CVRDA

By coincidence I was looking through an article in this months Classic Boat on the restoration of a 34ft w Fife cruiser built in 1957. The original intermediate ribs were ash with any rot was taken back to sound timber and new ash ribs scarfed in. This was after 55 years in a wet bilge - by contrast...

good grief you have got your work cut out! anyhow going back to your query re rock elm, I have been wondering about substitutes should I need to make repairs for my Uffa 14 (K380) and have rather come to the conclusion that good straight grained Ash would be the best (readily available) bet. Density...

Interesting picture as the hybrid mast is presumably the original Fairey style (alloy section topped with wooden tapered top and birdcaged rigged) . I've read about this but not seen one before

I am working on the mast on my 1937 14 and would appreciate some advice on a couple of issues: The mast is “deck” stepped in a silvered bronze fitting open at the front with a bolt running across (see photo). The mast itself has a step cut into it to fit the mast step with a brass strip running alon...

Bad luck - I know the wasted journey scenario all too well. I am afraid with trailers you tend to get what you you pay for particularly if they have been anywhere near the sea. If you are interested in spending a bit more I am looking to dispose of a virtually unused Mersea/Snipe 250 combi (road bas...

Oh come on what about cellulose aka wood!! The problem with concrete is that it is great in compression but not much good in tension, the opposite in fact to wood. I remember the concrete boats in the 60's and got quite into it at the time. The tension problem was dealt with by a matrix of chicken o...

I see it closed at £260.67 which is frankly a travesty for a Souter’s built 14, arguably the pinnacle of post war wooden boat building. Evidence again of the lack of interest in vintage/classic dinghies when compared with the current enthusiasm for classic yachts, classic cars or classic pretty much...

With all this classic car expertise around could I take this post from a different angle. What would have been an appropriate period car to tow your new Int 14 to meetings in 1937 (the blazer and cravat are assumed)?

Robert

Thanks for all the comments - something of an education! Starting on the more general question of why reefing has gone out of fashion; the argument that it has been made redundant by improvements in rig control sounds about right to me albeit I suspect ease of righting, increased rescue regimes and ...

Thanks for yours. The winch spigot is 1/2 in square - if you have a spare going I would be pleased to bid for it as although I have a similar halyard winch handle for my older 14 you cant have too many! I think you are right about the aluminium tube as this would explain a rather odd curved groove i...

A couple of years ago I posted a query regarding the purpose of a winch on the thwart of my 1957 Fairey International 14 (see attached photo). I subsequently received a reply suggesting this was to do with an automatic reefing system that was being experimented with at the time but proved more troub...

A skipper 17 - please no; doesn't the word classic on this site mean something other than just old?! Anyhow if you are bothered by weight: Gp14 133kg Wayfarer 168kg Skipper17 353kg As an aside someone touched on how you get rid of old fibreglass boats. Given the hundreds of plastic monstrosities aba...

Had a drascombe lugger after the wayfarer when I lived in the channel isles. Good boat for a picnic, fishing and rock hopping (usually with the outboard) but if you want a sail it's the wayfarer everytime. The lugger lived on a mooring and I wouldn't even think of regular trailer launching - it weig...

P.S, if you want more on versions see http://wayfarer.org.uk/wp-content/uploa ... 09_v71.pdf

Wayfarer Mk 1 - cant go wrong. Had one when the children were small and always regretted selling it. Stable as a house, bags of room for 4, yet gives a rewarding sail and will go anywhere (see the Frank Dye' voyages).

Come to think of it I might get one myself again now I am in my dotage!