It’s probably a long shot but I will put the call out here for help.
Back when I was a recruit in the Australian Navy, I did a couple of trips in a boat that was then up for sale or scrapping. I can’t remember fully her details thus I would have to search the records of the boats based at HMAS Cerberus at the time (96-98) when I was there.
All I know is that she was an old work boat (Can’t remember the number off hand), and that she had seen service during WWII. She was lucky to push 9kts and her diesel engine was lucky to go and when it did it made a hell of a sound. I remember that it had trouble once and that we got stuck out in Westernport Harbour for four hours while the Chief fixed the engine, turns out that it was a blocked fuel line (isn’t always the case in the old ones)?
Anyway I know she was finally sold but to whom, and what they have done with her is also what I am trying to find out, also if they are willing to sell it and at what price.
So if anyone here can help, I’d be eternally greatfull.
By: Ja Worsley - 2nd March 2006 at 23:27
Thanks for the help knocka, No it was smaller than that, if you have any pics of Work Boats at all, she looked like a 40″ AWB Short GRP Cabin as with No: 442, but I remember she had an aft covered section like the 39″ Misellaneous Motor Boat No:169.
I clearly remember that the forward cabin was right at the front and she had sloped windscreens and the engine was a diesel of American make (Packard IIRC).
By: knocka - 2nd March 2006 at 14:23
SDB 1324
Was she made out of wood? Could she have been the old tender to HMAS Lonsdale at Port Melbourne? (closed 1992). May have then moved to Cerberus, if she was still serviceable.
SDB (Seaward Defence Boat) 1324. Hull no. may have been Y296
59t standard 64t full load.
80.2ft oa X 16.1ft X 5.5ft
provision for 1-40mm AA
2 Buda diesels. 2 shafts 390 bhp max = 11 knots (when new)
Complement 12
Originally known as Harbour Defence Motor Launches and afterward as Seaward Defence Motor Launches. One of 28 built in Australia during WWII.
There is a small pic of her at http://users.chariot.net.au/~lenshome/littleships.htm
Or wasn’t she this big?
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February 24, 2006 at 12:02 pm