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 £50. Lots of interesting boats in the museum, well worth a visit, let's face it, what tourist attraction is cheap these days.

Cheers, Nerys.

Here are a few more photos of Halstow showing her without the deck cargo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, £30 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

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

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression, Dave. The lorries etc don't worry me at all, I'm only too pleased to see members coming along and taking part in our hobby, whatever the branch. I know several of the lorry members also own boats, but they don't seem to bring them out very often these days. I'm a bit limited myself at the moment, water is a bit low and I can't use any of my sailing craft, so I'm stuck with motor boats. Never know, it might drive me to buy a Land Rover or something Cheers, Nerys..

There seemed to me to be a lot more vehicles at the show this year, in fact the whole of the smaller hall and I am wondering if this is a tendency creeping in which is likely to dominate our hobby in years to come. Even one of the clubs where I sail has several members with fleets of lorries, one even claims to have a whole armoured division of tanks. This is all very well, because the club has a large tarmacadamed area adjacent to the lake, which is ideal for them, but I find that very often, I am the only person sailing a boat whilst there are lorries running around all over the place. It disturbs me, how do others feel?

Cheers, Nerys

I agree with AndyB about the lack of sailing boats at the show, but I have always found this and, let's face it, we see far more motorboats than sailers at the lake. I agree also about the lovely J Class Yachts, absolutely superb. How I'd like the gaff rigged example. However in saying that I don't want to take anything away from the utterly lovely model Folkboats on the same stand.These boats made the show for me.

Nerys

TRAFALGAR DAY 21st October

To celebrate this auspicious day it is suggested that all members of this forum should hold a Make and Mend and on the call of "UP SPIRITS", (Hold fast the Holy Ghost) at eight bells in the Forenoon Watch, an extra tot be issued and partaken.

Nerys, Fleet Admiral, Model Boats Navy UK waters

We visited the show on Sunday morning and I thought how quiet it was compared with when I had visited in previous years on a Saturday.All in all, although the models were superb, as usual, they could not be seen to their best advantage by the lousy lighting in the hall. The traders too must have despaired at their customers not being able to see all the components on sale properly . We know the hotel is a dump, but if they want to to rent out their hall, they should spend a bit of money on it, not least in the lighting. It wouldn't cost that much. I was also surprised at how early the whole show disintegrated on the Sunday afternoon, but I suppose if the visitors had ceased coming in, there was little point in carrying on the agony.
Was it worth going? Yes, but I would try to go on the Saturday another year.
Let's hope that Meridian are able to run the Warwick show again next year, Blackpool is a long way for anyone living in the South.

Nerys

Yes, I build most of my barges with detachable keel. They are much easier to handle at home and in transportation with a nice flat bottom. I do have one though which has a fixed keel called a "ducks foot"which was a grp moulding made by " Mastman", filled with resin and lead shot, it had a flat bottom so that the barge could sit on it's false keel. Works!

Cheers, Nerys

A bulb and fin can be a problem in a weedy lake. What do you normally use? I can't see a dory sailing without something down deep under her. I like the rig in the pics. You get an indication of the shape of the dory in those pics. I know mine was to say the least, cranky, until she had some weight in her. Then, the more weight, the more stable she became.

Cheers, Nerys

You're right Colin, sailing hasn't altered over the years, the boats have though and the equipment.

Cheers, Nerys

A dory would be an interesting project. Stability might be an issue because of the cross section, narrow at the bottom and becoming much beamier near the gunwhale level. Definitely think a fin keel and bulb would be needed. My only experience is with a 16 ft rowing dory I owned many years ago. One had to be careful getting in and out of her as she would tip to one side as soon as you looked at her, though she wouldn't actually dip a gunwhale under water.As far as a sailing model is concerned, should work. Would you deck or part deck her to protect radio equipment?

As far as sailing ability of the dory is concerned, think of the documented evidence of the small fishing dories becoming detached from their mother ships, the Grand Banks schooners and sailing across the Atlantic to Ireland.

I built a New England sharpie model some years ago, she sailed reasonably well. She had two freestanding masts, one right forward, cat boat fashion. I gave her gaff sails on each mast and later added topsails.

I look forward to seeing more of your dory as work progresses.

Cheers, Nerys

I've sent you one too.

Nerys

I am surprised at that, I have had no problems contacting the TSB Trust. Pity because I think the James Piper design is one of the more successful as a model. I have built four of them and wouldn't repeat something which didn't work.

Cheers, Nerys

Pleased to see that you are being helped in your quest for the plans of a model barge. The Thames Sailing Barge Trust have the plans of six real barges available for sale but hopefully you are receiving the plans as adapted for a model i.e advice on keel etc.
Please keep us informed of your progress with this project, we are always interested and will give any advice you may need.

Cheers, Nerys

It's not only China as CB90 points out, the EU presents problems too. Take one individual German supplier. Aeronaut boat kits. Normally readily available from a number of suppliers in the UK.Look at their lists, and what do you see against many of their more popular kits, "unavailable" "unavailable" "unavailable". And what can be responsible for this, well I have heard Brexit mentioned and the difficulty of importing anything from our former partners.

Cheers, Nerys

I'm not trying to alter the direction of this thread, but have you noticed how supermarket prices have risen, it seems that every time we go shopping, prices have risen . Just a few coppers, but practically weekly. I'm beginning to think that greed has taken over from increased production , shipping or raw material costs.

cheers, Nerys

We have found the same thing, almost anything you want is unavailable, even if it is on order from UK suppliers. I have also noticed a number of sharp price increases. A few months ago, for instance, I bought a Chinese model tug on Ebay, it was about £67. Then it disappeared from the listings, only to reappear a few days ago at £267.
Cheers,
Nerys

Missed you again Colin, we were there on Sunday around lunchtime.

Cheers, Nerys

Looking forward to happier times, it has long been the custom to hold a Royal Fleet Review at Spithead following a Coronation. I wonder if we will be treated to one after the Coronation of King Charles.

Nerys

Daggerboard not quite big enough? Perhaps it should go straight down. Bigger, heavier daggerboard may make her better in a breeze.

Nerys

Sorry Ron, English expression, meaning,' you already know this'

Nerys

She looks nice with the gaff rig, perhaps a bit more ballast if you try her with this rig again.
That schooner looks good too, well balanced rig but perhaps slightly overcanvassed in a blow, Shut up Nerys your trying to teach your grandmother to suck eggs.

cheers, Nerys