Unmistakably british but what is it?

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LASERTOURIST
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Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 9:54 pm
Location: France

Unmistakably british but what is it?

Post by LASERTOURIST »

Hello!

Says 3,7 m (makes 12 Ft ?) looks hot molded , veneers quite shot in some places , unusual in our climate, obviously much restoration needed, but what is it exactly?

http://www.leboncoin.fr/nautisme/710139293.htm?ca=12_s

Thanks for your help
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PeterV
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Re: Unmistakably british but what is it?

Post by PeterV »

Firefly?
PeterV
Finn K197 & GBR564
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LASERTOURIST
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Re: Unmistakably british but what is it?

Post by LASERTOURIST »

What's more the mast is part wood , part aly wih the diamonds anchored in the lower ..is this a known trick, a quick fix for a broken mast , butchered tinkering, just plain sabotage or an attempt to fit in a rules change without spending too much on a brand new mast?
LASERTOURIST
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Re: Unmistakably british but what is it?

Post by LASERTOURIST »

Firefly seems likely , after hecking the database , bt still the wood / aly mast is a strange concept, may be it is like moden aly base and carbon tops on some modern boats, was it a known feature inthe late 50's early 60's
Rupert
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Re: Unmistakably british but what is it?

Post by Rupert »

Undoubtedly a Firefly. The masts predate the ability to taper extruded aluminium, so in order to get some flex to the top of the mast, they had wooden tops. The masts were made by Tony Reynolds, and rotated, hence the diamonds. Even when the first rotating Proctor masts came in, they were sought after, as they were more flexible than the rather stiff gold masts.
Rupert
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Re: Unmistakably british but what is it?

Post by LASERTOURIST »

Flexible tops were easier to obtain with the turned tapered round tube (Z spars , needlespars..etc) than with the cut and weld technique, but i remember the 70's Elvstrôm black anodized masts...some were cut / welded / tapered very thin and flat at the top , they did flex quite a lot ...but better not capsize and turn turtle in shallow places.
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