Saving Old Seagulls

Hi all
I picked up an engine the other day and need some help identifying it.

The serial number is CPCR. 5485

Ok so the forum engine id. search says it is a Century Plus (allthough the CPCR produced no results CPC came up with Century Plus with clutch, Wipac ignition and villiers carb

Because it does not have the letter 'L' I presume it means it is a short shaft. All good and well except it has a Villiers ignition not Wipac... hummmm.... and the 'R', does this mean reconditioned?

When I measure it up against my Silver Century non clutched WS11DD6 which is definately a short shaft it is physically longer.

The exhaust tubes are the same length as are the chrome outer shaft. Then I realised it was the gear box which was making it talller.
The gear box is a lot lot larger (longer and fatter) and the propeller is 11" as opposed to 9".

So is it a long shaft or short shaft or is it that the clutched Centuries have a larger gear box and propeller. Or is the 'Plus' something to do with it.

Or maybe a mish mash of parts? Confused dot com!!

Pictures below may help all you experts.
Thanks in advance

Ian

It is as you suspect, a Century Plus with Clutch.

This one was manufactured 1956/7, and you are right it has a Villiers carb and Villiers ignition. If the identifier thingy says otherwise it's mistaken. From what I can see yours look all ok, original bracket, intake etc.

The big Hydrofan prop is an aftermarket accessory - British Seagull marketed these as an upgrade giving up to 10% more power.

The 'R' tells you that at some point it has been factory reconditioned.

Charles thats great thank you very much.

So does this make it around 4hp then and also is it a long shaft because it is a bit longer than my other one or is it the aftermarket prop and gearbox that makes a slightly longer short shaft.

Many thanks

Ian

Standard shaft, yes. That is, as you say, a hefty great gearbox. Although it's a tiddler compared to the 102 series Barge Pushers..

The actual HP is a bit more difficult. The other Charles, who knows about these things, reckons that all the ordinary Seagulls acdtually produce pathetic amounts of power if you measure it the same way as everyone else does nowadays. It's just that these old motors deliver that small power very effectively, because they are designed to push a displacement craft at modest speeds.

So maybe 4HP is difficult to confirm, but lets just say it'll not be very far off!

Thanks for the info Charles.

All I need to do is get rid of the turtle on the tank. They could have at least painted a seagull. Ha ha.