CVRDA

Don't for a minute think I am not happy. It's just that I tried to change a few of things, then put a lot of it back how you had it when I picked it up. The sail are good,as you say, and I will wait a while till I find a decent tufnol block with a Becket that actually has some life in it! Before I t...

New rubber bungs, a 2nd attempt at a new kicker - after failure of the first attempt, back to old main sheet blocks as supplied, and a new boom. It's what you get for using really old bits - they are often worn out - a jammer has got to be able to hold onto the rope and sheaves have to be able to ro...

Cant help you with the falcon, but that's a nice tidy Airhead you got there. I have an R100 myself,

Cheers

Steve Hawkins

Sailed Hastings today with Katy crewing. I was very impressed. Even had her planing, briefly. Only leaked from the drain holes in the transom which currently have sherry corks in them. Otherwise very solid. Might have to do something with the feeble kicker, but nothing too drastic. The amusing raked...

Chris,

spares are spares. I take it its a fixed rudder? Always good for a laugh. I currently work in Bradford On Avon, so it would not be too much of a journey to pop by and see you one evening, if the kettle is on.

Cheers

Steve H

On the look out for old Firefly bits. 1. Tufnol main sheet block with Becket. Plus one without. 2. Tube bailer bits. I have one complete one and one outer shell. Wondering whether to reinstate, but moot point until I have two complete ones. I know they are pants! 3. Gubbins to reinstate original jib...

She is now up the club, but I have not managed to sail her yet. Let's hope the weather improves enough to give her a go soon. I'd rather sail her in more benign conditions first time out. I will probably mostly single handing her. On the hunt for a second self bailer and the odd tufnol pulley. She w...

Boat swap alert. Planet (N12 672) has found a new home in Chichester and Hastings (Firefly 1066) has also found a new home at Whitefriars SC. As the last custodian of Planet, I am relieved to have found someone who has the wherewithal and the enthusiasm to give her the thorough the going over that s...

Gavin,

I have one. From a 12 (orignially 2383). Its got a single Diamond on it, probably from 1967.

Swindon - if you are interested.

Cheers

Steve Hawkins

Rupert, yesterday, I was talking to a chap who lives in Crudwell, near Malmsbury, i.e. about 7 miles away from Whitefriars SC. He owns and sail a pocket cruiser called a 'Willow Bay Shilling'. Its 17 ft long, and was designed by a chap from the Lyme Regis Boat building Acadamy (?). his boat has a ca...

Blimey! But they lasted a long while, assuming they were original.

Well done for catching that one, I would not have thought to investigate it unless it was obvious whilst the mast was down.

Its a long mast to have around, over the side, etc.

Cheers

Steve H

I have a flat topped cover that was good at holding the water close to the varnish side decks. It lifted the varnish right off over last winter, wherever the wet cover touched the varnish. No G4 in this instance, but lots of layers of varnish ruined either way particularly near the rear quarters. Th...

I understand that one of the advantages of G4 was that it comes off just like Traditional varnish, i.e. with a heat gun, rather that dynamite (for epoxy and hard 2pack finished). Having said that, I have not yet had to remove large sections of it.....yet. I used it on my N12 (Sparkle) this winter wh...

Just finished the course. What fun! I can heartily recommend it. And doing it over 3 weekends in winter. Got lots of varied weather, from a gale, to this weekend, which was pretty light. Highlight of the course was a bearing away exercise in a Topper Badger (Bahia?) with a fully reefed main and a fu...

I was having an interesting chat with my twin brother this weekend on this very subject. I also happened to mention some stich and glue canoe kits on ebay (Stanley Small Craft), which my brother seem quite keen to have a go at this summer. The kit is supplied with laser cut parts, epoxy and tape, et...