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My 95 year old uncle is a former MTB captain living in a care home in Exmouth. His brother, my late father, built a nice Vosper MTB model in the fifties that has not run since 1962. I have recently restored, upgraded and recommissioned this model and I would really like to show my uncle her running on a lake.
Unfortunately, the lake at Exmouth has been filled in recently and the nearest alternative that I can find on the net is about 45 miles away which is too far for him to travel.
The model is now electric and so is quiet, about 40 inches long and a fairly hot performer at full chat. If you are active in this area, I would be most grateful to be informed of any suitable closer waters and the requirements to access it.
Hi mate, I am not in your area but have sailed with the Weymouth club on holiday, they sail on a superb water at the back of the harbour, great access from the carpark, right to the water's edge. They are in the club list, give them a ring to sort it out
Hi. This might be a little too far as well. I live in Paignton. The local model club used to sail in the park behind Goodrington beach. There is a large pedal boat lake there as well which is not used at this time of the year. Hope you find somewhere suitable.
If you need any help getting your uncle to the Paignton water give me a shout. I have an electric disabled scooter that I can get to the park. E-Mail info@harmomygambia.org.uk
Thank you so much for a very generous and thoughtful offer. I will certainly take this up if my uncle feels he needs it. I do not expect to do this until the weather is warmer and more reliable. Say April/May. Are you a member of the Paignton Club? I have unsuccessfully tried to find contact details for the Club to let them know what I want to do rather than just pitch up.
Hi wunwinglo, The water is plenty big enough for your uncles boat and there is about 300 metres to walk from the car park. If you decide to do this make it as early as possible in the year as during the summer the main water is used for commercial swan boats and bumper boats. The operators do not object to models being on the water when they are not operating but it is very difficult when they have customers. I have not been able to contact any club members and I assume that the club does not exist any more. I am interested in restarting the club if this is possible but it may take some time. Please use my e-mail if you wish to reply as I am having problems at the moment receiving e-mail from the forum. info@harmonygambia.org.uk will always get to me. Regards, Peter
I will check the dates with the pedlo people and let you know. Would the trip be morning or afternoon? I can bring the scooter if required. Info@harmonygambia.org.uk is the e-mail address that will get to me quicker than useing the forum.
Thanks for the kind thoughts, guys. I will let you know how it goes. There will be a rum tot! The hull does have the original spray rails, but they clearly need development which may or not be done by the 28th.
Keystone - we will be thereabout from 0930 until about 1100, depending on the weather. Is the park open in the evening so we could have a recce the night before?
Hi, I would be inclined to fit one just above the waterline, 1/8 or 3/16 square. This is to reduce the risk of swamping the boat at high speed, esp. in a tight turn 😲 There are some excellent tips on the site about how to retrofit them. Attached some pics and notes I downloaded from Dave_M's contribution. May need to do this to my Sea Scout, depending on the sea-trial😉
Cheers Doug 😎
Attached Files - Click To View Large
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 Cheers Doug
Hi Charlie, Further to my last message I have been banging my head against the brick wall called Torbay Council. It seems that the pool in Youngs Park Goodrington is not "approved" for any kind of model boat. This seems strange as the Torbay Model Club sailed there for many years. All is not lost as the Kings Pool is approved by our Burghers for both sail and electric powered boats. This is simple to get to and parking is on the seafront or at the rugby club. If you put "Kings Drive" into your satnav you park at the seaward end. The lake will give you a striaght run of at least 80 yards and if there is any problem it is simple to recover a stuck boat. Contact me on info@harmonygambia.org.uk by e-mail or 01803 267943 and we can get together on this. Regards, Peter PS The park is open 24 hrs and not even fenced.
I don't know if it is the same at Kings Pool but in Liverpool the parks are supposedly closed 1 hr after sunset although you can access them 24hrs.First wife and I went fishing in Newsham Park one night and got chased off by the Police despite the fact it was custom and practise to night fish on the model pond. Now being fished by Cormorants. I wonder if the model boaters get bothered by them.👍
We're so far from the sea here in Munich that we are not troubled by Cormorants, Sea Gulls etc. We do though share the lake with swans, geese and ducks, occasionally a few moorhens, but we have come to an agreement: They don't peck our boats and we don't drive up their calabooses!! 😲
Fishing were you!? ... I'll believe you - thousands wouldn't 😉
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 Cheers Doug
The Kings Pond is in Torquay right down by the sea. The depth should be good for your uncle's boat, about 12 inches, but not good for and decent sailing yacht. Keep in touch, Peter
7th Mar 2018 13:12
