Help with an old yacht

[Antony Wright 1Participant @antonywright1]

My grandson has been given an old yacht and has asked if I can help "sort it out".Hopefully the photos will show its condition and indicate the problems.

The hull is in need of a little repair and that is where I would like to start. What do I repair it with? I think the hull is either GRP or fiberglass – not sure.

Secondly how do I reattach the mast and rig it? And why are there 3 possible places to put the mast?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4tloxe0y1bmp7e1/20191119_122347.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p3ni48m2xr4giop/20191119_122417.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ir9x2rssgnhest5/20191119_122433.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/d34stc9830cgmp8/20191119_122503.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/it1lufc8h17npca/20191119_122532.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cdqc6jrq4s5l9fx/20191119_122536.jpg?dl=0

[Antony Wright 1Participant @antonywright1]

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Hello Antony

I think pasting links like that is going to put people off replying. I just tried one and it didn't work.

If you could put the photos in your album like the "rust" ones or better still put them in your thread we can see the pictures easily and maybe offer some help. The only thing I can tell you right now is that GRP and fiberglass are one and the same thing.

Tim R

[Empire ParkstoneParticipant @empireparkstone]

Agree about the links Tim but they work ok highlight/rightclick/go to

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Posted by Empire Parkstone on 19/11/2019 22:31:04:

Agree about the links Tim but they work ok highlight/rightclick/go to

Antony and Empire

They took me to a Dropbox page inviting me to subscribe so no further ahead.

Tim R

[Antony Wright 1Participant @antonywright1]

Ops sorry about that. Let me try that again

Ops. sorry about that. Let me try again.

 

Edited By Antony Wright 1 on 20/11/2019 08:17:43

[Antony Wright 1Participant @antonywright1]

Just wondering if anyone had any ideas on this?

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Hello Antony

You now have two threads running but I thought it would be easier to reply on this one to avoid confusion and because this is where you have the photos.

The hull closely resembles a Dragon class which if you Google you will find loads of information about it. It is a classic international design and still raced competitively. Even the small cabin looks very much like the cuddy of the real thing so you could very easily retain it. If you do adopt the Dragon you can use it to scale everything else.

Are you certain that the mast step, cuddy and breakwater are not on the centreline? If the planks are drawn incorrectly it could be an optical illusion. The planks being uneven wouldn't bother me too much as I would put it down to character. The deck has a nice aged colour that would brighten up with some fresh varnish. It is easy to over-restore things sometimes and you might find sanding those line out harder than you think.

Personally I would stick to two sails (Dragon like) for simplicity and a new mast will be easy.

The metal edge could be replaced with wood and the hull painted with a contrasting colour below the waterline.

It looks like it is missing a rudder. On the Dragon it is hinged on the keel but on your yacht it looks like it is further aft. That is a good position although you will have to make a new one.

It is a good question from your grandson and as a traditional pond yacht you adjsut the sails and the rudder and set it off across the pond. His young legs will run round and catch it and send it back.
Late you could think of vane steering or even radio controlled which would be very good. That can be a discussion for later.

A nice little project.

Tim R

[Antony Wright 1Participant @antonywright1]

Hi Tim. Thanks for the answer and advise. Let me mention the rudder first. There is no sign on the hull of one ever having been attached. The hull has nowhere for it to go so as far as I can tell it never had one. I'm not sure about tackling that problem at the moment as I have no idea how or where would be best to fit one.

As for the fittings being out of line. Its not the drawn planking lines – though they are definitely not inline. I have measured them from both sides and there is a definite difference. The mast step is out by the most but is also twisted slightly to one side. The breakwater is the next furthest out with the cuddy being out a little but more because its not square to the ship sides. The mast step is out by 6mm at its worst point. Not a lot but I'm guessing on something this size it would have an impact on it when sailing. The fittings came off really easy without damage. Just to confirm they were out of line I draw a line from stem to stern and looking at the impression of where they were it is more obvious.

Ive started looking at pictures of the dragon and can see what you mean by the similarities. So it looks like I have a few tasks ahead of me. Refitting the deck fittings will be straight forward, and making a new mast should not be an issue. My real problem will be working out how to add the rudder and to rig the mast.

Thanks again for the advise.

Antony

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Antony,

Chances are no rudder needed for free sailing on your yacht. The Star toy yachts were a wooden hull a painted steel keel and never had the complication of a rudder, it was a matter of trimming the sails for control, I think your boat is more advanced with 3 mast positions all about balance between the jib at the front & main sail at the back 😀

Regards Ray

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