burgundyben
Well-Known Member
It seems that EISCA has folded and the boats are up for auction.
https://www.sweeney-kincaid.com/Sales/CatalogLots.aspx?SaleId=3112
https://www.sweeney-kincaid.com/Sales/CatalogLots.aspx?SaleId=3112
Auction of boats from EISCA.
- Thread starter burgundyben
- Start date
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Crikey!
Forget ebay - there are some seriously nice boats, there...
Forget ebay - there are some seriously nice boats, there...
burgundyben
Well-Known Member
Yes, there's about 4 I'd like!
Looks like it had become a bit too much to manage and some have suffered.
Seems to have been poorly marketed and I suspect many will go unsold.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
I will assume that the Uffa Fox Collection will bid on at least DARING and VIGILANT. There are in fact lots of Fox boats.
The only ones that would be of any interest to me are the Ducklings which are both in Eyemouth and too far away to bother with...
I was looking for an RNSA 14 but there isn't one - although there is what might be the prototype for the ASC (lot 433) which would be of considerable interest in a Sea Cadet connection...
The only ones that would be of any interest to me are the Ducklings which are both in Eyemouth and too far away to bother with...
I was looking for an RNSA 14 but there isn't one - although there is what might be the prototype for the ASC (lot 433) which would be of considerable interest in a Sea Cadet connection...
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burgundyben
Well-Known Member
Is there an Uffa Fox Collection? other than the few held in Cowes at the Classic Boat Museum?
Kukri
Well-Known Member
That must be what I was thinking of. I am not familiar with Sacred Cowes!
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Lot 139 is the world's first ever bilge keeler... the very first of the Hon Arthur Balfour (later Lord Riversdale)'s "Bluebirds of Thorne" - mis-catalogued.
Now that is a boat worthy of a museum place.
Now that is a boat worthy of a museum place.
MikeBz
Well-Known Member
Not interested in a vintage IC?
There are a lot of vintage I14s, some very significant, and quite a few old Merlin Rockets as well. I really hope they don't end up as firewood.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Didn't see an IC. Slightly tempted by the Linton Hope RCC "B" class...
Anyway, we've got the Last of the Wooden Nethercotts in the family... and she actually sails.
Might be tempted to drive to Lowestoft and look at the Fourteens there...
Update: found an IC but not in a condition that I could cope with as a project.
Update again - i looked through the catalogue and apart from the Fourteens I noted these:
They have two Ducklings, no 18 complete , lot 329, and another, lot 307, and a Fairey Falcon, (a 16ft hot moulded dayboat, very rare and much desired, in rather tatty shape, lot 310, and a Jollyboat (biggest and fasted Uffa Fox dinghy, much favoured by Prince Philip when younger) lot 314, as well as the very interesting Admiralty dinghy ELIZABETH, lot 433, but they are all in Eyemouth...lot 139 is the very first BLUEBIRD OF THORNE and the mother of every single bilge keeler, which gets the following ignorant dismissal in the National Small Boat Register:
Bilge-keel yacht Little Bluebird. 26?x7?9?. Built 1924, to an amateur design, the best comment on the result would be ?interesting?. Not required for the collection consider disposal GH May 2014 Construction is double diagonal, and the entire hull has been sheathed (with Cascover, or similar), at some time. The sheathing has now failed at various points, and the condition of the timberwork is suspect. Rig is gunter, fitted for outboard engine. Most fittings are modern, and the sails are by a Dutch maker. Acquired about 2006. A cynic might conclude, at the point when the leaks began to win. Lay outside until 2/11, which hasn?t improved her condition. Previous owner claimed that she was the first bilge-keeled yacht in the world. While this needs more research, I have seen references to such craft around 1880. This particular example has the keels so heavily splayed, that the greatest beam is across the keels. It must have been inconvenient, to say the least. Ostrich shed, north bay, second row from south, fourth from east end. Mast (B334) in Potato shed M6. Boom and gaff (B335/6) in Potato shed F4. Sails (C205) in Meak?s Yard, 14. E5. Cockpit cover (C206) in Meak?s Yard, 14. E5. Boathook in Potato shed R3.
written by an "expert" who clearly had never even heard of Lord Riverdale of Sheffield, her designer. (where do they find these people?... edited to add... ahhh I have found him...
Registration Working Group Member
Captain George Hogg
George served in the Royal Navy, undertaking amongst many roles that of Naval Attaché to states in South America. A keen maritime historian, he was a founding Trustee and driving force of the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. George has a particular interest in vessels at the lower end of the size spectrum, initiating and developing the National Small Boat Register which is run from the museum in Falmouth. George has worked very closely with National Historic Ships over the years, serving on the Registration committee 2006-20011, and is now a welcome member of the new working group.
RN, say no more...
http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/pages/who-we-are-page-2.html
Heaven knows why they have two perfectly ordinary Fireflies... and other rather unremarkable boats...
Anyway, we've got the Last of the Wooden Nethercotts in the family... and she actually sails.
Might be tempted to drive to Lowestoft and look at the Fourteens there...
Update: found an IC but not in a condition that I could cope with as a project.
Update again - i looked through the catalogue and apart from the Fourteens I noted these:
They have two Ducklings, no 18 complete , lot 329, and another, lot 307, and a Fairey Falcon, (a 16ft hot moulded dayboat, very rare and much desired, in rather tatty shape, lot 310, and a Jollyboat (biggest and fasted Uffa Fox dinghy, much favoured by Prince Philip when younger) lot 314, as well as the very interesting Admiralty dinghy ELIZABETH, lot 433, but they are all in Eyemouth...lot 139 is the very first BLUEBIRD OF THORNE and the mother of every single bilge keeler, which gets the following ignorant dismissal in the National Small Boat Register:
Bilge-keel yacht Little Bluebird. 26?x7?9?. Built 1924, to an amateur design, the best comment on the result would be ?interesting?. Not required for the collection consider disposal GH May 2014 Construction is double diagonal, and the entire hull has been sheathed (with Cascover, or similar), at some time. The sheathing has now failed at various points, and the condition of the timberwork is suspect. Rig is gunter, fitted for outboard engine. Most fittings are modern, and the sails are by a Dutch maker. Acquired about 2006. A cynic might conclude, at the point when the leaks began to win. Lay outside until 2/11, which hasn?t improved her condition. Previous owner claimed that she was the first bilge-keeled yacht in the world. While this needs more research, I have seen references to such craft around 1880. This particular example has the keels so heavily splayed, that the greatest beam is across the keels. It must have been inconvenient, to say the least. Ostrich shed, north bay, second row from south, fourth from east end. Mast (B334) in Potato shed M6. Boom and gaff (B335/6) in Potato shed F4. Sails (C205) in Meak?s Yard, 14. E5. Cockpit cover (C206) in Meak?s Yard, 14. E5. Boathook in Potato shed R3.
written by an "expert" who clearly had never even heard of Lord Riverdale of Sheffield, her designer. (where do they find these people?... edited to add... ahhh I have found him...
Registration Working Group Member
Captain George Hogg
George served in the Royal Navy, undertaking amongst many roles that of Naval Attaché to states in South America. A keen maritime historian, he was a founding Trustee and driving force of the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. George has a particular interest in vessels at the lower end of the size spectrum, initiating and developing the National Small Boat Register which is run from the museum in Falmouth. George has worked very closely with National Historic Ships over the years, serving on the Registration committee 2006-20011, and is now a welcome member of the new working group.
RN, say no more...
http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/pages/who-we-are-page-2.html
Heaven knows why they have two perfectly ordinary Fireflies... and other rather unremarkable boats...
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Keith 66
Well-Known Member
I had better buy a couple of lottery tickets, there are at least ten i would snap up.
Romeo
Well-Known Member
There is a reserve on all the boats. What a shame to see a collection broken up...... but I don't think anyone was going to see them. Hard to tell condition from the photos and it is a long time since any of them have seen the water.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Yes. The collection does not seem to have been organised on principles that a professional museum curator would adopt. The cataloging is eccentric, there are real gems, some seemingly un-recognised, alongside perfectly ordinary boats, and in some cases exhibits are in such poor condition that they are of limited educational value.
I think it would perhaps have been better if the less historically important boats had been sold to provide a good future for the more important ones.
I do wonder if this auction will generate the best prices, as it doesn't seem to have been very widely advertised, and I do whether the important boats will go to "safe homes".
The large collection of Uffa Fox and Fairey Marine boats is a subject in itself - one gathers that there was a Fairey collection which ended up here, which accounts for those, but there seem to be a great many Fox Fourteens and surely these would be much better in the hands of people who will sail them? The best way to keep a boat maintained is to use her...
I think it would perhaps have been better if the less historically important boats had been sold to provide a good future for the more important ones.
I do wonder if this auction will generate the best prices, as it doesn't seem to have been very widely advertised, and I do whether the important boats will go to "safe homes".
The large collection of Uffa Fox and Fairey Marine boats is a subject in itself - one gathers that there was a Fairey collection which ended up here, which accounts for those, but there seem to be a great many Fox Fourteens and surely these would be much better in the hands of people who will sail them? The best way to keep a boat maintained is to use her...
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burgundyben
Well-Known Member
Please I started this now.
It was the Fairey's that came to my attention (OBVS!)
Minn - Quite right, Falcon rare, only a handful survive, see Charles Stocks 'Shoal Waters. writings. I have a Falcon, same hull as the Faun launch, mine is mid conversion from Falcon to Faun.
It was the Fairey's that came to my attention (OBVS!)
Minn - Quite right, Falcon rare, only a handful survive, see Charles Stocks 'Shoal Waters. writings. I have a Falcon, same hull as the Faun launch, mine is mid conversion from Falcon to Faun.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
A word on two of the types of boat in the auction:
1. Fairey Marine hot moulded boats (Duckling, Firefly, Fourteen, Albacore, Swordfish, Jolly Boat, Falcon) Despite having been produced by an industrial process,involving being baked in an autoclave, these are dead easy to repair - all you need are some a sharp chisel, some Agba veneers (which you can get), a staple gun, and some epoxy.
2. Uffa Fox and Morgan Giles International 14's, International Canoes, etc. Despite having been hand built (by some of the finest small boat builders ever to walk the earth) these are impossible to repair. They were built over male moulds with the CRE ribs laid in place first, then the diagonal inner skin, 1/16" thick, then calico, then the fore and aft outer skin, 3/16" thick, all held together with the smallest size turned copper nails.
1. Fairey Marine hot moulded boats (Duckling, Firefly, Fourteen, Albacore, Swordfish, Jolly Boat, Falcon) Despite having been produced by an industrial process,involving being baked in an autoclave, these are dead easy to repair - all you need are some a sharp chisel, some Agba veneers (which you can get), a staple gun, and some epoxy.
2. Uffa Fox and Morgan Giles International 14's, International Canoes, etc. Despite having been hand built (by some of the finest small boat builders ever to walk the earth) these are impossible to repair. They were built over male moulds with the CRE ribs laid in place first, then the diagonal inner skin, 1/16" thick, then calico, then the fore and aft outer skin, 3/16" thick, all held together with the smallest size turned copper nails.
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burgundyben
Well-Known Member
Correct, hot moulded Fairey hulls easy to repair. I should know, I'v had 5!
I'm currently writing a book(let) on repairs to Fairey boats.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Put me down for a copy!
Romeo
Well-Known Member
The collection as a whole, or subsets of it by location are now on offer with an earlier closing date. Seems like a good idea, although hardly any time for a group to get themselves organised. Are the auctioneers deliberately making it seem like a bit of a shambles to encourage bidding from individuals and desperation from groups?
Kukri
Well-Known Member
I see the Classic and Vintage Dinghy Racing Association are aware of this - I'm not a member but I did glance at their website and saw a reference to it...
626,
http://www.cvrda.org/community/index.php
http://www.cvrda.org/community/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6698
Edited to add - still no information on viewing arrangements but a CVRDA chap seems to have been to Lowestoft
The CVRDA experts have identified the IC , Lot 626, as "Merdeka", one of three built by Uffa Fox in 1947 - she would be a rebuild nightmare, as the construction is similar to that of the older International 14s. and she seems to be stripped of all her gear. Way out of my league!
626,
http://www.cvrda.org/community/index.php
http://www.cvrda.org/community/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6698
Edited to add - still no information on viewing arrangements but a CVRDA chap seems to have been to Lowestoft
The CVRDA experts have identified the IC , Lot 626, as "Merdeka", one of three built by Uffa Fox in 1947 - she would be a rebuild nightmare, as the construction is similar to that of the older International 14s. and she seems to be stripped of all her gear. Way out of my league!
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Romeo
Well-Known Member
There is s note of viewing dates on the website. Interesting to go along and see the collection before it disperses.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
I am not seeing it, then. All I get is a list of locations and "viewing dates will be posted shortly".
