IDENTITY? DROP KEEL 20ft(about) 2+2 BERTH OFFSET COMPANIONWAY

[sailorman]

Apart from anything else. The fact that it's sat on a "Biggish torpedo shaped weight on the base of keel" and is laying over, is full of water and the bulkhead is detaching would lead me to suspect the hull is either damaged or weakened about the keel box.
Seajet will tell you that it happens regularly to Jaguar 22s. I think his phrase is that the hull around the keel goes soft like jelly.

I have repaired two dinghies that filled with water and punched though the floor where they were resting on the trailer.

Really. It's just a money pit. I cut up a better Micro-cup boat than that which had all it's gear and sails.

See #11

 

[Lakesailor]

See #2

 

[sailorman]

See #2

we sort of agree then

 

[pontsimo]

Cast iron

I believe some Matildas had lead bulbs on the CB.

Just sold a half a tonne of lead for £650

The rest looks ready for cutting up (use a diamond tipped cutting blade in a large angle grinder) and drop it off at your local recycling centre (if you take the lot in one go you will be charged a small sum).

Cast Iron keel weight.

 

[pontsimo]

Yep I reckon it's an EARLY Matilda.....the deck mouldings look 1970s to me and I see they were first built from 1971. The big question mark is the drop keel and whether everything works right. Got to get her slewed round north south and flat and jack her up to see if the keel is free and the hull around the keel is sound and watertight. It's a very well moulded little boat and tough as old boots I reckon....so think there is a good chance she's serviceable.

 

[sailorman]

Yep I reckon it's an EARLY Matilda.....the deck mouldings look 1970s to me and I see they were first built from 1971. The big question mark is the drop keel and whether everything works right. Got to get her slewed round north south and flat and jack her up to see if the keel is free and the hull around the keel is sound and watertight. It's a very well moulded little boat and tough as old boots I reckon....so think there is a good chance she's serviceable.

With out doubt its just a matter of the £s

 

[pontsimo]

Yep the river is right the Caen and the weight on the keel is cast iron. . been abandoned close on ten years. If anyone knows past owners please let me know.....they may have sails! Looks like its sunk properly at some stage ....the mud line inside is at cooker level! ......But I still say the hull might just be in ok Nick .....it'll be fun finding out. My grandfather was a wharf manager at the Royal Docks in Deptford .......although now a very depressed area of London.......it was once the "Royal Borough of Deptford" would you believe! I just love scrappy riversides.

 

[pontsimo]

Yep.....most people aren't very resourceful . I LOVE doing stuff for Nowt! Gives me a big kick....sad but true! Can't see where the expense is unless the hull is grandly mullered .....which I don't think it is. And as you say what expense there is is time spread. Gives you time to find.....acquire....locate stuff for Nowt or next to Nowt! Thanks for your approval.

 

[pontsimo]

Reckon it's doable for the low hundreds. Thanks for your support.

 

[pontsimo]

On second inspection the design is a well braced monocoque with a really well braced transverse GRP bulkhead formed by the cockpit front . And there's a lot of transverse bracing in the form of the sink/cooker moulding which supports the keel housing. Plus she's short so those bulkheads/mouldings alone are plenty enough to brace the hull and superstructure . The timber bulkheads are just dividers really and they've become detached from the ceiling....easy to reattach them . The berth ......she's washed up on the absolute high tide mark .....maybe 20 tides a year I'd say! And it's a sheltered spot with firm ground. I just need her to sit north south and upright and then raise her so I can check the drop keel. She ain't but an overgrown dinghy really and twenty bodies could lift and slide and roll her on rollers I reckon . All a challenge.....terrific!

 

[josephmoore]

If/when the time comes I reckon you could get hold of some dinghy sails that would do for the time being. My friend put a Mirror (dinghy, not offshore) rig on his as he only used it for pottering around and that was more than enough sail for one old man to handle with his granddaughters aboard. He had another set off something like an Albacore I think it was which he said fitted the original mast fairly well. If you're not fussy and happy to make do with what's around then there's less reason to spend much money.

Gotta admire your enthusiasm - you're either a sucker for a project or you aren't and it's a hard thing to describe to people who don't understand it!

 

[sailorman]

On second inspection the design is a well braced monocoque with a really well braced transverse GRP bulkhead formed by the cockpit front . And there's a lot of transverse bracing in the form of the sink/cooker moulding which supports the keel housing. Plus she's short so those bulkheads/mouldings alone are plenty enough to brace the hull and superstructure . The timber bulkheads are just dividers really and they've become detached from the ceiling....easy to reattach them . The berth ......she's washed up on the absolute high tide mark .....maybe 20 tides a year I'd say! And it's a sheltered spot with firm ground. I just need her to sit north south and upright and then raise her so I can check the drop keel. She ain't but an overgrown dinghy really and twenty bodies could lift and slide and roll her on rollers I reckon . All a challenge.....terrific!

Keep us informed as to progress, hours & cost
we need to have a laugh now & then

 

[pontsimo]

My thoughts entirely. I've got a wishbone rig off my tonic dinghy I could use ( anybody remember them? ) a sort of laser sized thing that absolutely flew two up with the wind off the rear quarter........the keel tried to hum a tune.

 

[Iain C]

Whilst I also admire your enthusiasm I cannot overemphasise enough what a bad idea this is. The boat is missing so much, that it will cost you thousands to get that back on the water in a seaworthy condition. You can't use driftwood to make a rudder, and by the time you've added an engine, sails, ropes, and added up the cost of all of the paint, resin, wood, varnish,sealant, antifoul, fittings, electrics, safety gear etc you might as well just throw your money away as your boat will be worth next to nothing by the time you've finished it. Just go and have a little wander around a chandlery and check out prices before you do anything if you don't believe me...

Boatyards all over the place are full of complete boats, with all the parts, that just need someone with your enthusiasm to take them on for silly money, but at least you have a complete boat. A mate of mine recently sold a Trapper 28' absolutely complete, and in commission, for two and a bit grand...the only issue being a very old petrol inboard.

I've tinkered with many boats in my time, my last acquisition was the flying 15 in my signature...that was a freebie, it was absolutely complete in every way down to every last fitting, a new cover and a good galvanised trailer...all it's missing is the tiller block (£80) and sails (been promised some freebie ones from a club member). I still had to think very hard about it, and came to the conclusion that as it was likely to be one of the oldest surviving boats, had history, and would recoup what I will spend in terms of epoxy, wood and varnish, it was probably worth doing. She is also achingly, bite the back of your hand pretty...in the nicest possible way your project isn't, and someone with your enthusiasm and resourcefulness would be far better channelling that energy into something that is complete and at least semi-seaworthy.

Good luck...and have a serious think...

 

[pontsimo]

Thanks .....all good thoughts......but you don't know how resourceful I am!!!!!. And I'm time rich! Thing is its such a simple little tub.....nothing there really! Just an overgrown dinghy with a roof on. And actually most of it is dirt and algae. The BIG question is the state of the drop keel and keel seat on the under hull. If that's mullered ( which I don't think it is ) its a different deal. I'm an industrial designer by training so stuff that others might shy away from doesn't look so bad to me......we'll see eh? Ill post developments as time goes by! thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Lakesailor]

Someone was willing to give me an F/F. It just wanted a repair where the rudder had smacked up into the hull. It was on a trailer which needed work, etc. But I couldn't see it was going to be economical really.
You can pick up decent F/Fs for £700.

 

[Eric79]

I think your mad but good luck!

I live in North Devon too and there are quiet a few bargins to be had atm, check out the NDYC website if you change your mind about this one.

I'm tempted to pop out and have a look this too - don't i wouldn't dream of trying to buy it.

 

[Swinranger]

Pontsimo,
as I'm sure you know, it's not all about the money.
I've just about finished my own project and have had enormous fun doing it. The finished article has cost far in excess of its market value, but it isn't important. I now have a boat that I know very square inch of and have incorporated a lot of custom features that I could not have got on a ready built vessel.
Of course the money is a consideration, but I would probably have spent it on something else anyway and not got half the satisfaction that I got from constructing something unique.

Best of luck, I hope you keep us updated!

 

[onesea]

Pontsimo

Your mad and I like it

I agree check she is structurally sound first, then start hunting boat jumbles and car boot sales.

Look for everything but only buy, new what you REALLY need.. Does she NEED guardrails, pushpits and Pull pits now?

Cost wise she NEEDS a Rudder an outbaord, Outboard bracket, anchor and sails.

X boat sails cut down will be sufficient or squib sails?

If the Bulkhead is shot you may need to replace it but that is time as much as money...

Get her sailing, then decide what you need to buy make do and mend. Get afloat is my tip.

As for removing her from where she is why not slide her back down the slope for the next tide to reach her? Clear the area of debris that might damage her. Rocks stones etc try adding protection to the hull then gently slide her down?

Agree with others for 1000 pounds you buy similar ready to go... Depends on your dreams and your pocket...

 

[josephmoore]

NEEDS a Rudder an outbaord, Outboard bracket, anchor and sails.

No bracket needed - the Matilda has a well in the cockpit. I can say from experience that an old Johnson/Evinrude 6hp 2-stroke is the perfect fit, but the later (still old, 1990s) 8hp version is too big at the bottom end.

As the man has said: provided the hull is sound then why not... sure there are easier and arguably cheaper ways to go about acquiring a boat but sometimes the fun can be had in making do and mending. A boat like this doesn't matter if it's a perfect example of the class, just that someone gets enjoyment and another lump of discarded plastic is removed from the shoreline. Frankly, there are very few boats in this world which are anything approaching financially sensible if you just look at the numbers.