Northney yachts - who made 'em?

Durcott

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Jul 2006
Messages
194
Location
East Cowes, Isle of Wight
Visit site
Northney yachts - who made \'em?

Hi

I have a Northney 34, undergoing TLC to turn it back into a sea going proposition. Remarkable condition for the age.

Back in late 2005, there was a thread saying this class was built by Holman & Pye, but my old registration paperwork says Arundel Marine built it.

Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks

Jeff Adams
 
Re: Northney yachts - who made \'em?

Designed by C. R. Holman, 33'9" x 24' x 9'1" x 5'6", builders various. Aimed at offshore Class 3 but John Illingworth's Maiica had the edge, winning the Fastnet - and my love affair in the late Sixties.
How I miss those running backstays, the 4HP Stuart Turner, the drips from the deckhead right over my bunk . . .
 
Re: Northney yachts - who made \'em?

Ah - that's the key then - various builders ....

Thanks for that.

Running backstays!!! My rig is all static, though obviously not original. I have a set of architect's plans, which more or less match what was built. Do you think there'd be any documentation for the original rigging?

Thanks

Jeff
 
Re: Northney yachts - who made \'em?

Northney 34 is GRP version of Shaker class, designed by CR Holman.

The Shaker is essentially a North Sea 24 with a counter.

"Shaker" herself is at Walton-on-Naze, saw her the other day, mooring just below the Twizzle. There is certainly at least one other wooden one, as I looked at, but did not buy her, 22 years ago.

IIRC about 30 Northney 34's were built by Arundel Marine, but the moulds were destroyed in a yard fire, which ended production.

Probably the prettiest GRP boat ever.
 
Re: Northney yachts - who made \'em?

Hi

I had a Northney in the 70's. We had a standing backstay which was original. The rig was very simple. Single forestay. One set of spreaders with a cap shroud and two lower shrouds each side and of course the single backstay with a rig tensioner on it. We had twin spinnaker poles. A super boat I wish I still had her.

Where abouts in Bristol is she?

James
 
Re: Northney yachts - who made \'em?

With respect to "Chuggin Around", I think that all the Northney 34's were built by the same builder, Arundel Marine, but that the wooden Shakers were built by several yards. The Illingworth and Primrose "Maica" design may have had runners and a Stuart Turner, but the Northney 34 has a masthead sloop rig, with no runners, and IIRC the original engine was an Albin petrol engine, which Holman seems to have been very fond of, as he often specified them.

A very lovely boat - pretty, handles very nicely and goes uphill very well in a blow.
 
Re: Northney yachts - who made \'em?

Hi guys,

thanks for all the info - an interesting story I reckon.

The boat - Mar Azul - is currently propped up on the yard at Bristol Marina.

Not sure where it will go after that. Floating harbour maybe?

Anyway - you're more than welcome to have a look and point out where I'm going wrong :-) Not that I'm doing anything other than repairs this year. You might tut at some of it, but a lot of the original 'fabric' is starting to shine through at last.

Thanks as always

Jeff Adams
 
Re: Northney yachts - who made \'em?

Apologies, my source material for the Northney 34 is obviously suspect!

The Island Cruising Club had two North Sea 24's, the 'little boats' in their Salcombe fleet (anyone sail on Provi or Hoshi?) and Maiica was on loan for only a year before being bought by a Salcombe yard. They rashly chartered her to impecunious undergraduates and we took her for 2 months every year from '68 to '70. The last cruise was memorable for rounding Ushant and marrying the cook, in that order!

I looked longingly at a sistership which came on the market for £23k a couple of years ago - they were built of iroko on steel frames by Burnes of Bosham and I didn't get beyond the surveyor's recommendation that all the frames needed replacing.

What price nostalgia?
 
Re: Northney yachts - who made \'em?

Nicholson & Marshall on Hayling Island were responsible for Northney 34. Arundel might have done grp work but I am sure N&M fitted them out and marketed them.David Cooper at Holman & Pye should be able to give you info.
 
Top