Dauntless gaffer

We sailed in company with a Finesse 24 on our first cruise in 1978; I can't imagine a slower boat, it was hard work going round circling ! :eek:

Another point not mentioned so far; I've known several owners of clinker built boats unable to sleep at night because of the waves smacking under the strakes; same goes for sugar-scoop transoms.
 
Oh alright then...

I will keep with grp. Funny thing is I am sitting aboard Alex as I type and realise how lovely she is. Despite the fact that I have spent the day removing and cleaning the sludge out of her fuel tank. Cup of filter coffee, tot of rum and a handful of chocolate digestives listening to the PM program on R4. Life doesn't get much better!
 
Seajet said:
We sailed in company with a Finesse 24 on our first cruise in 1978; I can't imagine a slower boat, it was hard work going round circling ! :eek:

Another point not mentioned so far; I've known several owners of clinker built boats unable to sleep at night because of the waves smacking under the strakes; same goes for sugar-scoop transoms.
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1978! You have a good memory and I can think of many slower.And surely the gentle sounds of lapping water is exactly what is needed to sooth the inner man/woman.
 
"Fixing a hole "

I had , please note 'had' a Dauntless 22, 1976 vintage, name of 'HAYNOR' for a few years, there are some great pics of it on Dylan Winter's amazing Keepturningleft.co.uk website .

Dauntless' were very lightly built, and the remaining examples were never meant to last as long as they have. It sailed about as slow as boat can sail with a swing keel that felt as if it would drop off at any moment, the swinging keel case was very poorley attached to the rest of the keelson and for an East Coast boat I was paranoid about letting the keel touch bottom in case the boat swung 'round and ripped the whole lot off!. The keel was never more than two-thirds down. The rudder was designed to keep in line with the keel as the boat dried out, as a result it was quite short, this was ok when the boat sailed upright , but being short when the boat heeled you lost steerage as the rudder came out of the water !

The Gaff set-up had a Long boom that needed running backstays, as I sail mostly single handed adjusting those everytime you tacked was a real pain. The original engine was the , ( love or hate) Stuart Turner, these were inevitably changed for a more reliable diesel. Unfortunately the hull, (being mahogany clinker copper riveted to approx 1" oak ribs), was not really designed to take the extra weight and vibration from a single cylinder diesel, more the gentle purr of a two-stroke, so the rivits loosened and the hull started leaking.

I couldn't devote the time to looking after her properly so I sold her on...and bought the next best thing.....a GRP Mirror Offshore....sailing charactarisics much the same ...ie non-existant, but being GRP is near enough maintenance free and tough as old boots......

If you have other interests, like a job, a life etc...Take my advise forget wood and stick to GRP and spend your time sailing not fixing.

Very Active Dauntless Association...Google "Dauntless Association"
 
Applescruffs said:
Dauntless' were very lightly built, and the remaining examples were never meant to last as long as they have. It sailed about as slow as boat can sail with a swing keel that felt as if it would drop off at any moment, the swinging keel case was very poorley attached to the rest of the keelson and for an East Coast boat I was paranoid about letting the keel touch bottom in case the boat swung 'round and ripped the whole lot off!. The keel was never more than two-thirds down. The rudder was designed to keep in line with the keel as the boat dried out, as a result it was quite short, this was ok when the boat sailed upright , but being short when the boat heeled you lost steerage as the rudder came out of the water !
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Ah! Those were the days. They don't make 'em like that any more, do they?;)
 
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