Fletcher Arrowbolt 21 - Project (70's/80's?)

[J4se]

Hi, I’ve had an arrowbolt for a couple of years now and have really appreciated this thread in understanding how mine is put together, so thank you! Just wondered if there had been any further progress as it’s been a few years since the last update? Mine is the Slightly later Bmw inboard version and currently berthed in Conwy, North Wales and still gets plenty of use

 

[rbcoomer]

Hi, I’ve had an arrowbolt for a couple of years now and have really appreciated this thread in understanding how mine is put together, so thank you! Just wondered if there had been any further progress as it’s been a few years since the last update? Mine is the Slightly later Bmw inboard version and currently berthed in Conwy, North Wales and still gets plenty of use

Hi, I'm really glad the thread has been useful - quite a few have contacted me through here and Facebook doing similar projects so clearly lots of people saving old boats out there!
Mine has stalled temporarily due in part to lack of time, but mostly waiting on other projects. I need to get her undercover and flipped over to prep and gel the hull next. There's no point in fitting out the interior any further now as I'm just adding weight, so I need to build a covered area (probably carport style) at the side of the house as next step. I then have a plan to turn her over and repair/re-gel the hull. Once that's done and she's back on the trailer I can resume the refit, fit engine and drive etc, re-gel superstructure, trim the interior, make covers and so on. I did lift her up during lockdown and swap the temporary undersized trailer with the one from our Portofino. This had a couple of benefits - mostly space on the driveway, but also better support for the Arrowbolt hull. The sale of the 'spare' trailer also put some finds back in the pot towards the car port! I get the Portofino lifted at work with the travel hoist and stowed for maintenance, so hopefully won't need the trailer in a hurry...
The last couple of years have been mostly consumed by long overdue projects on the house and with amateur radio - my Son and I opted to do our foundation licenses last year and intermediates this year, which has taken some time, but will help his electronics and engineering which he is studying at college and for me, something on my to-do list for some 30 years. I have also somehow volunteered myself to help try and see a disused railway brought back into use - which I envisage taking quite a bit of time! The Arrowbolt is by no means forgotten, but was always a project to learn some new skills, so no real deadline - just a case of doing the best I can, when I can.
Have you posted up any pictures of yours? Would love to see, I have an affinity with the Fletcher brand - particularly the older and more unusual. I imagine yours will be around 1987/8 with the BMW?