National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

an area to discuss dinghy developments
Itchen Ferry
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 12:54 pm

National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Itchen Ferry »

Hi all,

Second thread here after the wonderful response to my I18 and Intro post.

Yesterday I had that "barn find" moment. It was GOOD.

Was told of a boat that might be available, went to see,

Was shown this:

Image

Just a peek eh?

Image

Ooh hello:

Image

Lots more pics:

http://s1323.photobucket.com/user/bikes ... 20-%201973

Boat register update: http://www.national12.org/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-2707/

Thoughts and comments please anyone remember this boat?

Thanks,

DF
Pat
Posts: 2555
Joined: Mon Sep 27, 2004 1:42 pm
Location: West Wiltshire (Wessex)

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Pat »

You jammy so & so, talk about beginner's luck, that's lovely boat!
Looks to be in concourse winning condition before it even comes out of the barn too.
(Half Cut and What a Lark Removals Ltd)
Obscured by clouds
Posts: 715
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:23 pm
Location: north Wales

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Obscured by clouds »

lovely barn find. Guess there are still gems to be found.
Tony



MR 2404 Julia Dream
N18 276 Sibrwd [ongoing project]
Hirondelle catamaran Kalipse
[down to 3!]
chris
Posts: 2474
Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 7:43 pm
Location: somerset

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by chris »

Well done indeed. You'll be on the water very soon too.

Put November 15th in you diary now and bring it along to Baltic Warf in Bristol for our event there. Even if you only want a potter around you'll be welcome. Very interesting historic place to sail as well.
Max McCarthy
Posts: 550
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:42 am
Location: West Midlands, UK
Contact:

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Max McCarthy »

What a lovely boat (very lucky you are!).

She looks in much better condition than our N12 too!

Well done....

Cheers,

Max
AC 298 TimeWarp
Cherub 2627 - Sgt Murphy (nee Last Amber Dragon)
Farr 3.7 (slowly progressing build)
National 12 3337
Rupert
Posts: 6255
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:40 pm
Location: Cotswold Water Park

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Rupert »

Trouble is, you'll need another boat to restore!
Rupert
User avatar
Ed
Site Admin
Posts: 3486
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:11 pm
Location: Plymouth
Contact:

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Ed »

Nice find.

Get a few miles under you belt and then start looking for a boat to restore. There are always a few around.

cheers

eib
Ed Bremner
CVRDA


Jollyboat J3
Firefly F2942
IC GBR314 ex S51 - 1970 Slurp
MR 638 - Please come and take it away
Phelps Scull
Bathurst Whiff - looking for someone to love it
Michael4
Posts: 504
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:25 pm
Location: West Sussex

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Michael4 »

Well did you buy it then?

Methinks you have a touch of the ailment that caught me out when I got back into dinghies. After years spending money on old cars (in your case bikes), great dinghies appear to be extraordinarily cheap. Your ambitions are only limited by the issue of storage and not size of wallet.

Beware...

Michael
Tideway 206
11+
Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
User avatar
Ed
Site Admin
Posts: 3486
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:11 pm
Location: Plymouth
Contact:

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Ed »

Too right!

I have just done it the other way around, by putting my Moto-Guzzi back on road after 14 years 8 months in storage.

Just horrified by how much all bike bits cost, and more than a little surprised by how much the bike is now worth!

But for sure, storage is always the issue with boats!

eib
Ed Bremner
CVRDA


Jollyboat J3
Firefly F2942
IC GBR314 ex S51 - 1970 Slurp
MR 638 - Please come and take it away
Phelps Scull
Bathurst Whiff - looking for someone to love it
Itchen Ferry
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 12:54 pm

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Itchen Ferry »

Um, yes I did..........

Guy has agreed to let it stay in the barn until I have done the two weekends of training that I spoke about in my other post and then said he will help me get her on the water, see what leaks and how bad the ropes and hardware are.

Make a shopping list and go from there?

Planning what we call in the bikes scene a "rolling resto", aka, put it back together by the end of the weekend!

If needs be another hack boat can be sourced for practicing in.

Always regretted selling my Spada 2, lovely thing to ride but ugly as....

Cheers

DF
Michael4
Posts: 504
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:25 pm
Location: West Sussex

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Michael4 »

My advice (with limited knowledge) is to try and get her out on the water as quickly as possible before the weather gives up. This will help you to justify to yourself all the hours you will put in on her over the coming winter...

Having said that she looks in good shape.

Michael
Tideway 206
11+
Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
Stephen Hawkins
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:41 am
Location: The much maligned Swindon Town

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Stephen Hawkins »

Pay particular attention to the rear buoyancy tank. I have to say I prefer bags at the back. But I could forgive it if it were one of mine as she is in such lively order.

Cheers
Steve Hawkins

1967 National 12 2383 "Sparkle"
Itchen Ferry
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 12:54 pm

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Itchen Ferry »

Hi all thanks again for the interest.

Turns out it belonged to a Mr Robin Smith, a British Airways Pilot in the 70's, sailed at Staines Sailing Club.

Trying to establish if he actually built it himself, seems well finished. No doubt a clever guy but busy too.

The rear tank is like a writing desk my dad has! If you look at the album online you might be able to make out that the tank is divided down the middle by a wall above the "tunnel" I noted tape and resin there in the tunnel so I guess the tanks leaked.

Want to keep her original so would it be legit to put bags inside the tanks?

What is the general consensus on rear tanks? Doesn't the big tank on some designs like this one hinder movement aft? I've seen some Crusaders and Baggies which have no aft tank, some with a small "step" tank, some a bar for a transom and some a rudder mount "knee" for a transom.

Thanks

DF
Stephen Hawkins
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:41 am
Location: The much maligned Swindon Town

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Stephen Hawkins »

I have seen a couple of boats of this era that have had these tanks removed, which was why I mentioned it. Also you will find that the National 12 is a very responsive boat to balance and trim, with a need to move your weight quite far back when going downwind in a blow. Some designs even have a tendency to nose dive if you are not careful. You will learn very quickly that the National 12 will tell you when you sat in the wrong place - they are quite lively.

I like the single skinned National 12, both glued clinker and early 4 planker variety, due to their simplicity. No need to worry about leaking tanks, as often there is only a small one up front.

It would be worth giving it a go first. It might be okay. Plus removal might be quite complicated and you will have definitely still have evidence of its existence if it is removed.
Steve Hawkins

1967 National 12 2383 "Sparkle"
Rupert
Posts: 6255
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:40 pm
Location: Cotswold Water Park

Re: National 12's of the 60's and 70's - Knowledge Please?

Post by Rupert »

Just go sailing!

The boat has coped with the tank this long, so only remove it if it is seriously annoying you when sailing.

As for putting bags in it - you can but they tend to trap moisture between bag and hull, so you'd need to remove them and dry it out every now and again, or if leaving the boat for a while.
Rupert
Post Reply