Search found 534 matches

by Stephen Hawkins
Sun Jul 24, 2016 3:03 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Cotton sails
Replies: 9
Views: 8885

Re: Cotton sails

Michael, For every day sailing, look for the terylene sails that are already marked 672, they are your best bet. The 672 cotton mainsail was getting a bit threadbare, and it was usually used with a small terylene jib, I acquired another cotton main and jib from another old boat as a pair, but had no...
by Stephen Hawkins
Fri Jul 01, 2016 12:35 pm
Forum: Boats and bits for sale
Topic: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"
Replies: 10
Views: 8574

Re: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"

Sold and off to Baltic Wharf.
by Stephen Hawkins
Mon Jun 27, 2016 8:52 pm
Forum: Boats and bits for sale
Topic: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"
Replies: 10
Views: 8574

Re: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"

And another
by Stephen Hawkins
Mon Jun 27, 2016 8:49 pm
Forum: Boats and bits for sale
Topic: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"
Replies: 10
Views: 8574

Re: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"

Here is another picture to tempt you :)
by Stephen Hawkins
Mon Jun 27, 2016 8:35 pm
Forum: Boats and bits for sale
Topic: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"
Replies: 10
Views: 8574

Re: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"

I believe it is a Mk1 deck, in that it is wide enough and comfortable enough to sit on. I rarely sit in the boat, unless it is very light.

Cheers

Steve
by Stephen Hawkins
Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:04 pm
Forum: Boats and bits for sale
Topic: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"
Replies: 10
Views: 8574

Firefly 1066 "Hastings"

Apparently built in 1952. Very 'CRDVA' in that it still has the wooden top rotating Reynolds mast setup. Lots of tuffnol, etc. Decent enough suite of sails. Goes well, as they all do. Very good breathable cover. Very handy, if old, trolley, which breaks down nicely. No trailer I am afraid. Currently...
by Stephen Hawkins
Tue May 17, 2016 7:04 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Work on Planet, N12 N672 1948
Replies: 57
Views: 49726

Re: Work on Planet, N12 N672 1948

Come on Michael,

Stop teasing us with snippets. That's not a proper photo.....

Looks promising though.

Cheers
by Stephen Hawkins
Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:38 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Canvas covers and masts with diamonds
Replies: 5
Views: 6263

Re: Canvas covers and masts with diamonds

That mast and boom combination look so much like the set on Merlin 950 "Desperation" (Proctor MkVIII) had - only shorter. Micheal should recognise it.

Cheers
by Stephen Hawkins
Thu Feb 18, 2016 2:04 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: About colour...
Replies: 7
Views: 8147

Re: About colour...

Have you managed to get her to take up any yet? I actually loved that deep yellow, but it was not me who chose it in the first place. And the white underside was nice also. But it also gave away to everyone the fact she is neither balanced nor trimmed correctly for the conditions.....: ) If it were ...
by Stephen Hawkins
Fri Dec 11, 2015 12:03 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Another Enterprise
Replies: 13
Views: 14101

Re: Another Enterprise

As a rule I never stand in my wooden boats whilst they are on dry land.

It might be that I am too fat, or that I buy some pretty decrepit old boats.

But be careful.

Cheers

Steve
by Stephen Hawkins
Tue Dec 01, 2015 5:16 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Advice wanted, please...
Replies: 17
Views: 16151

Re: Advice wanted, please...

Alas, the wrong type of N12. I find the earlier ones are much nicer. Still lively though, as is the firefly, as long as you have not had too many pies...They will teach you much about balancing and trimming the boat properly.... There is a free N12 in the for sale section as well, but it will need s...
by Stephen Hawkins
Wed Nov 25, 2015 8:27 am
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Work on Planet, N12 N672 1948
Replies: 57
Views: 49726

Re: Work on Planet, N12 N672 1948

I think in this case the tingle was inside the boat and made of wood. Either way, a temporary repair.

Steve H
by Stephen Hawkins
Tue Nov 24, 2015 5:10 pm
Forum: Boats and bits for sale
Topic: Free N12
Replies: 0
Views: 5364

Free N12

I have been offered a Starfish design N12 project called "Pendle Witch", back again. I was given this boat a few years ago, before I acquired Sparkle. You can search for her on this site and the N12 site to get a good idea of what you are letting yourself in for. http://www.cvrda.org/commu...
by Stephen Hawkins
Tue Nov 24, 2015 4:46 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Work on Planet, N12 N672 1948
Replies: 57
Views: 49726

Re: Work on Planet, N12 N672 1948

No mate, Ian Proctor was the designer. Mr Chippendale was the builder. Your Merlin is a Proctor MkVIII. However, he does also mention also, on page 16(I think) about not filling in the cracks, etc. Although he does specify some repair techniques. Tingles rings a bell, whatever tingles are : ) I will...
by Stephen Hawkins
Tue Nov 24, 2015 9:58 am
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Work on Planet, N12 N672 1948
Replies: 57
Views: 49726

Re: Work on Planet, N12 N672 1948

Micheal, I was reading a book yesterday about racing dinghy maintenance, written by the designer of your Merlin Rocket. The book was written in the early 50's. He suggests that to get the cracks to close up, the wood needs to get wet, not by attempting to fill the boat with water and springing all t...