GRP Moulding Supplier?

[Gubbo]

Having decided that it's time to change boats again, I am considering fitting a new hull out this time. Does anyone know of a supplier of GRP mouldings that may include sailing hulls in the region of 22'-24'. I'm sure old Colvic would have had a selection but of course they're no longer around in their old form.

I have previously fitted-out a 30' hull but am now looking for something smaller for estuary and short coastal hops. Something in the style of a Cornish crabber or Norfolk Gipsy in mind...can anyone make some suggestions.

cheers
Gubbo

 

[Twister_Ken]

You could always ask people like Select Yachts (Cornish Range), Drascombe, Gaffers and Luggers (Falmouth 'working' boats), Martin Heard (Falmouth 'working' boats) or Charlie Ward (Norfolk range) if they'd be prepared to sell you a set of mouldings.

 

[snowleopard]

British Hunter always used to supply their boats in kit form and had the particular advantage that if you used the full kit you could get a CE mark at the end of the build. Their website doesn't mention the kit option now so they may have stopped doing it.

Bear in mind the RCD problem with self-build, i.e. that it's prohibitively expensive to get a CE mark on a self-build and illegal to re-sell within Europe without one. There is an exemption if you keep the boat more than 5 years from completion but you can't even give or bequeath it inside that time.

I would also mention that most would-be builders imagine that by starting with a hull you're more than half way there. Not so, if you build from scratch you'll have a shell after at most 20% of the build time so it's always worth looking at building from plans instead. I've built 6 40-foot hulls to date. The best route is to borrow a mould as it's quicker to get a good finish without hours of tedious sanding.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Select now own British Hunter as well

 

[rhumlady]

I believe the 5 years start when you start using the boat so get it in the water and go sailing asap the work on finishing it between sails.

 

[Thistle]

Not been reading the magazines lately, then? A series of articles over the last 3 or 4 months has taught us everything we need to know about GRP moulding ... you've just got to scale everything up, haven't you?? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Gubbo]

Many thanks for the advice here. I fear that the RCD issue may be a stumbling block. I was aware of it at the time of my last fit-out but we squeeked inside the relevant dates.
Perhaps I'll go down the renovation route to satisfy my creative urges.
Cheers
Gubbo