'rare' I 14 over in the US

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Obscured by clouds
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'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by Obscured by clouds »

This was posted the other day on the WoodenBoat Forum:

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread. ... ational-14

It sounds like an important boat - maybe a Wyche and Coppock clinker [lapstrake] built 14.

Over to you I14 experts!
Tony



MR 2404 Julia Dream
N18 276 Sibrwd [ongoing project]
Hirondelle catamaran Kalipse
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Michael Brigg
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by Michael Brigg »

One of these was on this forum not long ago...

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=5394&p=46375&hilit=clinker#p46375
Michael Brigg
chris
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by chris »

Yes I should think that is exactly what it is. Not 'Pre -Fox era'. I would think the mast is missing some bits and likely to be an early proctor mast if the boat is designed by Proctor as stated on the plaque, though if it really is "at least twice as long as the boat" then it probably does not belong to the boat. Would probably expect to see one or two sets of diamonds and probably forward jumpers like his early merlin masts (one set of diamonds)
Michael4
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by Michael4 »

For illustration this is a 1959 hog stepped Merlin Proctor mast...being a 'river' Merlin the mast is particularly tall, my memory suggests taller than I14s

ImageDSC00946 by dralowid, on Flickr

Drum operated kicker, rig tensioned via jib halyard/wire strop and Highfield lever. The spreaders are hinged and find their own angle, the struts on the 'diamond' are fixed.

Michael
Tideway 206
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Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
chris
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by chris »

the earliest merlins were 25ft but c.1949 the rule was changed to a max of 22'6" which I think is the same as the 14s are allowed. I notice yours has spreaders, some, (don't know if all) had cross trees and diamonds.
Michael4
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by Michael4 »

This one is 24'4" tip to toe, subtract 2' for hog to deck and we have 22'4". I can only surmise that it has shrunk over time...!

Michael
Tideway 206
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Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
chris
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by chris »

That's sounds just right for the period. 22ft 6 is a maximum and the measurement starts at the sheerline.
Stephen Hawkins
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by Stephen Hawkins »

My old....Sorry your old 'Desperation' is looking very nice....... :wink:
Steve Hawkins

1967 National 12 2383 "Sparkle"
Michael4
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by Michael4 »

Steve, thanks for looking after her and passing her on all ready scraped and sanded!

I'll post some more pics shortly.

Michael
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Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
davidh
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by davidh »

All things being equal (which sadly, is not always the case in the world of Merlin Rockets) there should be no such thing as a 25ft alloy mast. As Chris says, the rules changed, shortening the overall measurement, but at that time the rules still specified wooden construction.

That said, if one were to play fast and loose with the rules (maybe 'mix and match is a better metaphor) then you could of course end up with a 25ft Carbon mast. Or, perish the thought, boats of that era, sailing with quadrilateral mainsails (which were a much later rule change).

It is, as they say, a 'can of worms'!

D
David H
Rupert
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by Rupert »

davidh wrote:
It is, as they say, a 'can of worms'!

D
Would have been better to leave the tin opener in the drawer and only allow what was allowed at the time any boat was built - which is how I thought the rules in the Merlins actually worked. Ah, well, glad it is somebody else's problem!
Rupert
Michael4
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by Michael4 »

Saw a ribbed I14 close to completion outside the chandler's at Emsworth Marina today. Tall wooden mast, two sets of cross trees.
Tideway 206
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cweed
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Re: 'rare' I 14 over in the US

Post by cweed »

Emsworth Int 14...........

I saw that had to ask about the chandler about that boat a couple of days ago.

It's from 1928, can't remember exactly the sail no, but 228 rings a bell.
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