New Forum Posters

[Kristal]

I've noticed a fair few posts from relatively new members (less than 20 posts) on the CB forum recently, so this is a call for 'classic' owners (take that to mean whatever you will) to reply, say hello, and tell us about them and their vessels, projects, interests etc. I doubt we'll get the traffic of PBO or YM, but it's always reassuring to hear from other people who haven't been able to resist the allure of a lovely old boat...

/<

 

[mkpbyrne]

kris, your not getting very many replies so ill help out and kick off with my tale!!
im based in se of eire, i have been involved with classic and heritage boats for a while, but last year i finally bought my dream boat after a 17 year negation !!
its a 1918 (launched) camper and Nicholson ex steam gosport ferry, called Ferry king.
over the past year i have taken her from a part sunken wreck to a floating hull. currently her foredeck is being stripped and altered to give full standing room below.
well thats the over view!!
now whose next up?

mickb

 

[hannahman]

Ok, I'll go next in that case!
My parents bought a Dolphin 20 motorboat, new, in the early 1960's. A growing family, and a hankering to sail, led my folks to having a Cheverton Caravelle (24ft or thereabouts) built in 1964. The Caravelle was originally named 'Carella', but was re-named 'Nancy-Kelly' after my parents sold her. She still remains in the same sailing club to this day.
After four happy years with the Caravelle, and the arrival of more babies, my parents fell in love with the looks of the Hillyard, and had a 9 tonner built in 1968 and named her 'Hannah'.
After a very happy 11 years with Hannah, it was felt that the family had out-grown the Hillyard, and at the same time Dad wanted to sail faster and go 'GRP', so Hannah was sold in 1979 and replaced with a Bowman 40 (the early version, which was infact a Giles 38 with a counter, rather than transome stern).
Anyway, winding the clock forward, and not wanting to bore everyone with an essay, muggins persuaded Dad to go back to a Hillyard, so we had a 16 tonner for quite a few years, and eventually I ended up with my own Hillyard, a 6 tonner.
During the late 80s we met with our old 'Hannah', and kept in touch with her owner. He always promised me first refusal in the event of him wanting to part with her (not that I really had any plans to get anything bigger than my 6 tonner).
Well, 7 years ago, despite not having originally planned to buy bigger, I ended up with the old 'family boat', Hannah, much to the delight of our family.
Now Mum and Dad have the pleasure of the occaisional mini holidays aboard their old boat, but without the bills and maintenance tasks of the early years!

Doug

 

[Shuggy]

OK - momentum's growing! After years of never having enough money to own more than a wrecked GRP fishing boat with an outboard we finally decided last year that the time had come for replacement. That, and the fact that we had grown from a family of 2 to one of 5.

My dream boat last year - a Contessa 32. My wife's - a gentleman's twin screw wooden motor cruiser. We compromised with a wooden motor sailer, a Miller Fifer 33. A great boat and remarkably similar to my car - a Land Rover Defender...

I have a pink ticket for an unspecified number of days of maintenance over the winter so we'll soon see whether wooden boat ownership is going to be practical. I am however really keen to keep her at her current high level of finish.

I'm looking forward to more fantastic help from this forum - thanks for the replies to date.

Hugh

 

[davidt]

Hi Kristal....I've enjoyed reading your posts!

I own a 15ft Wivenhoe One Design clinker sailing dinghy which was originally built in 1935 and was restored from a forgotten wreck in a hedge to full sailing condition about 18 months ago. Interestingly enough, although being a Wivenhoe One Design, she was originally sailed on the Stour at Mistley and was built for Briton Horlock by Horlocks themselves. Bit different from a sailing barge!! She is my first 'classic' and I cherish her greatly. Luckily she is called Toucan rather than having a girls name which would cause major relationship problems.

Other than that I am very lucky to have the opportunity so sail on the 1st Class Essex Smack 'Pioneer' for which I am a volunteer. I basically help to develop links with local schools and youth groups wishing to sail on board. Although not 'mine', she plays a big part in my life.

Cheers

 

[Frangipani]

Not new to classic boats, just new to this new-fangled inter-web thingy. Have had Frangipani (an Uphams Waterbug - 24ft of delight, built in 1957) since 1998. Very original, right down to the original Stuart Turner - which has never missed a beat in all that time (says he, touching all the pieces of wood close to hand!) - except that her original sloop rig has been converted to a cutter. Cruised her initially in the North Sea and East Coast, but took her with me when I worked in the west country for a couple of years. Now settled permanently on the East Coast, and brought her back. This has been the year of "The Big Refit": repaying the topsides seams, full repaint inside and out. Full strip revealed the wood (pitch pine on oak) to be in really excellent condition, very gratifying and looking forward to being back on the water for her 50th.
During the year I've been getting my "sailing fixes" via my old GP14, which is scarcely any younger: built in 1958. After 48 years, she still has her original plywood, which is quite remarkable (I know this cos she was my first boat, when I was 17 - which is longer ago than I care to remember!).

PS The old Gosport ferry - is that the old "King Edward"? If so, she was sold in about 1948 to be clubhouse of Hampton Sailing Club on the Thames - I know they have some pictures of her, both in active service and during her clubhouse years: might be useful for a restoration.

 

[mkpbyrne]

hi Dominic

no the ferry is called the ferry king, her name was changed to solent queen when used by blue funnel cruises and changed again to crystal rose when she came to irl. however when i was originally power washing her i discovered her original Brest plate still on her stern ,it had the name filled in with car filler, seeing how she carried her name in disguise for so long i believe it is only right to revert back to the original name.!!

regards
mickb