taz
Well-Known Member
Mal
I'll let you have 2 mins in the fun box.
Tom
If he deserves 2 mins I think I deserve more
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3526964&postcount=58
If he deserves 2 mins I think I deserve more
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3526964&postcount=58
LittleShip
Well-Known Member
If he deserves 2 mins I think I deserve more
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3526964&postcount=58
Hmmm I'll make a deal with you......
If you buy Little Ship....I'll give you the fun box
Tom
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
Beautiful wee ship. But not that difficult to maintain, the secret is covers!! Not as much external varnish as my own boat and I manage that.
prv
Well-Known Member
Don't think it's age; I'm 30 which must be towards the lower end of the range on these forums. Woodpecker looks fantastic to me (though like everyone else, I'd rather look at her than own her) although I'm not convinced by the hydraulic gangplank added at the stern.
As for "modern" motorboats - I quite like the "trawler" or "pilot launch" styles, but not the "overgrown speedboat" look, especially not combined with the "inflated to 5psi overpressure" bulgy styling details.
Pete
C
Chrusty 1
Guest
I think you be right there! This is just a thought, back in the day, like when she was built, do you think as I do that folk just took varnishing and painting as something you did if you owned a boat? It seems to me that folk generally don't want to be bothered with learning the skills to do it properly? Hence the extensive range of instant miracle paint and "varnish" garbage on the market.
Then came plastic fantastic, and ideas about boat maintenance changed irrevocably?
LittleShip
Well-Known Member
Plastic is something from the bottom of a scientist jar.......... I'm sure that your assessment of painting and varnishing are correct.
The amount of "Plastic" boats in the marina that never have anybody on board always amazes me.
The fact that these neglected boats are left expecting that all the electrics and mechanical bits will keep working without the dedication to maintenance that boat ownership should or at least once had. Plastic and stainless steel as much as I hate to say it, has been the panacia for the time challenged or underskilled boat owner. Bring back wood, it about time we started growing trees again.
Tom
burgundyben
Well-Known Member
One aspect of wooden boat ownership that I think is lost in the mists of time is the difference between maintenance and a rebuild.
Maintenance is not such a big deal, but a rebuild is.
Letting a wooden boat slip is a major error.
Maintenance on a 70 ft boat as per this thread is a big job, a rebuild would be a killer!
Maintenance is not such a big deal, but a rebuild is.
Letting a wooden boat slip is a major error.
Maintenance on a 70 ft boat as per this thread is a big job, a rebuild would be a killer!
C
Chrusty 1
Guest
Tom,
I sympathise with your point of view entirely, but things are as I said irrevocable. There is quite healthy upsurge in the building of wooden boats, and in restorations of old ones, but sadly it's a very expensive game. Only the rich and very enthusiastic can afford to get involved with it really. Though saying that, there are a number of small yards springing up, catering for the traditional small craft enthusiast.
My health has suffered in recent years to the extent that I have to content myself with something small and plastic, that isn't a complaint, as I have found that at least with a little help from a mate of mine, I can keep on top of things.
Ben, I think you are right, the cost of a rebuild on the subject of this thread would be astronomical, quite possibly more than enough to make most members of this forum fall in a dead faint!
I sympathise with your point of view entirely, but things are as I said irrevocable. There is quite healthy upsurge in the building of wooden boats, and in restorations of old ones, but sadly it's a very expensive game. Only the rich and very enthusiastic can afford to get involved with it really. Though saying that, there are a number of small yards springing up, catering for the traditional small craft enthusiast.
My health has suffered in recent years to the extent that I have to content myself with something small and plastic, that isn't a complaint, as I have found that at least with a little help from a mate of mine, I can keep on top of things.
Ben, I think you are right, the cost of a rebuild on the subject of this thread would be astronomical, quite possibly more than enough to make most members of this forum fall in a dead faint!
jfm
Well-Known Member
I'm with Mapism on this, and I don't rate that as a great boat. There are some beautiful classics out there, plus a few lemons, and I'd put this in the latter camp. Reasons...
1. suspiciously light build as MapisM says, 24tonnes
2. Will roll like a pig - no stabs
3. Ridiculous plastic-fantastic range - too small tankage
4. Manky engine room and duff nav electronics
5. 2 proper sleeping cabins - hellloooo?
6. What is it with all that crappy deck furniture in front of the helm? A crappy folding table that looks like it was rescued from a church fete and er sort of bodge-bolted to the butterfly hatch box; and a big box thing just abaft of the anchor gear. One big wave and all that is through the wheelhouse glass and you are dead. Really, WTF is going on here? You cannot go to sea with all that craaap on a foredeck
Nah. This one is a lemon. Lovely master cabin (I like the white paint!) but that doesn't offset the other failings. Crappo design when it left the shipyard and it just got lucky that people have chosen to keep her restored. Anyone who wants to keep a beautiful classic in tip top condition ought to devote their efforts to a great design, not this thing. All totally imho!
EDIT - Little Ship pictured in this thread is way better. It doesn't commit sins like 6 above and is a nice looking well restored boat. Less rare of course, but all round it's actually a better bit of boat building/designing/styling imho
1. suspiciously light build as MapisM says, 24tonnes
2. Will roll like a pig - no stabs
3. Ridiculous plastic-fantastic range - too small tankage
4. Manky engine room and duff nav electronics
5. 2 proper sleeping cabins - hellloooo?
6. What is it with all that crappy deck furniture in front of the helm? A crappy folding table that looks like it was rescued from a church fete and er sort of bodge-bolted to the butterfly hatch box; and a big box thing just abaft of the anchor gear. One big wave and all that is through the wheelhouse glass and you are dead. Really, WTF is going on here? You cannot go to sea with all that craaap on a foredeck
Nah. This one is a lemon. Lovely master cabin (I like the white paint!) but that doesn't offset the other failings. Crappo design when it left the shipyard and it just got lucky that people have chosen to keep her restored. Anyone who wants to keep a beautiful classic in tip top condition ought to devote their efforts to a great design, not this thing. All totally imho!
EDIT - Little Ship pictured in this thread is way better. It doesn't commit sins like 6 above and is a nice looking well restored boat. Less rare of course, but all round it's actually a better bit of boat building/designing/styling imho
Last edited:
Sultans_Kapitein
RIP
I'm not greedy, I have the house already so no need to spend on another.........I would buy a nice boat off a guy called Tom...."Little Ship" would be mine, I just love that boat. I could live comfortably and go wherever I want, whenever I want. Niiiiiiiiiiiiice.
Hmmm I'll make a deal with you......
If you buy Little Ship....I'll give you the fun box
Tom
There you Taz, get it bought, I know you want to and now, so does everyone else.
You don't want to mess around with those 'rag thingies' buy Little Ship and sleep soundly 
Mal
jfm
Well-Known Member
C
Chrusty 1
Guest
stuhaynes
Well-Known Member
Mal
I'll let you have 2 mins in the fun box.
Chrusty
Yes thats me in North Wales.....Thanks for the compliments.
On the subject of the motor Yacht........... It would have to be yard maintained it's far too much for one person to keep in top notch condition, but then.... even a plastic one that size would be.
I can never understand why people shy away from (Good) wood boats, they have many advantages over plastic and steel but do need TLC to keep them well. What I will say is many spend more time having to polish their plastic than I do painting my wood, and I would hazard a guess that I do loads more time on the water than 90% of the plastic boats.
Tom
Bet you'll be sorry to let Little Ship go, we've been following some of her adventures. You'll have to post some pic's of the new one. Stu.
Latestarter1
Well-Known Member
Looked at this thread a few times........Hull shape reminded me of??
Digesting the specs saw RA Newman, builders of many nice yachts by Laurent Giles back to the 30's. Then the penny dropped.
RA Newman were one of the many builders of Admiralty HDML's. Looked at the underwater profile of Woodpecker, she is pure HDML. Designed to out turn a U boat the keel ended way short of the twin rudders. Yes HDML's also rolled like pigs.
Think this vessel was a thinly disguised 'peace dividend' Newmans likely would have a mass of material and patterns for constructing HDML's, Bet Laurent Giles just penned the house, rest just a straight lift from Admiralty blueprints. Double diagonal construction exactly the same.
MapisM was right to highlight diplacement 24 tonnes seems all wrong,HDML's were twice that weight, suspect this has to be typo.
The different coloured gloss varnished internal joinery would drive me nuts. Wish more care had gone into getting staining correct during restoration and silk varnish would have looked far more classy.
HDML's were fitted with Gardners and so should Woodpecker, Perkins Sabre motors are a bit of a let down for this type of vessel. Smacks of engineering being done when rest of the cash was spent.
I love wooden boats but not this one. Also remember the timber used on these vessels was poorly seasoned, there was a war on!
C
Chrusty 1
Guest
LittleShip
Well-Known Member
Bet you'll be sorry to let Little Ship go, we've been following some of her adventures. You'll have to post some pic's of the new one. Stu.
I'll have to sell her first, 3 people have been interested but no takers yet, they didnt think she was wood
......her next carer is out there somewhere.If she dosent sell I'll be off on my travels again.....Southern Ireland in July is on the cards
Tom
MapisM
Well-Known Member
Not really.Like I said, it's a wonder the poor old thing has lasted this long isn't it.
If all boaters would maintain their pride an joy just on the basis of economic studies, break-even calculations etc., you could safely bet that less than half of them would be still afloat.
And even more so for vintage boats, of course.
Don't mistake the fact that it made sense for someone to give her plenty of TLC with the fact that it was actually worth doing it, when looking at her from a less involved standpoint.
C
Chrusty 1
Guest
I still think she is a beautiful vessel, regardless of the slagging off by Latestarter1 and jfm, I don't think anybody can take that away from her and be fair minded about it.
Still all opinions are valid, and somebody will buy her and love her in the end.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
The working class can kiss his arse
Are you thinking of buying it? No doubt your salary as General Secretary of the Layabouts' Trade Union will be more than adequate to pay for it. Or will it be yet another trade union baron's tax-free perk?
Are you thinking of buying it? No doubt your salary as General Secretary of the Layabouts' Trade Union will be more than adequate to pay for it. Or will it be yet another trade union baron's tax-free perk?
C
Chrusty 1
Guest
Are you thinking of buying it? No doubt your salary as General Secretary of the Layabouts' Trade Union will be more than adequate to pay for it. Or will it be yet another trade union baron's tax-free perk?
Well I am not really sure, I did put it to them, but they said summat about it having to go to committee, or was it having me committed?? I can't really remember, mind you I can't really remember yesterday! I'll have a word and get back to you.