Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

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shamal
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Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by shamal »

We bought this off ebay last winter to restore for our kids. She was actually in better condition than expected and is now ready for the water.

Last weekend was the first time we tried riging her (so forgive the ropes everywhere) and having had the opportunity to take some photos we'd very much like to know what she is.

She 9'2" x 4'2", ply with taped seam.
Built in bouyancy each side and forward.
Pivoting centreboard
Gunter rig, with tubular alloy spars.

Any help you be greatly appreciated.

Here's some photos:-
Image

Image

Image

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Image
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neil
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by neil »

We had an identical boat turn up at Roadford at the weekend. Suspected to be a Percy Blandford design - I'm hoping to plough through my collection of Light Craft this week to see if I can find it.
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Brookesy
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Brookesy »

I remember one of these at Solent Breezes Sailing club sailed by two kids there, and I seem to think it was a Wagtail but I do not know the builder.
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Nessa »

I looked in my Blandford bible and it wasn't there, nor in my Tony Harrison...
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Ed
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Ed »

Nor Burrett or Boat World Guides 71 and 73

Yet, I do really recognise this boat and sail-emblem.

I will have to have another look when I get the chance.

cheers

eib
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Merlin3241
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Merlin3241 »

Hi
It was us with an identical dinghy (sail no.153) at Roadford at the weekend. Perhaps Shamal could come down next year and we could have a National Championships for the two boats, whatever they are.
Would love to know what she is, designer, age and so on.
Also, as we've sailed her now, if Shamal wants any details of how we've rigged her, feel free to contact me.
I'll add some pics once I've downloaded them.
Regards
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Ed
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Ed »

We have a couple of nice ones of you sailing as well

cheers

eib
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Pat
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Pat »

You're even the website front page shot now! I thought the Jollyboat and "Wren" together was the long and the short of it and summed up the cvrda quite nicely.
Merlin3241
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Merlin3241 »

Thanks Pat, we're honoured and delighted to be on the home page! What a good weekend Roadford was.
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Ed
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Ed »

I have now looked through just about every dinghy identification book that I have.....

but still no luck.

which is strange as there were over 150 made...

Also, I am pretty sure I have seen the boat and sail emblem before.

It may be that it is mentioned in one of the year books....or one of the many 'intro to sailing' books that there are.

I will try and extend trawl...

cheers

eib
Ed Bremner
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Jollyboat J3
Firefly F2942
IC GBR314 ex S51 - 1970 Slurp
MR 638 - Please come and take it away
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Bathurst Whiff - looking for someone to love it
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Merlin3241 »

Anyone know anything about the Bristol based company Tratman & Lowther? They were a long established chandlers who got into supplying ply kit boats and the floorboards for C Craft inflatables and were eventually swallowed up by Ladyline. They supplied Embassy ply dinghies in kit form during the seventies. The Embassy is bigger than the boat we're trying to trace but is very similar in form and I wonder if they didn't supply ours as well. The Embassy was designed by an R Reynolds (anything to do with Firefly masts?). Anyone have anything on Tratman Lowther, a magazine write up or advert from the early /mid seventies? Even a boat show programme from the same period might have some reference. All info gratefully received.
Link for an Embassy dinghy site follows:- http://homepages.rya-online.net/driftwood/
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Pat »

Link for an Embassy dinghy site follows:- http://homepages.rya-online.net/driftwood/
That site belongs to Ruth from Shearwater who had an Embassy but I think she's sold it now.
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Garry R »

I thought that it was a Wren as seen at the Nats and was voted as the boat you would most like to take home (family pet, clean habits etc!!)
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Ed
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Ed »

I think it is the same boat for sure....

but did we confirm that it was a 'Wren' at Roadford?

I thought it was a 'working-title'

Anybody sure one way or other?

cheers

eib
Ed Bremner
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MR 638 - Please come and take it away
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Rupert
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Re: Unidentified dinghy, can anyone help trace her?

Post by Rupert »

Wren was just an assumption from the sail emblem and a half remembered idea from someone, can't remember who.
The only trace of a Wagtail I can find is a little clinker built boat, but names get repeated.
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