SL Osprey, 1902

SL Osprey was built in 1902 and is the sister ship to SL Swallow built in 1911. Osprey has a carvel hull of 1 ¼ inch teak planks on oak frames and copper fastenings. The hull is stiffened by a 6 inch x 4 inch oak keel through-bolted to an oak hog. Osprey’s original engine is unknown but when restored she will be fitted with a contemporary 1901 Sissons Compound engine, similar to others fitted in steam launches of this period.

History and ownership

Osprey was probably one of the first in a series of classic Windermere launches built for private use on the lake. Osprey served many years in service as a passenger boat for the Bowness Bay Boating Company from 1948. It was then acquired by the Steamboat Museum in 1979.

Restoration

Click to view the Flickr SL Osprey restoration gallery

Osprey is the first vessel in the collection to be fully restored by the Trust in the on-site conservation workshop and is due to be re-launched in 2012. Conservation of the boat began when it was lifted from the water in 2007. Following a series of surveys by experts in historic boats, a programme of borate spraying was administered and a Conservation Management Plan was developed.

The vessel now resides in the workshop where it has been stripped back to its bare hull. The panelling on the interior of the vessel has been disassembled and through a process of walnut blasting the hull planking has been cleaned back to bare wood. This has enabled the Conservation Workshop Manager to carry out a full assessment of the boat’s condition and confirm the restoration required.

Some of the existing hull planking will be replaced; this however will be kept to a minimum. Through using a technique called splining, thin pieces of wood will be inserted in the gaps between planks, this will reduce the need for new wood, retaining as much historic material as possible.

Sourcing the required wood for the restoration project has been the most difficult and expensive part of the restoration programme. The wood needs to be carefully seasoned and of excellent quality to go into the boats. A 30 foot long teak log is currently seasoning on site ready for the hull, whilst curved oak pieces are being cut to be inserted as additional grown frames on the inside of the hull. This will add the necessary strength for housing the heavy steam engine and boiler in the middle of the boat.

Once Osprey has been restored she will be launched back onto Windermere and will once again be operated on the lake. When the museum reopens, Osprey will be stored and displayed in the wet dock and will offer limited passenger trips.