ALLEN REGISTER
The Register has know been running for a period of time and a number of requests from new owners and previous owners have shown that we have holes in the records of many boats. We/I have been unable to answer some requests so in this section I will highlight the Questions in the hope that someone out there can answer the points and add to our knowledge.
PLEASE REPLY TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.
All answers will not identify anybody unless so wished, but any answer will be posted in this section.
For any correspondance please us following E mail Address:-
allenregister@googlemail.com
Request 1..
The relatives of the former owner of a Allen Tug styled boat called ELLINGTON (after the jazz band leader) built in the mid 80's, under 60 ft in lenght, would like to now if it still exists. The boat has been renamed was powered by a RN Engine, we have no information that we have it in our records under its new name? The relatives have fond memories of the time it was owned by thier father and would like to now its still about and used.
For us its BW number and a photo would be great to add to the list?
Request 2..
Previous history of an early Allen today named BLACK 40ft in lenght. Believed to have had former names of SONRIE, ANDROMIDA. Built about 1973 has a BW number 67227, has much TLC poured over her over many years by her present owner after the elements had taken toll of her wooden top.
Request 3...
Owner of boat named Duke of Lancaster, 56ft, built 1975, BW no 61652.
Just a small query when she was bought had HOO MILL LOCK painted on her, with initials AJH. All have now been removed but any previous history to 2005 especially who or what AJH?
Request 4...
We get many enquiries about the wooden cabin years at the Allens yard, most of the current active members only have the steel tops. Any general thoughts on these years from present and former owners would be great.
The subject of bus windows keeps cropping up, ie did the Allens fit or was it owner DIY, I am in the process of constructing a piece on this era and would be grateful for any info.
Change of format in this section with a boat for which the previous owner has supplied more details/history.
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Previously name SOMERTON believed when last seen named PRINCESS REBECCA.
Was when built in 1969 46ft long. We have a listed boat named Princess Rebecca on the A to Z list but no contact with her present owner, this boat being 57ft. Is she the same boat lenghten? or does anyone know the whereabouts of her.
Her former owner who had her built at the Allens yard in 1969 has often wondered where she is. Has many fond memories of the boat and has provided us with some history that may be of interest to any new owner.
History.
Was originally ordered in 1968 when Les was still alive and a copy of two letters signed by Les confirming the order have been kindly supplied to us and are to be found in the Gallery section.
When in 1969 construction started Les had died and all further dealngs were with Bob and John.
As was common place in those days the original order was for a hull only, wooden tops being the norm. However the owner at this time came into some money and asked the brothers to fit a steel cabin with a 6ft long forward cockpit and a traditional stern. A Lister SR2 with a gearbox with a 2:1 reduction was fitted.
Somerton was built with chined sides ie the hull sides tapered out from both the gunwhales and the base plate to a vertical section of steel either side of the water line.
Various modifications were built into Somerton from previous boats (part of the evolution process). Previous boats had knees to the hull made out of 2 x 3 inch steel angle plate, the 2 inch section being welded to the side plates. With the chine this had caused the knees top and bottom to be tapered to fit the side plates, reducing the strenght of the knees. Somerton was fitted with knees where the angle had the 3 inch section against the sides taking less metal from the knees, Allen boats had this feature built into them from that date. Later boats had vertical sides with no taper.
Prior to Somerton boats had front stems fabricated from steel plate, Somerton was the first boat to have its stem forged out of a solid 2 inch square steel bar, again all hulls from this time had solid forged stem posts.
At the yard the name of the boat was painted onto the bows and had traditional wooden cabin doors fitted, all the work of one Fred Winnet who is a new name to us, Fred is believed to have worked in the yard during the T.S Element era.
Also working at the yard at this time was Glyn Phillips who with the Allens in the early days helped with the innovations to the hulls that finally lead to the Allens shape, Glyn remain a friend of the Allens to this day leaving to work for BW.
Supplied are the costing of Somerton back in 1969:-
Hull--£700: Cabin--£380: Engine--£312: Fit Engine--£46: Cants, Z-iron, Ballast--£52: Total £1490.
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TRESCO:-Another boat from the 1960's. The owner who had her built in 1967 contacted the register to give us the information on a family boat. Built when Les was alive the owner remembers Les as a gentleman and the lads John and Bob as doing much of the work. The boat was launched at the yard and seems to have spent most of its time moored on the Regents Canal, Lisson Grove on the 'Turner' moorings when not cruising. She was 46ft long and had a Lister SR2. Named then 'Tresco' after the Scilly Isle she travelled the system her owner being a member of the IWA & WRG's. Hope to get more on this boat: where is she today?: No Boat named TRESCO registered today.
A little bit more info, she was sold on in 1970 to new owners who lived near Tring, the new owners had a house on the Grand Union Canel where she was going to be moored.
She was from a age when BW did not issue numbers like today, her only ID in those days being a wooden name plate about 18" long with 'Tresco Oldbury' written on it.
Below are a number of photograph's from launch to cruising the system maybe someone knows her?
For any correspondance please us following E mail Address:-allenregister@googlemail.com
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