37ft Osborne Express Cruiser Project Restoration

This listing is for a 37ft Osborne Motor Cruiser in need of full restoration. The boat is for sale elsewhere. Viewing is by appointment only. Boat DetailsOverall Length: 37ftWaterline: 32ft 6insBeam: 11ft 9insDraught: 3ft 9insDisplacement: 15 Tons T MEngine: Pair 145hp Perkins DieselsBerths: Six Berths in Two CabinsSail: n/aDesigner: William Osborne juniorBuilder: Osbornes of LittlehamptonYear Built: 1968Location: River Thames Boatyard, Surrey HISTORY & DESCRIPTION:William Osborne senior (1880-1931) established a business in London in 1912 building motor car bodies, first in Pall Mall and later in Piccadilly. In 1919 William decided to expand into boat-building after receiving an order from the Sussex Motor Yacht Club for a one-design 20-knot powerboat series.

William found suitable premises fronting the River Arun in Littlehampton. Motor-yacht commissions soon followed. First from W J Pearson for a 40ft. Motor-yacht MA JOIE in 1919 followed by a 60ft. MA JOIE ll in 1920.

Three orders for 1921 and two in 1922. The company quickly became known in the industry for their ‘Osborne Finish’In the late 1920s, William produced a one-design series of 9-ton motor-yachts called the ‘Everymans’ Further one-designs cruisers followed in the 1930s mostly named after birds. Swallow and Swallow Senior. In 1931 William Osborne junior took over the running of the business following the death of his father aged only 51.Osborne’s were fortunate in receiving orders to build lifeboats for the RNLI and they incorporated this high standard of double skin construction to their range of cruisers from the 1940s to 1960s. The bird theme continued with single or twin-engined cruisers, hard-chine designs from 25ft to 50ft.

These included the Swift, Osprey, Falcon, Kestrel, Martlet and Eagle. By the late 1960s, Osborne’s introduced a range of up to date stylish cruisers, the early examples built to their exacting standards, well above Lloyds requirements of the time. Later these designs became available as GRP moulded hulls with the King series, notably the Kingswift and Kingfalcon production cruisers.FINESSE is one of the final double-skin mahogany built examples of the express cruiser designs. She was launched in 1968 for M J Cobham of London SW1 and stationed on the Hamble. In 1972 Alfred & Lilian Moseley from Poole acquired the Osborne.

They re-named her LILLENA 11. The original 30ft motor yacht LILLENA also built by Osbornes in 1949. In 1975 K F Boardman-Weston of Mill House, Near Burton on Trent bought the vessel keeping her in Poole Harbour. The late owner bought the boat as a project to be restored by his Thames side boatyard. Unfortunately, after a significant amount of work on the hull the vessel remains unfinished.

However, the work completed is to a high standard and the vessel is offered with much of the original joinery and gear. The hull has received the SP system with four coats of epoxy resin below the waterline, and three coats everywhere else. The topsides then had four coats of hi-build 3 oz and then three coats of international C2 pack polythene.’ http://www.classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk/product/new-listing-37ft-osborne-express-cruiser-1968-project-for-completion-lying-surrey/ Boat currently hard standing in the Hampton area, TW12. Will require lifting by crane (estimated cost of £1500 plus VAT) as well as haulage at the expense of the purchaser and is the purchasers responsibility to arrange. Sale is subject to contract.

Boat must be moved within 30 days of purchase. The boats current location means it is not suitable for work to be carried out.