Which Osprey is it?

[Douglas C]

Hi,
First posting here, and a question regarding the identity of a boat.
I'm a member of my local dive club, and have maintained our inflatables, and RIB, for a number of years.
We currently run a Nortcraft RIB/Mariner 90, but have recently inherited a rather neglected Osprey/Johnson 90 from another club.
I am trying to establish which boat the Osprey is. It's early 90's, I think, and measures just over 5m.
Is it a Merlin? or Sparrowhawk?
(There are paint markings of "S24" inside the bow and seat mouldings)
Thanks

[nugent]

sparrowhawk me thinks. merlin is smaller
eagle version attached

[Pete7]

It's an early one, but tubes look quite good so I would suggest it has been retubed.

Pete

[Douglas C]

Originally Posted by Pete7

tubes look quite good so I would suggest it has been retubed.

Pete

Probably.
It's got a "Retubed refurbished by Eurocraft" patch on it.

Did these boats originally have hull drain points?
The Northcraft does, and I found it strange that there was no access to the hull void on this one.

Douglas

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Douglas C

Did these boats originally have hull drain points?
The Northcraft does, and I found it strange that there was no access to the hull void on this one.

Douglas

I have not bothered with one on my VMax as I am confident that it won't leak being that it is an Osprey however if you think it has water in the hull it only takes a few minutes to fit one.

[chewy]

Don't Eurocraft fit the tubes to Ospreys when they are imported? Chris?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by chewy

Don't Eurocraft fit the tubes to Ospreys when they are imported? Chris?

Chewy they are made in the UK.

Pete

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Chewy they are made in the UK.

Pete

And yes Eurocraft fit the tubes

[Douglas C]

Next questions!
At some point in the past, the opening into the bow moulding has been enlarged, and the hatch cover removed.
Was the hard nose section an integral part of the buoyancy system of these boats and supposed to be watertight?
I'm tempted to bolt an aluminium plate over the hole, and re-fit a screw cover on it, just in case!

The console "door" is really naff, but I'm struggling to find a decent door to fit, that will also allow the battery to be easily removed. Any suggestions?

The engine is currently in bits, awaiting an assessment of the damage to one cylinder. Looks like it's had a partial seizure at some time.
Anyone got a spare Johnson 90hp powerhead from around 1988?

Thanks
Douglas

[Pete7]

Douglas, your console hatch is the old design, they changed to a moulded plasitc hatch about 91 time. You should be able to pick something up in the chandlers. Lots of photos of Ospreys on here so have a search to see what they look like.

Someone has made a bit of a mess of the bow locker. Most owners put a round 6" henderson waterproof hatch in so you could store ropes in there and they would be kept dry. How good are you with fibreglass, it could be filled in and then a hatch fitted properly. The alternative is to put the hatch in the top. Whilst you are in the bow use a mirror and torch to see if there is a date on the end of the tubes which will give the date of tubes manufacture.

Pete