Members Harbour
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Halstow
This is Halstow, the latest craft to come off the ways of the Nerys shipyard. She is a Thames motor barge shown here loaded with a deck cargo of timber. To be loaded like this would be nothing unusual. The helmsman would be steering by compass whilst the mate would be standing near by looking out for any obstruction. This model is not yet quite complete and I will update when crew and deck furniture have been added.
Cheers, Nerys
Nerys
2 years ago
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Yantlet
Yantlet is a model of an auxiliary Thames barge. In the post WW2 years, many barges had auxiliary engines fitted and continued to trade with the traditional cargoes and going to the same destinations as the pure sailing barges had always done. Later of course, many were cut down to pure motor barges before all the traditional work ended.
Nerys
3 years ago
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An RTR addition
A while ago, several of our members at Vale of Glamorgan MBC were showing an interest in the Dragonforce65 and a number of us were interested enough to purchase one. Enough in fact that we are starting regular racing for them shortly.
Cheers, Nerys
Nerys
4 years ago
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Dutch Schouw Yacht
This is 'De Groene Draek' a Dutch Schouw yacht. She is scratchbuilt from drawings in a book called 'Ronde en Platboden Jachten' which I bought in Barcelona forty odd years ago. She is 30" long with 9" beam. She is shown here on the 'quayside' as travel restrictions in Wales preclude me from launching her for the moment.
Nerys
5 years ago
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Swim Head Stumpy Thames Barge
This is my latest model, a swim head stumpy, prolific in the creeks and rivers of the Thames and Medway until about the 1930's She is scratch built, 30 " long. In keeping with other barges I have built, I have named her 'Harty' as in Isle of, or Ferry, part of the Isle of Sheppey which is separated from the Kentish Shore by the River Swale. First Minister Drakeford says I must not sail her at the moment, but let's hope that day will come before too long.
Nerys
5 years ago
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Crash Tender
I bought a part finished 36" crash tender from one of our members who was going to live in foreign parts. Trying to be a bit more individualistic, I have not finished her in the conventional colours but I'm pleased with the result. Unfortunately, under existing isolating conditions, I have been unable to launch her, however she is sitting on the harbour side waiting for a lifting of restrictions.
Cheers, Nerys.
Nerys
5 years ago
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Thames Sailing Barge 'Stangate'
'Stangate' is a 1/24 model sailing barge based on a 'Portlight' hull from Dave Watts Mastman. She is seen here sailing for the first time at Cold Knap Lake, Barry. The wind was rather flukey so a good test was not really possible, but she answered the helm positively and I have every reason to think she will sail well.
Nerys
5 years ago
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Motor Barge 'Nellie'
In the 1940s and 50s, many traditional Thames Sailing barges were converted into motor barges. This is a model, based on photos and my memory of the 'Nellie'. The sailing barge 'Nellie' was built by Cremers at Hollowshore, Faversham in 1901,. She traded under sail carrying about 90 tons of cargo around the Thames, Medway and Swale until about 1952 and then had the gear taken out, a Chrysler Crown petrol/paraffin motor installed and carried on trading for some years owned by R.Lapthorne & Co of Hoo on the River Medway.. She was eventually sold out of trade and is now privately owned. She has been rerigged with a reduced sailing barge rig without a topsail. My model is based on a 30" barge hull from Dave Watts Mastman.
Nerys
5 years ago
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Alice C
I built Alice C from a Model Slipways Dutch Coaster kit a few months ago but only this week got round to ballasting her and fitting the radio. Launched her this morning in not very favourable conditions, westerly, far too gusty and all over the place around our launching apron. She did well under the circumstances and I look forward to trying her on a better day.
Nerys
6 years ago
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Upnor, Thames Sailing Barge
I have had a lifetime love affair with Thames Sailing Barges and this is my first model of one. She is based on a 30" hull from 'Mastman' (Dave Watts}. Launched for the first time today at Cold Knap lake, Barry, South Wales she did everything asked of her.
Nerys
6 years ago
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(Working Vessel) Gwyneth
I have never added to my fleet by buying in before, but looking at the Bring and Buy stall at the Blackpool show recently I couldn't resist this little boat. I like fishing boats anyway, but this boat was beautifully built, clinker on frame, planked decks, good standard of woodwork, altogether, a worthy addition to my fleet. I sailed her for the first time today and was well pleased with her performance. (5/10)
Nerys
6 years ago
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(Pleasure Craft) Sea Commander
Built from an Aerokits kit. Very pleased with performance, comes up onto the plane quite easily (Motor: Caldercraft 750) (ESC: Chinese generic) (9/10)
Nerys
7 years ago
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(Other) Sharpie
Scratch built model of a typical East Coast of America sharpie. Used as a general work/ fishing boat. Fitted with topsails a few weeks after original launching. Appears to have greatly improved performance, but there was rather too much wind for a fair assessment and my partner had no desire to go wading in the lake. (5/10)
Nerys
7 years ago
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(Yacht) Carina
My second effort, an Aeronaut Bella. (8/10)
Nerys
7 years ago
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1 Photo
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(Other) Gwylan
This was my first attempt at building a model boat, decided that model boat building would be a suitable hobby for a lady of 85, no longer fit enough to sail real boats. (8/10)
Nerys
7 years ago
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Members Blogs
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Lockdown creation number three
Not exactly a blog, just a couple of photos to show progress on my Dutch Schouw. She is 27" long, scratch built from drawings in a book on traditional Dutch sailing craft. She will have the typical Dutch high aspect ratio gaff rig with a short curved gaff. Like a Thames Barge, she has leeboards, rather shorter and rounder than those on the Thames Barge. The rudder too is quite large and could be likened to a barn door. How will she sail? I don't know, but when we get our release, I'll find out.
Cheers, Nerys
Nerys
5 years ago
Recent Posts
๐ The late lovely Nerys (fleet Admiral)Update on Funeral arrangements
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
Fleet Admiral)
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Hello all Alice posting to put the word out Mainly to Ken and others in the Barry, Vale of Glamorgan area and other local Boat Clubs that Nerys is to have a SHORT committal ceremony for up-to 8 people in the chapel at Llanelli Crematorium, Penprys Road, SA14 8BX on Tuesday 2nd of May at 9 am this is just 10 minutes to say goodbye, I have chosen some appropriate music. If a few of you can and do want to come along you are more than welcome, I intend to be at Barry lake this Sunday to give one of Nerys's boats a run. Also I am planning, with the permission of the clubs that meet at Barry lake, to give a short eulogy/tribute to Nerys and the many interesting aspects of her long life on a day and time to be arranged probably a Saturday but might have to be a Sunday in a month or so there is a large shelter there should we be unlucky enough to need it!
Once again thank you all for your Kind thoughts and words, it has really helped at this, although not totally unexpected, still very difficult time, so once again thank you all.
Alice
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๐ Very sad news about Nerys plus update on her final boat project
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Thank-you all so much for such Kind thoughts and recollections of Nerys's knowledge insight and helpfulness based on sound knowledge of many subjects, particularly Thames Barges.
I Don't really know what else to say but it really helps me hearing so many kind remarks about "My" Lovely Nerys, her knowledge of the subject and recollections of her endearing personality and all round "goodness". Thank-you all so much
Alice
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๐ Very sad news about Nerys plus update on her final boat project
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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To be absolutely clear this is Nerysโs wife Alice posting, I am Devastated to report that Nerys passed away after a short final illness on Monday 27th of March She was one day short of being 90 years and 2 months, so at least spent some time as a nonogenarian! As you can imagine even allowing for her age and generally poor health it has come as a dreadful shock and I just feel like I am wading through treacle trying to cope with the loss of such a wonderful kind loving life partner. I am just in absolute bits. Having been with her though most of her final illness and ultimately her death and then having to deal with a lot of practical stuff like funeral arrangements letting family in both France and America know as well as far flung ex Thames Barge mates etc. I am sorry to have not posted to this forum sooner.
The enclosed Pictures are progress on Nerysโs latest and last boat project to date. Mostly built by me to the best I could manage of How Nerys wanted it to be like and with lots of guidance and some finishing when she had a bit of energy. I really haven't a clue about much of the detail of the hobby apart from sorting out fairly basic RC running gear in her previous non kit builds. I do intend to finish her as best I can. Nerys had not yet settled on a name for her but I believe she should be finished in the style of something like a Clyde puffer, we were planning smoke generators etc.
As you can imagine it might take me a bit of a while to get back on with the rest of the build. But in the end completed she will be.
Sorry to have to bring such heavy-weight discussion to a Hobby Forum. Once again I just cannot begin to tell you all what a wonderful woman and human being she was and how very very much I will miss her.
From a very lost and bereft,
Alice
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๐ Pond to myself
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
Fleet Admiral)
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I often visit the lake on non club sailing days, as this gives one the chance to take advantage of good sailing days. As we all know fine,sunny days are not the prerogative of weekends, so if you are able to get to the lake, I strongly recommend it. You have the lake to yourself and the only hazard is in talking to the occasional member of the public who is interested enough to stop and talk.
Nerys
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๐ Very sad news Martin555
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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So sorry to hear of Martin's passing. One of our most knowledgeable shipmates, he was a great inspiration to us all. I'm afraid I missed the news for a few days as I was none too well myself, but I have the excuse of being 25 years older than him. R.I.P.
Nerys
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๐ Thames Sailing Barge
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Having built a number of Thames barges, both 1/24 and 1/32 as well as an auxiliary and some motor barges , my opinion is that they will not sail satisfactorily unless they have a keel of some sort and a drop rudder. I have found that my motor barges work best with a drop rudder.
Some people have tried using the leeboards and a ballasted hull, but even that doesn't work.I built my auxiliary so that all sails can be furled and she can emulate the latter days of the barge, when the auxiliaries might occasionally set a topsail and perhaps a few cloths of the main. I have ballasted her hull, but she will only sail,down wind and needs the motor the rest of the time The AMBO group is well worth joining, excellent source of information. I am afraid Mastman gave up a couple of years ago, a great loss as he not only produced a number of fibreglass hulls and plans, but all the barge specific fittings that nobody else makes. If you look up 'My harbour' on this site you will find pictures of most of my barges.
Nerys
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๐ Nerys @ 90
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Thank-you everyone for all your good wishes, such a welcome start to my first year as a nonagenarian.
I would like to think that I will be able to carry on building and sailing my boats for some time yet, unfortunately my health could be better but I will not bore you with the gruesome details.
All the best
Nerys.
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๐ Nerys @ 90
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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As today 28th January is my 90th Birthday, to help me celebrate, I would like to ask all shipmates to give themselves a "make and mend", and take an extra tot of their favourite tipple.
Cheers
Nerys
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๐ Building My First Sail Boat or Yacht
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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I think the Eventide could be a very successful model. The full size ones sailed very well and were excellent small cruisers. A friend built one, many years ago and had quite a few years happy cruising up the East Coast and near continent.
Nerys
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๐ End of year boating
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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HI Stephen,
It is called Cold Knap Lake and is in Barry, South Wales.
Nerys
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๐ End of year boating
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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๐ 2023
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Certain people are preventing us wishing each other a peaceful and prosperous new year, so shall we wish for a happy one with lots of time enjoying building and sailing our boats .
With every good wish, Nerys
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๐ bahamas bigboystoys
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Nice collection of boats all rearing to go, but expect they have better weather than us in UK.
Nerys
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๐ Cheap Epoxy
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Alice had a look in Poundland yesterday and they had superglue at four small tubes for the pound. Better than the one for the pound she saw recently but notback to the twenty of a while ago.
Nerys
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๐ Christmas Greetings
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
Fleet Admiral)
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Wishing a very Happy Christmas to all members. May Santa fill your workshop with all the goodies you have ever wanted. The way things are feel I cannot talk of peace and prosperity in the coming year, so just hope that we are all able to spend many happy hours building and sailing our boats. Fair winds and following seas.
All the best
Nerys
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๐ Back with a bang
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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So pleased to see that you are back with us again Marky Hope you continue to improve and are able to do full justice to the TID. Would love to say that I had a new project, but I am afraid, that, amongst much else, my fingers are too seized up yo do anything.
BestWishes, Nerys
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๐ My little Victory
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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So pleased to see that you are back with us again Marky Hope you continue to improve and are able to do full justice to the TID. Would love to say that I had a new project, but I am afraid, that, amongst much else, my fingers are too seized up yo do anything.
BestWishes, Nerys
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๐ Cheap Epoxy
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
Fleet Admiral)
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Went to Poundland to re-stock on their ยฃ1 two part epoxys and multi packs of cyano-acrylate super glue only to find they no longer stock the epoxy and the super glue is now one 3 gram tube for ยฃ1 used to be multi pack of about 10 or 12 2gram tubes under a house brand, another version inflation ?? as epoxy cost has now gone up by 600% !!
Cheers Nerys
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๐ Membership
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Thank you, Colin and Ken for those kind words. Much appreciated. Nice seeing you at the lake the other week, Ken, missed you there last Sunday, but, whom was the sensible one, it was freezing.
Cheers, Nerys
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๐ Membership
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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I was proud to see that membership of this forum is now over the 7000. A magnificent total, perhaps our hobby isn't losing it's appeal as some would have it. Welcome
to all our new members, I hope you will spend many happy hours on here. Help is available in abundance from our many knowledgeable members. Just ask.
Nerys
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๐ A Trip to Windermere Boat Museum
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Something I thought was good about the Windermere museum was the fact that one could borrow, presumably for a fee, a simple pond yacht to sail on their pond. They sold them of course, I think they were ยฃ50. Lots of interesting boats in the museum, well worth a visit, let's face it, what tourist attraction is cheap these days.
Cheers, Nerys.
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๐ฌ Re: Halstow
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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๐ฌ Re: Halstow
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
Fleet Admiral)
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Sorry Howard, but there are no drawings for this or any other of my barges, they are all built, as the real ones were, by eye. I've said it many times, 'If it looks right, it probably is.
Cheers, Nerys
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๐ฌ Re: Halstow
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Hi Ron,
Halstow is unfinished as regards deck fittings such as navigation lights, lifebelts anchor winch etc but I was keen to try her out as all the electrics were in place. She should be finished in a few days then I'll post more pictures.
Cheers, Nerys
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๐ Halstow
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
Fleet Admiral)
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This is Halstow, the latest craft to come off the ways of the Nerys shipyard. She is a Thames motor barge shown here loaded with a deck cargo of timber. To be loaded like this would be nothing unusual. The helmsman would be steering by compass whilst the mate would be standing near by looking out for any obstruction. This model is not yet quite complete and I will update when crew and deck furniture have been added.
Cheers, Nerys
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๐ wether to paint or patch
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
Fleet Admiral)
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From what you say, I'd be inclined to rub pack and paint the whole of the hull. If you try and patch there could well be differences in the paint.
Nerys
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๐ฌ Re: High jacking threads.
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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I quite agree with all the others, please don't leave, I've always read your posts with interest and never seen anything that could be considered offensive to any normal person.
Cheers, Nerys
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๐ Boat Show
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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I was talking recently about the imbalance of kits of sailing craft against kits of power craft and the availability of Ready to Run yachts. This was exemplified to me when I had the pleasure of sailing with the Barry Model Boat Club recently and was delighted to see that there were at least a dozen sails on the lake, but apart from my 'Bella' they were all DF65s, 95s and similar Ready to Run yachts. The power craft came later. Nothing against the R to Rs , pleased that people enjoy sailing enough to want one, but it would be nice to see more general sailing boats on our lakes.
Cheers, Nerys
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๐ Boat Show
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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I am not saying that the only way to build sailing craft is with a kit, my contention is that if there were more kits of such craft, more would be built and make died in the wool, stick and string sailors like me happy to see more sails on the lakes. In fact, I spent a very happy afternoon this week, sailing the second model I ever built from a kit, An Aeronaut 'Bella'. a lovely sailer . I quite agree, scratch building whether literally from scratch or from a moulded hull are fine. Whether it is cheaper than a kit, I'm not sure, but I can think of one kitmaker who charges a 'handling' or 'administration' charge of, if I remember correctly, ยฃ30 on an already very expensive kit, in addition to carriage. Enough said.
I consider myself to be a model Thames Barge builder and have used moulded hulls as well as building from scratch. Unfortunately the source of the moulded hulls appears to have dried up with the retirement of 'Mastman'.So, it's scratchbuilding for me from now on. I do not use plans either, I work as the real barge builders of old did, and knowing barges as well as I do, I build by eye, if it looks right, it must be.And I've yet to have a failure.
I digress, our hobby has come about from the great Victorian tradition of the pond yacht. Marbleheads and One Metres spring to mind but such aristocrats were nothing compared to the simple model carved from a solid block that every boy received for Christmas. I don't doubt some of our members still possess theirs, or one they've bought since. This is what I'd like to see, loads of very simple model yachts swarming on our lakes. Whether built from kits or not, who cares.
Footnote; yes Ron, a scrollsaw is a great tool to have.
Cheers, Nerys
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๐ Boat Show
2 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Nerys (
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Going back to the correspondence on the shortage of sailing craft at the show I am wondering if this is due to the lack of kits of sailing craft on general sale. Having had a quick look through, I can only find four kits, all from the Aeronaut stable and the availability of these is questionable. Surely if there was more choice, more would be built. As far as I can see, the desire to sail is there, hence the number of ready to run yachts available. Yes there are a few part kits, such as Sarik's Thames Barge Veronica, but these can be considered specialised.
So, what is it, more kits equals more sailing craft?
Cheers, Nerys
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