Jolly Boat J17

highburyal · Post by **highburyal** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:06 pm

Hi everyone,

I thought it was about time I introduced myself as I've just brought J17 home and I suspect that I'm going to need much advice along the way of restoring her. When I went to collect her I was v. surprised to discover that she actually belonged to my one of my school friends fathers and that I had actually sailed in her in the late 70's.

Am presently sailing an old 420 (sail no 6383) on the Severn out of Lydney and have a firefly (F2451) in the barn part restored. This boat was found floating down the Usk at Newport Uskmouth SC and pulled out the water, I couldn't stand to see her lying in the yard rotting so brought her home.

Can anyone offer some practical advice on restoring Fairey moulded hulls, or point me to an article on this?

Regards,

Al

scott robinson · Post by **scott robinson** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:11 am

Al,
You and I are (literally) in the same boat. Look down in the forum to the post "just bought a jollyboat". I just rescued J197 from a date with the scrapheap (as I said a few more Montreal winters uncovered as she was and she would be gone). As you've got a few other boats and I've got two young kids maybe we should set a date to get them both back in the water. Having a deadline and some competition might make the process a little more fun and the restoration more productive. way good luck and I've already gotten some good advice from this forum.

Scott
J197

Trevor C · Post by **Trevor C** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:06 pm

Best of luck with the restoration work. I have put most JB info. that I have onto a Google page so please feel free to view:-

http://picasaweb.google.com/tchanter

Post by **Rupert** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:52 am

I gave Firefly 2451 to a chap who worked at a school in south wales somewhere near there. Sounds like something went wrong somewhere...
I'm glad she is now in good hands.
As for restoring Fairey hulls, Ed and I have done a fair few over the years, as have many others on here. The best things about restoring them are 1) the absence of ribs, and 2) holes are very easy to repair, as you just need to make your own plywood in the hole!
Good luck!

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:28 pm

Can we have lots of before pictures of both please?? Then regular updates "during" and we'll all celebrate "after"

David HL · Post by **David HL** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:27 am

Pat there are still before pictures of J17 on:

http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff16/davidhl/ if anyone wants to download them.

Al, congratulations on taking on J17. The coincidences around that boat continue. Not only did you go to the same school as the owner's son, but it turned out, when I went to see J17 in September, that the owner had been to the same school in Yorkshire, as I had, some years after him, AND he was related to man who had been my housemaster there, (the poor long suffering man!)

Michael Brigg · Post by **Michael Brigg** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:11 pm

And they say it's the happiest days of your life.

After all aren't we all really just big boys with credit cards. Recapturing the shear enjoyment of our first ever time (in a boat of our own)

This made me think of my days at Itchenor junior fortnight when we had a regular fleet of almost 50 fireflies sailing a 2week series.

(I'm worse after a few beers!)

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/ZmFpcmV5MjA ... kling.html

All you Jollyboats should know the progression in aspiration to manhood.. Duckling,Firefly,Albacore,Jollyboat. Is there a pegasus in there somewhere?

This one needs rescue by the inner child.

Post by Ed » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:57 pm

Too true...

and the financial value is the inverse.

With Ducklings selling for Â£2000 and Jollyboats for Â£200

Never makes sense to me.

cheers

eib

Post by **Rupert** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:32 pm

And I never got further than the Firefly...what kind of man am I...

Michael Brigg · Post by **Michael Brigg** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:27 am

Presumably not on "Old Man" (yet)

I understand that Uffa rather sank the chances of the Jollyboat as the Olympic 2hander when he described it as "an old man's boat," (referring of course to himself) and as a result The Flying Dutchman got the nod.

Perhaps he was getting old by then. It wasn't like him to make an un canny move like that. (Not at all like Ratner calling his Jewellery rubbish)

jpa_wfsc · Post by **jpa_wfsc** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:17 pm

Pegasus is obviously something of a dark horse here... never grew up and got married ! Most un-respectable. Probably sells leather trainers in the back room of the pub, or second hand cars (with 'haircut' of course).

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 8:39 pm

Or was Pegasus the "mid-life crisis" fast toy for the boys

jpa_wfsc · Post by **jpa_wfsc** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:03 pm

Still Is (for me!) but at least I can sail it, unlike the IC which is a toy for young agile pre - MLC blokes (which is what I like to imagine I still am!).

Post by Ed » Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:44 am

Stick with the IC.....it gets easier.

Although have to admit my new IC is much easier to sail than the old Holt Canoe.

Strangely enough, I kinda know what Uffa meant by the Jollyboat being an old mans boat. Things happen nice and slowly in a Jollyboat....you just need to start thinking early as the distance travelled in any 'thinking' time can be rather a lot if travelling fast.

eib