J Francis Jones Olgatar Help Please

olgatar

New Member
Joined
23 Jan 2007
Messages
9
Visit site
I would appreciate some help with the history of the boat I am restoring

We have almost no information except for a brass plate

Olgatar
1950
J Francis Jones
Hook Brothers Tengmouth

Shes Mahogony on oak and a Ketch
She may have been stored for many years on the Isle of Wight

I will add some pictures shortly

Thank you
 
Knew a chap who had one at Aldeburgh some twenty years ago. Very pretty - didn't pay to be in a hurry.

Some nice steel fastenings. The only consolation I can offer is that planking is not the most expensive job on the boat - particularly if you're able to either do the job yourself (with a friend - unless you have very long arms) or lend a hand to a professional that you can pay by the hour. Old Frank
 
Thank you Its a bit scary - the info is excellent!!!

Is she of a particular design of boat.??? I saw a similar boat with a single mast advertised as a Gurnsey Pilot Cutter
I had hoped she would be one of a sucesfull design Are there any similar out there - I would love to see one

Shes at Scott Metcarfe yard in Bangor and hes helping with the restoration

Thank you again
 
Er, mahogany planking, I see...

Bad luck.

Jack Jones had an amazing ability to make his boats look like other people's designs.

Olgatar for instance looks "very Laurent Giles", whilst Sephine II looks "very James McGruer", and so on.

Have you checked the Yachtsman's Annual and Yachting World Annual for 1949 and 1950 - JF Jones was usually not backward in coming forward and arranging that his designs appeared amongst the "new yachts of the year".
 
Im not sure what the books are you refer to - is it something i can find online or do i need to buy

Is laurent Giles a designer or a type of boat???

Sorry to appear dumb but I have a Fox Cub 18 and to be honest never looked at older boats

Were replanking with Iroko - I was advised that mahogony would cost £1000's

Thanks for the help
 
Sorry for delay in getting back to you - these are old books, which sometimes turn up in secondhand bookshops. It was customary in those days for any new boat to get written up in them.

You are far, far, better off with iroko - mahogany, as you have discovered, is rather treacherous stuff.

Laurent Giles was a well known designer.
 
hello olgatar,
i was very interested in your pics of the lovely olgatar i have no pics myself but have spent some time working on a ketch very like your own olgatar.
but please dont sob becouse im sure she will be worth all your hard work in the end.
s
 
[ QUOTE ]
In the Lloyd's Register of Yachts for 1975 Olgatar is owned by Mr & Mrs N Houghton of Teignmouth, she was registered at Brixham with an offical number of 183951. Hope this information is of some use.

[/ QUOTE ]

The 1969 Register has the owner as JW Scrase, 27 Whitfield Hill, Dover.
 
Just wondered if anyone knew anymore of this type of boat - With the help of some excellent friends we now have the egine running and a big part of the sanding done

Whats the best tip for old teak - Im thinking of linseed oil and varnish
 
Your boat is either a Guernsey Pilot Cutter or very similar indeed. Two are known to me (a) Anne Lory and (b) Carmelita. Both these were built by Hook Bros at Teignmouth in c.1951. I think I still have some photos of both of them. Both started their days flush decked with a small doghouse. The 3 portholes are familiar. Anne Lory was moored at Bosham in the 1960s and early 1970s, and was last seen by me at Portchester some 15 years ago, rather altered, many of the deck beams cut. Carmelita was at about the same date for sale at Totnes, still with original doghouse. In my file on Francis Jones (I always wanted one of his boats) I have a copy Yachting Monthly article on Carmelita shortly after she was built. The LOA should be about 30 feet if this is a GPC and the displacement absolutely enormous! I only knew of the two of them. Hope you will read this and get in touch. Good luck.
 
YOU HAVE BECOME MY NEW BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD!!!
WE HAVE DRAWN SUCH A BLANK TRYING TO FIND ANYTHING OUT ABOUT THIS BOAT
THE INFO YOU HAVE IS FANTASTIC AS WE THINK THE UPPER DECKS IS ADD ON HOWEVER THE MASTS MOUNTS SEEM TO BE DESIGNED IN WITH THE BOAT THE LENGTH IS 32FT AND YES I THINK THE DIPLSCEMENT IS HUGE
WIERD THINGS LIKE MASSIVE WATER TANKS - 2 HUGE DIESEL TANKS AND A BIG PETROL TANK ALL WHICH SEEM TO BE ORIGINAL TO THE BOAT JUST HAVENT MADE SENSE TO US
THANK YOU SO MUCH
IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFO
RICHARD
 
Richard
I have tried to send you a private message with my email address, hope that will work and then you can get in touch directly.
Edward
 
Top