Hillyard 8 Tonners

[Goosey]

Can anyone tell me. Were the 8 Tonners from the pen and yard of David Hillyard in Littlehampton only built with a hard chine hull or were they also built in carvel ?
and
Did they all have bilge plates ?

 

[johnlilley]

Hi
yes all the standard design 8 tonners are hard chine and fitted with bilge plates. Aft cockpit. The later ones have a longer coachroof. The bilge plates on the early ones were timber and later build fitted with steel plates. The exact line up of the plates can vary from boat to boat and therefore some sail better than others. They are all carvel build, occasionally the later one or two may be iroko but generally african mahogany. Later ones fitted with ply deck, earlier fitted with pine tongue & groove and if lucky, have been upgraded with thin plywood overlaid on the tongue & groove & then epoxy sheathed.
If I am able to answer any further questions plaese let me know.
Regards

John Lilley ( a Hillyard owner)

John Lilley, John Lilley & Associates, Web site www.seasurveys.co.uk for osmosis /timber problems