Osprey Sparrowhawk

JohnsonV4 · 27 December 2015, 15:21

Hi Ribbers,
so bought myself a project.
A Osprey Sparrowhawk, or maybe a Osprey 18?
what i know: bought in UK in 2009. Sailed a few years nicely in dutch shore waters, but than one sprayrail split. Water intrussion, foam wet. etc
Now i am the next dutchman to finish this project but before i start on the hull, i like to know a bit more about this Osprey.
So can someone tell me what year it is?
It has/had a very narrow deck, foam filled, no stringers/bulkheads. And a "planing pad".
Powered with a 75hp Mariner, ex 1989
Can it be the same year as the powerhead?
Are sparrowhawks still foan filled?
Here are some detailed photo's.

kerny · 27 December 2015, 16:28

Looks like a cabin rib in the last pic.

JohnsonV4 · 27 December 2015, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerny

Looks like a cabin rib in the last pic.

o my god, i made an "Escher"

Btw found some information, but maybe someone can confirm this out of experience.

Osprey 18
Osprey 18

The first model launched was called the Osprey 18 which unsurprisingly was 18' long; it incorporated a small GRP nose cone to remove the need for a complex tube shape at the bow, and the boats were built by Mike and Ralph Williamson near Standish who specialised in bespoke GRP mouldings. The Osprey 18s were generally built in white or orange GRP with orange tubes supplied by Eurocraft just 10 miles away in Leyland. Plenty of the early Osprey 18s still survive with their original tubes – sure testament to their quality. Early models had foam-filled hulls to increase their buoyancy in the event of the hull being flooded. This would be dropped in roughly 1991 since it was seen as an unnecessary extra cost and slowed the build time.

OSPREY RIBS · 28 December 2015, 10:37

Full Name was Osprey XR18...

What information are you looking for ?

JohnsonV4 · 28 December 2015, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSPREY RIBS

Full Name was Osprey XR18...

What information are you looking for ?

I read the first xr18 had a flooding hull, this one has not?
Can you elaborate on this detail?

-Building year? There is no hull nbr in the boat, but maybe 1988 is close?
I guess later types raised the deck to the third sprayrail to allow build in tanks?
-Can I safely raise the deck to do the same?
Add stringers, knees and a few bulkheads, so i can do without the foam?
-Do i have to double the hull for stifness or is it sufficient like it is?

fatboyrib · 29 December 2015, 03:04

looks like the one I sold to a Dutchman all those years ago.....infact im sure its the one, remember a mix up in the exchange rate and had to track him down before he left the country to take it home after visiting relatives in telford Shropshire....lol now but not at the time.....engine rebuilt and put on boat when I had it, not with it from new.........

JohnsonV4 · 29 December 2015, 07:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatboyrib

looks like the one I sold to a Dutchman all those years ago
engine rebuilt and put on boat when I had it, not with it from new.........

Hi Fatboyrib,
ha ha great you recognise it.
How long did you sail it? Can you tell me about the history?
Do you know what was done with the engine rebuilt?
Thanks for the responce.
Much appreciated

paul tilley · 30 December 2015, 13:08

I may be wrong but I thought the Osprey 18 came first which was then called the sparrowhawk and the Osprey XR18 was a later model along with the XR20

OSPREY RIBS · 30 December 2015, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul tilley

I may be wrong but I thought the Osprey 18 came first which was then called the sparrowhawk and the Osprey XR18 was a later model along with the XR20

The XR18, XR20 & XR24 were not built by Mike and Ralph Whitham, there were several companies used by Northern Diver who built these. The Sparrowhawk and Eagle came later and were of a different design.

Vector Marine made most of them and possibly Trio Mouldings did a few.

The XR24 was a pretty good RIB, however the shorter versions and particularly the 18 were not great as they were just shortened versions of the 24.

JohnsonV4 - I don't think your rib is an XR18. It is an early Sparrowhawk, these were foam filled and were built by Ralph Whitham and later his son Mike. The foam filled versions were built early to mid 80s so you are probably looking at 1982 or 83.

If you want to fit an underdeck fuel tank, Mike suggested that the simple solution would be to fit a new higher deck as you suggest but just install this over the top of the existing deck after cutting a hole to sit the fuel tank into. Then just layout a few bulkheads between the decks for strength.

This will add weight however the foam filled Sparrohawks are light weight to start with so you should be fine.

It would be a lot of work to remove the deck and foam core to then replace with stringers etc. and not recommended.

JohnsonV4 · 30 December 2015, 19:09

Hi Osprey Ribs and Paul tilley
thanks both for some clarification.
Because a sprayrail split the previous owner already took out the whole deck, except for the front part, which you see on the photo. So i just go along with stringers a few bulkheads and a build in tank under the jockey seat.

What should i call my osprey: a sparrowhawk or a ......?

matt h · 30 December 2015, 20:14

Any bird located in the uk?

willk · 30 December 2015, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

Any bird located in the uk?

Shazza-69?

matt h · 31 December 2015, 07:10

. Maybe the osprey pied avocet? Lovely plumage in the summer and highly entertaining!

JohnsonV4 · 31 December 2015, 19:47

Guys,
Will call it a Osprey 18, since that comes closes officially.

Keep your uk ... birds to yourselves.

Meantime, happy new year.
and many thanks for the info.

Maximus · 01 January 2016, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Shazza-69?

Neanderthaler · 13 February 2016, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatboyrib

looks like the one I sold to a Dutchman all those years ago.....infact im sure its the one, remember a mix up in the exchange rate and had to track him down before he left the country to take it home after visiting relatives in telford Shropshire....lol now but not at the time.....engine rebuilt and put on boat when I had it, not with it from new.........

Correct You sold it to rob in 2009

Neanderthaler · 13 February 2016, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnsonV4

Hi Osprey Ribs and Paul tilley
thanks both for some clarification.
Because a sprayrail split the previous owner already took out the whole deck, except for the front part, which you see on the photo. So i just go along with stringers a few bulkheads and a build in tank under the jockey seat.

What should i call my osprey: a sparrowhawk or a ......?

Just what i already told you.