Mark, that looks to be a fine big craft. I'm assuming it's a GRP hull with your fit out and deck? Apologies if not.
Is it a Class boat or a free lancer?
Gareth, thanks for your opinions there. I was thinking it might be an older 6 metre, but nowhere can I find a length of what your average 6 Metre might be.
I am about to put the pics on the VMYG site if I can. My only concern with that site is the lack of any obvious updating since 2010, from what I can see. I hope I'm wrong and not reading it correctly.
I'm assuming , as the GRP hull was produced by Bob's Models in the West Midlands, way back, that he was trying a 6 Metre design for the local guys who still race 6 Metre. The length of the rudder area on the back of the keel is unusually large.
I'll be back with anything I discover on that mystery.
The Marblehead is certainly a proper one. But as to which design it might be, remains to be found out. It came from the loft of a house in which Tommy Sopwith once lived. He was known to enjoy model yachting amongst his more glamorous pursuits. Such a background, if true, would make it an even more special yacht than I already think it. It was given to me by a wonderful, generous, knowledgeable man called Ken Cooper. It was Ken who added the laid deck. He also intended it for radio installation.
Here I have a dilemma. I have, in a jar, the original brass Braine steering gear. I think the boat deserves to have it, but Ken deserves to have the boat finished as he intended. Perhaps I can do both, making the Braine gear easily removable to install radio gear and vice verse.
Unless the GRP boat can be proved to have any genuine provenance, I think I could do what I want with it. I'm not a competitive sailor by any means, in fact I'm unlikely ever to see another model yachtsman where I live!
Cheers,
Martin