Identify This?

Lakesailor

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Feb 2005
Messages
35,233
Location
Near Here
Visit site
My brother-in-law bought a dinghy today. He knows sod all about boats but it turned out to be a half-decent buy in that for £50 he got a dinghy (which I thought was a GP14 beneath the cuddy, but perhaps the stem is raked too steeply).
He also got a 5HP Johnson and 2 nearly new Helly Hansen bouyancy aids as well as various Holts Saftibags and oars.
However the rig with the boat is a gunter rig. Did GP 14s ever have gunter rigs? The sail logo is wrong as well. The sails are pretty new, bright red and made by Jekells.

Can we identify some of this?

14 feet OA
almost 6ft beam
Marine ply
Cuddy is an addition.



gp1.jpg


gp2.jpg


gp3.jpg


Sail Logo (ish)

saillogo.jpg
 
I don't know what it is, but its defo NOT a GP14 for certain. GP is Hard Chine Hull, this is Double Chine. Beyond that I'm mystified. Even my 1960s Observers book of sailing dinghies has let me down.

I'd be interested to know what it is for curiosities sake.
Tim /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
The hull reminded me of a 'Lazy E' which was like a longer version of the 13'3" Enterprise (Jack Holt), although I am under the impression that the Lazy E was longer than 14 feet.
No idea about the logo.
 
It has an Ian Proctor look about it. Bow is raked too far forwards, and sheerline too curved for a Wayfarer, but it looks a bit like one. OTH the lack of rocker on the top chine makes it look more like a 60s speedboat.

Hope that's helpful?
 
I think it is a Tarpon by Percy Blandford. They were 14ft and came in kit form from the same firm that did kits for Percy Blandford's Lysander.

They used to advertise then in "Light Craft" magazine for anyone old enough to remember.
 
I think you are on the right track. Light Craft promoted many designs similiar to more well known classes but subtly different. They also published plans only, and many people "adjusted" the plans as they went along. Or perhaps someone started building an Enterprise but turned over two pages at once?
The fact that it has frames suggests a fairly early design. Once the Mirror phenomena started many designs lost the framing.
Not bad for £50 is it? Lots of occupational therapy there.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Well spotted.
14' and sleeps 4 people, I wonder if it had a holding tank?

[/ QUOTE ]

Holding tank.....

bucket.gif
 
That was my opinion. 10 months after starting to restore my Heron I wished I'd had that insight.
However there is only a small hole in the sole (caused by weight of water and a trailer roller) and a bit of rubbing strake damaged to worry about. Other than that it sounds (knock,knock) in good condition.
He was looking for a small rowing/outboard powered boat to use from his garden and into Ullswater. That's the River Eamont in the piccy, he lives at Pooley Bridge.
So he may give a fettling as he likes messing about with wood.
(I may beg the gunter rig to use as an alternative on my clinker dinghy, nice red sails)
 
Top