A very late Lets See Them

ianc1200

ianc1200

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Having nearly mastered this image uploading thing;

SAoutsideBigBen.jpg


Don't think I've posted this before. A 30' version of the Everyman Class, built by ARC Marine in Littlehampton. Straight Across was built in 1951, the class generally built between 1947-1956. Think about 40 built, still a few around, we bought SA in 56', kept het until 1974, when my grandad sold her. Spent three years looking and finally bought her back in 1983. She's been at Freebody's since them, except 4 summer stays on the East Coast 2003-2006.

IanC
 
What a pretty craft you have there, Ian. She looks very well cared for as well. You must know her very well by now.
Your story reminds me of an old friend of mine who beautifully restored a small sailing boat and some time later sold it. By chance he came accross it a few years later in a poor state after an accident, bought her again and restored her a second time.
 
Less of the motor boat!

It was built with steadying sails; she has roller reefing foresail, standing lug main, gaff on the mzzen (photo taken before we added the mizzen), about 300 sq ft, sails & rolls
like a pig!

Quite pleasant with the wind & tide going in same direction though, I have sailed out of the Orwell across the bay into Hamford Water without using the engine, and have had 2.5kts on the GPS once in the Blackwater, but there was probally 1.5kts of tide.

IanC
 
She is lovely, Ian.

What engine is she fitted with?

My Hillyard was built for my parents in 1968. We had the boat for 11 years, and then she was sold out of the family. I bought her back into the family in 1999.
My dad is very happy, because he can crew for me on his old boat, but not have the maintenance and expense of ownership! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Doug
 
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It's boats like this, that could one day turn me into a motor boat owner !

[/ QUOTE ]

I know what you mean - lovely.

Edited to add - sorry didn't realise it came with raggie bits also - just read the rest of the thread - added bonus!
 
Doug

Engines now a 62hp Nanni main and 8.5hpYanmar wing. Was a Chrysler Crown main and Vedette side valve until about 1990.

Met a man who was involved with the supply of Chrysler Crown (6 cylinder petrol engines), which were the power units on D Day landing craft. Vast numbers of spare engines in crates also came over, and at the end of the war were sent back to New York. However, there was a dock strike, and they came back again. Arthur Bray at Poole bought a lot of them up, and then supplied them at a very low price, which was why they were put in so many post war cabin cruisers, (many in the Star Craft hire fleet at Chertsey) although they were about three times the size of engine required.

IanC
 
ARC Marine were on the River Road side of Littlehampton, roughly opposite Osbournes. They were on a site that was where Ronex (sp?) outboards were made, virtually took uo the entire side of the Arun, was so large during the war that a railway line was run into the yard, and mainly made oars for lifeboats during the war. After the war they converted BOT lifeboats, built small dinghies, 20' and 25' mainly clinker motor boats, then decided to build a standard cruiser much to the design of the lifeboat conversion layout then popular. They called it the "Everyman", and this was confusing as Osbournes had an "Everyman" design from the early 30's, some of which are still around, and Littlehampton Museum has a beutiful model of (about 2' 6" long, complete with steadying sails etc). They had a production line, where the boats moved along a sort of railway as they moved on to the next stage, and boasted they buiolt one every 2.5 weeks - very unlikely. Peter Davies, who ran the chandlers behind Hillyards up to a few years ago, and was in his late 80's, worked for them three times during his career, and said the owner Mr Ward was an Arthur Daley sort of character, getting cheap material/fittings/engines, and the firm seemed to be on the brink of bankruptcy on and off. They took two Everymans to USA boat shows, and acted as salespeple for Hillyards/Osbournes. The Everymans were built 47' -56', but most were 49/51. The standard length was 28', but some were 29', mine is 30' 2", and two were 34'. They continued on into the 60's, eventually producing a small standard GRP sailing boat, and folded about 68', and I think Macwester may have taken over the yard. There's a row of very nice town houses there now, with pontoon moorings outside, have been tempted in years gone by to move there and put SA outside back where she was "born".

IanC
 
Thanks for that,I workedat Hillyards for a while in the early seventies and couldnt place the yard.As with all these places they get built on...although on the west bank I noticed that the old nud berths are still there;although empty,I guss boats dont need mud berths anymore. andrew
 
Ah! Sorry 'bout that !

My 'Motor sailer' is at the other end of the spectrum, giving really excellent performance under sail. However ..for sure you can't pop the mast down and nip into the canal system or up the Thames. I have the stick down at the moment and it must weigh in at 300 kg!

scan0001.jpg


Regds Nick
 
Ian, it is great to hear about the history of the Everyman class, and also the interesting tale of the Chrysler engines.
My Hillyard still has her original old Petter diesel engine. It is currently away for a complete 'nut and bolt' rebuild, which will hopefully see it serve another 40 years in Hannah's engine compartment!

I remember all the old sheds and warehouses on the opposite banks of the Arun. It has certainly changed on that side now, hasn't it!

Here is a pic of those town houses and the area where Straight Across would have been 'born'.

Picture003.jpg
 
When I bought my Halberdier in 2000 I could'nt find any other owners. Eventually, mainly by trawling the net, plus leaving the occasional note tucked in a wheelhouse cover I managed to track down most of the 30 odd boats built.

Pretty widely spread accross the globe,Alaska to Australia, but nice to know where they are.

We set up the 'HOG' (Halberdiers Owners Group), which is a Yahoo Group and dead easy to set up and run.

All best Nick.
 
Without wishing to hyjack the thread, I see that Osbournes were based on the opposite side of the river. Is there anything left of their yard? Or has it all been redeveloped?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Without wishing to hyjack the thread, I see that Osbournes were based on the opposite side of the river. Is there anything left of their yard? Or has it all been redeveloped?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, just next door to Hillyards.

The yard is still all there. I think, if I remember corectly from my last visit, (last September) part of the site is occupied by another company, but the rest of the yard looked empty and a bit run-down.

Doug
 
Peter Gregson at Wooden Ships is brokering the sale of 2 at the moment. You could try contacting him, and get the new owners to contact you - they would probably be grateful to know someone who has got to know the foibles of the class. Woodenships power listing
 
Very interesting site. I know of both boats (the one in Poole we were friends with the original owners), but wasn't aware of the site & all those photographs.

Having been interested in these boats for many years, you get to know the whereabouts of many, but some you just can't find. The Poole boat was the penultimate one, and the last, Klipspringer, was the only one built to Lloyds 100A1. On the Thames in the late 50's, she was at Ramsgate in the early 70's. I've been told she became a fishing boat and there was some tragedy, but I don't know when or what happened.

Last year a friend of a friend sent me a 2002 photo of one in Ireland on the Shannon at Portumna Bridge. This boat, Emina, was on the front cover of a 1969 Motor Boats and Yachting, and so semi had an idea one might still be there, and as I had 10 days on my friends narrowboat doing the Shannon & the Barrow we had a good look but couldn't find it. This friend of a friend writes for the Irish Boating magazine Ireland Afloat and has tried to find it via IWAIreland, but to no avail.

IanC
 
My Father & I restored an Everyman back in the early eighties.
Owned it and sailed in Channel Islands area until 2003 when circumstances changed and sold her for a more modern & faster boat.

Have a number of pics, etc. etc if you are interested. pm me.
 
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