Most people are aware of the high reputation gained by this company and the famed 71 Ft 6 Inch Motor Gun Boats, constructed by this company. Indeed the craft had a high reputation, and each crew member regarded “His” boat as the best. But what was the background to this high reputation?
The British Power Boat Company Ltd is synonymous with the name, Mr Hubert Scott Paine, its founder. With little technical qualification, but determined and sincere in his beliefs, sometimes mistaken, resenting, yet taking advice, but full of new, advanced ideas and having that touch of genius which led to success. He was frequently in the right place at the right time too!
He was born at Shoreham on the South Coast on 11th March 1890. His Father Henry owned a successful ironmongers and ship chandlers. Sadly Henry died when Hubert was a young boy, the children being brought up by their Mother. The second oldest of the family was his sister Katie, followed by Victor and Philip, Hubert being the youngest. All three boys were very mechanically minded and all became involved in aviation from its early days. Brother Philip joined the air force in the Great War and was to spend time as a prisoner of war.
Herbert grew up in Shoreham on the waterfront and he became a regular visitor at the nearby Shoreham airfield. Hubert, later to be known as “Scotty” to his close friends had a close interest in new events. Aviation pioneer Noel Pemberton Billing came to reside in Shoreham and with Scotty, now 18, he became involved, working as his assistant. Both men were similar in temperament and the senior, Billing saw himself as both an entrepreneur and inventor.
In 1912 Hubert helped to crew and deliver a steam yacht to the Mediterranean picking up much useful and practical experience. By 1913 he was back in Southampton. Much of his time was spent working on machinery and yachts, but he also worked on aircraft. In October he was working on a new design, a flying boat, which if forced to alight on open water, could shed its wings and proceed as a motor launch. On 1st December 1913, Scotty was appointed as manager to the new Supermarine factory in Southampton, and set about the construction of “PB 1, with Noel Pemberton Billing. Less than ten years later he was to sell his share in the Supermarine works for £192,000, a princely some in those days.
Scott-Paine left Supermarine with a considerable personal fortune to take up a new challenge. Promoting the roll of the flying boat; as a director of the newly formed national Airline – Imperial Airways. Flying Boats were to play a vital role in the development of the British Empire, following the introduction of the Empire Air Mail scheme in 1934.
In 1922 “Scotty” had purchased a large house overlooking Southampton Water, called “The Cliff”. This was to become a social point for the gathering of many “names” in that period. Frequent guests included the country’s most prominent men in aviation, such as Sir Sefton Braker, Sir Samuel Instone, Sir Eric Geddes, Woods Humphery, A.V. Roe and occasionally his old friend Noel Pemberton Billing. Sporting personalities also; such as Betty Carstairs, Amelia Earhart and Sir Alan Cobham. A useful mix of money, influence and current ideas!
In July 1920 a competition had been held by the Royal Motor Yacht Club at Hythe on Southampton Water. A challenge received from Commodore Garfield (Gar) Wood an American industrialist and keen hydroplane racer. It was defended by three British boats. Gar Wood won in Miss America at a speed of 51.8 knots and it became Scott-Paine’s ambition to regain the prestige.
During 1926 the Admiralty disbanded the Coastal Motor Boat organisation and it was left to private industry and amateur sportsmen to develop new ideas. Thus loosing a fund of professional experience built up from the Great War, all requiring to be relearned with the outbreak of WW II.
Scott-Paine watched the decline of the British motor boat industry as American boats made inroads into an expanding British market. Scotty persuaded the Royal Motor Yacht Club to join forces with the British Motor Boat Club in an effort to find a solution. The outcome was the promotion of a ”one-class” design of racing boat, the “Puma” class designed round Scotty’s specifications by Saunders, chief designer, the innovative Fred Cooper, the leading light of the day. Scott-Paine ordered the first Puma, to be called “Panther” and the unveiling took place in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Scotty indicated that this was to be the start of something “new”.
On Friday 30th September 1927 Scotty noted in his diary “Bought Hythe Shipyard” a fresh venture which proved to be the start of something big.
Although Scott-Paine joked with his staff that he had purchased the yard as a “hobby”, he had very real plans to make it into one of the most up to date, modern, mass production boatyards in the country. Much of the yard at that time was derelict, so sheds and other buildings were demolished, to make afresh start.
A new name was chosen and the name “British Power Boat Company” was adopted.
The British Power Boat Company Ltd is synonymous with the name, Mr Hubert Scott Paine, its founder. With little technical qualification, but determined and sincere in his beliefs, sometimes mistaken, resenting, yet taking advice, but full of new, advanced ideas and having that touch of genius which led to success. He was frequently in the right place at the right time too!
He was born at Shoreham on the South Coast on 11th March 1890. His Father Henry owned a successful ironmongers and ship chandlers. Sadly Henry died when Hubert was a young boy, the children being brought up by their Mother. The second oldest of the family was his sister Katie, followed by Victor and Philip, Hubert being the youngest. All three boys were very mechanically minded and all became involved in aviation from its early days. Brother Philip joined the air force in the Great War and was to spend time as a prisoner of war.
Herbert grew up in Shoreham on the waterfront and he became a regular visitor at the nearby Shoreham airfield. Hubert, later to be known as “Scotty” to his close friends had a close interest in new events. Aviation pioneer Noel Pemberton Billing came to reside in Shoreham and with Scotty, now 18, he became involved, working as his assistant. Both men were similar in temperament and the senior, Billing saw himself as both an entrepreneur and inventor.
In 1912 Hubert helped to crew and deliver a steam yacht to the Mediterranean picking up much useful and practical experience. By 1913 he was back in Southampton. Much of his time was spent working on machinery and yachts, but he also worked on aircraft. In October he was working on a new design, a flying boat, which if forced to alight on open water, could shed its wings and proceed as a motor launch. On 1st December 1913, Scotty was appointed as manager to the new Supermarine factory in Southampton, and set about the construction of “PB 1, with Noel Pemberton Billing. Less than ten years later he was to sell his share in the Supermarine works for £192,000, a princely some in those days.
Scott-Paine left Supermarine with a considerable personal fortune to take up a new challenge. Promoting the roll of the flying boat; as a director of the newly formed national Airline – Imperial Airways. Flying Boats were to play a vital role in the development of the British Empire, following the introduction of the Empire Air Mail scheme in 1934.
In 1922 “Scotty” had purchased a large house overlooking Southampton Water, called “The Cliff”. This was to become a social point for the gathering of many “names” in that period. Frequent guests included the country’s most prominent men in aviation, such as Sir Sefton Braker, Sir Samuel Instone, Sir Eric Geddes, Woods Humphery, A.V. Roe and occasionally his old friend Noel Pemberton Billing. Sporting personalities also; such as Betty Carstairs, Amelia Earhart and Sir Alan Cobham. A useful mix of money, influence and current ideas!
In July 1920 a competition had been held by the Royal Motor Yacht Club at Hythe on Southampton Water. A challenge received from Commodore Garfield (Gar) Wood an American industrialist and keen hydroplane racer. It was defended by three British boats. Gar Wood won in Miss America at a speed of 51.8 knots and it became Scott-Paine’s ambition to regain the prestige.
During 1926 the Admiralty disbanded the Coastal Motor Boat organisation and it was left to private industry and amateur sportsmen to develop new ideas. Thus loosing a fund of professional experience built up from the Great War, all requiring to be relearned with the outbreak of WW II.
Scott-Paine watched the decline of the British motor boat industry as American boats made inroads into an expanding British market. Scotty persuaded the Royal Motor Yacht Club to join forces with the British Motor Boat Club in an effort to find a solution. The outcome was the promotion of a ”one-class” design of racing boat, the “Puma” class designed round Scotty’s specifications by Saunders, chief designer, the innovative Fred Cooper, the leading light of the day. Scott-Paine ordered the first Puma, to be called “Panther” and the unveiling took place in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Scotty indicated that this was to be the start of something “new”.
On Friday 30th September 1927 Scotty noted in his diary “Bought Hythe Shipyard” a fresh venture which proved to be the start of something big.
Although Scott-Paine joked with his staff that he had purchased the yard as a “hobby”, he had very real plans to make it into one of the most up to date, modern, mass production boatyards in the country. Much of the yard at that time was derelict, so sheds and other buildings were demolished, to make afresh start.
A new name was chosen and the name “British Power Boat Company” was adopted.
This is the start of a series of articles covering R.N. Coastal Forces, by individual Companies.
Part 1. Chapter 1.
THE BRITISH POWER BOAT COMPANY OF HYTHE, ENGLAND.
