Case Study 3 April 2020

Owner's queries are placed here with any response added as it arrives.  Latest: 20/02/2020

Also see downloadable Case Studies on the last page of this website.

 Q: John Toal had the bellows replaced on his Birchwood 25 and says there is now water spraying in through the vent on the engine. Vent is shown in the pic here. Does anyone know what this vent is, or why this problem is occuring? Also John followed up with the fact that the vent is just above the starter which is causing problems! 

A: Can anyone provide input to this problem?  

Please send your comments to: john@birchwoodclassics.com and I will publish the answer here and, if relevant produce a Case Study.

Q: The owner of a Birchwood TS37 wants information on replacing his boats starboard fuel tank. He asked for plans to assist and we sent what we have but it was minimal. 

A: Ernie Vick of Birchwood, forwarded the following information from Michael Bean who worked at Birchwood boats in Nottinghamshire. Thank you Mick and Ernie.

1. Unscrew the cupboard top from inside the cupboard.

2. Unscrew the fixings to side deck. There might also be a few screws into the helm seat cupboard, also a few screws in the plinth at floor level.

3. Cupboard should now be removed.

4. Take out the floor infill. (Some tanks came through the floor, others did not) Should now see the top fixings for tank, take out.

5. Undue all pipe work to tank.

6. The tank may have a couple of fixing at the bottom or bottom side, tank is trapped in by upstand on base.

7. Take out the main floor joist next to tank, make sure the tank is empty, tilt the tank inwards and lift out from under the side deck.

Make sure to protect the engine, will take three people to lift out, not to heavy just awkward as you will probably be standing on the engine.

Q: Andy Wilson has carried out a mass of refurb on his Birchwood 25. He asks if anyone has knowledge of the Watermota Sea Panther (diesel) engine. He replaced the 'blue engine' - which was a bit smokey (blueish smoke rather than black diesel) and tended to burn through its oil - with a fully refurbished Red Watermota Sea Panther complete with gearbox unit.  However, this smokes as much/or more than the old one and especially when it starts from cold.  He’s tried different grades of oil, fuel additives and had the CAV Pump and injectors fully overhauled but it's still smoky. Andy wonders if this is just a feature of old technology?  

A: Have you any experience with this? Can you advise Andy? Please send your reply to: john@birchwoodclassics.com , Andy will be advised and your response published here. 

Q: Nathan and Tina King asked on the Birchwood facebook group site how to heat water without an inboard engine. They are looking at gas water heaters and would appreciate suggestions or other options. 

A: Though Wild Garlic has an inboard engine water for sink and heads - including shower unit - has been  provided through a Palomo gas water heater for 26 years. Most important is draining the water completely before winter sets in. A Case Study has been printed and can be downloaded from the files at the end of this site.

Can anyone add to this?  Please send comments to : john@birchwoodclassics.com 

 Send it to: john@birchwoodclassics.com and we'll try to provide an answer.   

This website not only provides information to owners and admirers of Birchwood boats but also to owners of similar classic cruisers. Leaflets showing the Birchwood boats built over the years can be downloaded from the last page of this site.  

The site is constantly added to and updated to provide useful information, owner's images and case studies. These include renovations, updates and problem solving. The  products and companies mentioned are for boater's information and use.   

John Pridmore owned his 1979 Birchwood 25, 'WildGarlic', with his family for over 26 years. As you can see in the caricature on the opening page, time on it was enjoyed by family and friends. The picture here is of Wild Garlic at a Bedford River Festival. 

John published the Birchwood Classics Newsletters in the late 90's. These were developed through the good graces of the boating media, Birchwood Marine International, Alex McMullen of MBM, and owners and boating enthusiasts who provided information and support. 

John has original source material some gained from his visit to the factory in Huthwaite, Sutton in Ashfield and subsequent meetings and discussions over the years with the different owners of the Birchwood Boat companies. Also with experienced staff at marinas, brokers and chandlers. He is in regular contact with the present owners of Birchwood and the Birchwood Owners group on facebook. John was editor of GOBA News, the magazine of the Great Ouse Boating Association, when he won its first awards. He still contributes articles. He regularly contributed to MBM, and Anglia Afloat. He exchanges information  with, and recommends, the online magazine, MotorBoatOwner.co.uk 

The Birchwood company has had a turbulent time and a variety of names. The original company was called the Birchwood Boat Co. The name came from the house where founder Ted Andrews built his first boat. (More 'history' can be downloaded from the last page of this site. Much of this  was obtained from Michael Bean who worked at Birchwood and from a meeting with the daughter of Ted Andrews.)

In the late 1960’s the Birchwood Boat Company was a prolific builder of cruisers starting with 18ft to 20ft boats. The company's most significant build period was in the 1970s with the 22ft, 25ft and later the 27ft and 29ft cruisers suitable for  inland and estuary. In the 1980s the company went into production of larger cruisers, the 31, 33, 35 and 37. 

Birchwood 18 - also called the Continental.

Birchwood 22's - originally called the Interceptor Junior - approx 1,000 built 1970 to 1980.

Birchwood Interceptor, renamed the Birchwood 25 in 1975, 1,500 built 1968 to 1980. 

Birchwood 27 Countess, 100 between 1980 and 1984.

Birchwood 29 Senator or Sedan, over 200 built between 1976 and 1983.

Birchwood 31 Commodore, nearly 100 between 1981 and 1984. 

Birchwood 33/GT33 (later called Viceroy) was originally known as the Newport 33 built by Marine & Industrial Mouldings in Newport Pagnell. It was later bought by Birchwood in 1972. 

Through the 70's Birchwood built the bare hull and superstructure of the GT33 for completion by other boatyards or individuals. At the  1973 London Boat Show they launched the Birchwood 33 Series II.

Birchwood Sportsman 33 with aft cockpit and flybridge was introduced in 1976. 

Birchwood Viceroy 33 succeeded the above in 1980. Same hull but different superstructure and layout. Over 300 33's were built from 1973 to 1982.

Birchwood 35S/Sportsman 35 was introduced in 1978. This was a stretched version of the 33. The Sportsman 35 has a flying bridge.

Birchwood 37 President, 60 built between 1981 and 1984. It was superseded by the TS37. (If you have any info on this please forward it through the link below.)

Birchwood Regent 48. 20 built. 

(References: Alex McMullen, Birchwood Marine International, MBM, Jones Boatyard.)

(Later models can be found on leaflets on the download page, on the Birchwood.co.uk site or on request to: john@birchwoodclassics.com