment of the many wooden boats they have done so over the years.
If one looks at the bow of Sundowner, it may look bad but to Dennett not a problem. As the boat to the right looks like in a right old mess. But again, is recoverable and will not be scrapped.

After a full restoration a museum is not a good place for a wooden boat. The timbers will dry out and crack the vanish. Much the same if exposed long periods of hot

Not if it's kept in a controlled environment where the light and temperature can be regulated at the touch of button, something which the RN museum in Portsmouth can easily offer, they already do with some of their other exhibits. Sundowner would be much better off there.

A seagoing Sundowner will require ever more expensive overhauls every ten or fifteen years. That can't be kept up forever.

 

[Mike Spooner]

You may be right if kept under temperature and humidity control. But that comes expensive to run. However, it was included with other boats to cover the costs must be the way forward. As the boat was originally property of the Admiralty is that enough to justify for a RN museum?

 

[Seumas]

You may be right if kept under temperature and humidity control. But that comes expensive to run. However, it was included with other boats to cover the costs must be the way forward. As the boat was originally property of the Admiralty is that enough to justify for a RN museum?

• Started out life as an Admiralty launch
• Owned by a decorated former RNR officer
• Participated in Operation Dynamo.

And as a bonus has a connection through it's former owner with the worlds most famous sea disaster. I think the RN museum would be interested.

 

[Mike Spooner]

The intension is to re-use Sundowner as floating vessel to do more Dunkirk crossings. The problem was the repairs in the past were not done well.
The hull is more solid than the average wooden boat. The deck needs replacement in places. What they have learn over the years since the raising of Mary Rose to preserve wood ship has come on in leaps and bounds. However, if it was stuffed into a museum probably never work again.
Yes, I would agree the RN museum is a good place, but I would much prefer to see as a working boat again.

 

[Seumas]

I rolled my eyes when I saw that. A simple Google search would have given the writer the correct name in seconds. It is careless reporting and I sent the reporter an email a moment ago, stating just that.

Corrected now.

The intension is to re-use Sundowner as floating vessel to do more Dunkirk crossings. The problem was the repairs in the past were not done well.
The hull is more solid than the average wooden boat. The deck needs replacement in places. What they have learn over the years since the raising of Mary Rose to preserve wood ship has come on in leaps and bounds. However, if it was stuffed into a museum probably never work again.
Yes, I would agree the RN museum is a good place, but I would much prefer to see as a working boat again.

If a new owner could be found who had money to burn and to whom expense was no object then by all means restore Sundowner to seaworthy condition.

However, there are two big uncomfortable truths that have to be said here.

She has clearly been woefully neglected for a number of years by whoever has previously owned (or still owns) her and it's clear from the fact they are having to appeal for donations that whoever the current owner is does not have the money to fix her up.

Those massive and highly specialist repairs are going to cost a bomb - at a time when many people are struggling to pay the rent/mortgage or keep the heating and lights on. This could not have happened at a worse time economically. Don't expect the money to come flooding in.

I think Sundowner is well worth saving. No argument there but I have grave concerns over where they will get the money to save her. I would be delighted to be proved wrong.

 

[Gordon Mooneyhan]

I can think of one museum on this side of the pond that has the expertise to restore Sundowner--Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut. They have one of the largest collections of wooden ships in the world and they successfully restored the last surviving merchant vessel, the Charles W. Morgan, and then took her out to visit ports throughout New England. But whatever happens, she does need to be preserved.

 

[Seumas]

I can think of one museum on this side of the pond that has the expertise to restore Sundowner--Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut. They have one of the largest collections of wooden ships in the world and they successfully restored the last surviving merchant vessel, the Charles W. Morgan, and then took her out to visit ports throughout New England. But whatever happens, she does need to be preserved.

There are quite a few traditional shipwrights still in operation in the UK and Sundowner is currently on the stocks at one of them. The problem isn't finding craftsmen with the skills (they are there) it's finding the eye watering amount of money to pay for massive restoration work at a time of widespread economic hardship.

In any event, the sheer cost of transporting the Sundowner to the USA and back (I would strongly object to her being permanently moved abroad) would be enormous. That's a no go.

The state in which her previous or current owner has allowed her to deteriorate in recent years is simply shocking.

 

[Gordon Mooneyhan]

The state in which her previous or current owner has allowed her to deteriorate in recent years is simply shocking.

I remember taking a Navigation and Seamanship class in college. One of the first things the instructor said is that a boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into.

 

[Seumas]

I remember taking a Navigation and Seamanship class in college. One of the first things the instructor said is that a boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into.

That's why I would rather the RN Museum in Portsmouth or the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich got ownership of a restored Sundowner, she'll be in good hands and properly taken of that way.

It's clear from the terrible neglect she has suffered in the last ten or so years that whoever owned her either just gave up trying or was incompetent when it came to maintaining her. Very sad to see.

 

[Mike Spooner]

I can see another possible to pay the repair bill. That could be from an opportunity for a smart businessperson who wants to interduce electric motors propulsion in large quantity for small boats. Just the word TITANIC is well known World over. One person does come to mind who is very much into new technology, no other than Elon Musk with his Tesla car power in a small boat wow!

 

[Seumas]

Much more realistic would be to try and get the attention of perhaps some of those involved in the 97' film (such as James Cameron), or 2017's excellent Dunkirk (such as Chrisptoher Nolan, Ken Branagh et al) and see if they could be willing to donate some money and also publicise the cause.

That said, any attempt to purchase the vessel and move her abroad permanently should be stopped.

 

[Mike Spooner]

Seumas said:

That said, any attempt to purchase the vessel and move her abroad permanently should be stopped!

As much I would agree with you, but money will win every time.

 

[Jason D. Tiller]

Some interesting photos of Sundowner are in this article, including one of Lightoller aboard her:
Save Sundowner

A GoFundMe has been set up to raise funds to restore her. It can be found on the GoFundMe website, under 'Save Sundowner'. Thanks to Dan Parkes for posting this article in his Facebook group.

 

[Mike Spooner]

On second though is this an opportunity for eccentric millionaire who likes to display their wealth with expensive cars, paintings, property and yachts etc. If the repairs where half a million, I see that's peanuts for them. But what a prize and a one up on other millions to. Sundowner history and connection with Titanic, puddling up and down the river Thames passing through locks. I see this as a showstopper indeed. Then may make a few quid on marine display exhibition. Follow on by books and DVDs. May possible to get royalty on the name of Sundowner to.
Certainty in the hands of a millionaire it would be property maintain.