Mark-1
Well-Known Member
Died today according to his FB page.
RIP Percy Blandford.
- Thread starter Mark-1
- Start date
Seajet
...
Another boyhood hero gone; when I was 8 or so I was given a book of his designs, I really fancied a Foamcrest.
Fair winds and following seas Percy, you brought pleasure to thousands of people.
Fair winds and following seas Percy, you brought pleasure to thousands of people.
BoyBlue49
Well-Known Member
I didn't know he was still alive, I won my first canoe race in a PBK 15, the Round Mersea Island race organised by Chelmsford Boating Club, must have been 1956 or 7.
Many thanks Percy for many enjoyable sea and river miles.
Many thanks Percy for many enjoyable sea and river miles.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
My father built one of his designs; a PBK18 3-seater kayak. He got a kit of materials from a place in Bradford called (I think) York Marine Craft Ltd.
Sire
Well-Known Member
It's very disappointing that he didn't get more official / public recognition. I'm also surprised that there are only 140 members of his FB group, considering how incredibly creative and inspirational he was.
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
The sort of people who admire him would be building their own smart phones from scratch in their sheds, and haven't quite finished yet!
I was sorely tempted a few years ago by a second-hand folding sailing canoe built to one of his designs; and have a little book of his on how to build your own dinghy, plans included.
chrisb
Well-Known Member
RIP Percy .
My first sailing boat was a PB two seater canoe to which I added a gaff rig , lee boards and a rudder controlled by canes . Sailed on the River Weaver at Northwich in Cheshire . Never gave up sailing and now half way through a circumnavigation . Inspirational guy .
chris.bates@mailasail.com/blogs
My first sailing boat was a PB two seater canoe to which I added a gaff rig , lee boards and a rudder controlled by canes . Sailed on the River Weaver at Northwich in Cheshire . Never gave up sailing and now half way through a circumnavigation . Inspirational guy .
chris.bates@mailasail.com/blogs
Cafloat
Well-Known Member
My very first time on the sea was in a PB two seater canoe that my Dad had built. Unfortunately I cannot actually remember the occasion as I was only 2 years old. Possibly started off my lifelong love of the sea.
I was still paddling the same canoe round Poole Harbour in my 20's! Great design that stood the test of time. RIP PB
I was still paddling the same canoe round Poole Harbour in my 20's! Great design that stood the test of time. RIP PB
Gumpy
Well-Known Member
my first craft was a PBK in the late 50s early 60s that says it all
ffiill
Well-Known Member
He would have been 102 this year-my beginnings with boats
Slow_boat
Well-Known Member
My first boat was a canvas PBK 15 canoe. Added a mast, leeboards and a rudder and sailed round Portsmouth harbour. I was 11yr old at the time and called her 'Flying Dragon' in gold Airfix paint.
bernie_ni
Active Member
I remember the PBK canoes, around at a time long before fibre-glass. Great canoes (kayaks, really) that will always be remembered with nostalgia
RIP Percy
RIP Percy
Searush
Well-Known Member
The canvas did not cope well with barnacle covered breakwaters as I recall . . .
but a million thanks for a thousand adventures on a budget. You live on in the hearts of many, Percy.
but a million thanks for a thousand adventures on a budget. You live on in the hearts of many, Percy.
clyst
Well-Known Member
First built a PBK10 at the age of 13 in 1962 ( still have the original plans) .The rest is history! Had boats ever since . Thanks Percy .
Robin
Well-Known Member
I built one a PBK15 I think marine ply bottom with a canvas deck, built from from a kit in a friends unused stable . Went on at 21 to build an 11ft marine ply runabout with a 25hp outboard, from plans, no kit that time, sold it because it was hopeless for use on the river we lived by and it didn't function well as a boat to sea fish offshore from either, used the money to buy an Enterprise sailing dinghy having been introduced to sailing on the 1962 Tall ships Race by Ocean youth Club, aboard Theodora, a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter a succession of racing dinghies followed , then with family got into my own cruising boats and am still at it. Again, THANKS Percy, look what you started!
oldharry
Well-Known Member
PBK canoe at age around 8 onwards, followed by his Lysander - a boxy little gunter rigged weekender which gave us enormous fun, but was surprisingly seaworthy and di everything we asked of it well. An ideal beginner boat, safe, forgiving and tremendous fun. Thanks Percy, your memory lives on for many of us.
Ranks with Arthur Ransome as one who in his heyday introduced so many of us to boating and sailing.
Ranks with Arthur Ransome as one who in his heyday introduced so many of us to boating and sailing.
neil_s
Well-Known Member
'Pete' 6 foot pram dinghy with lugsail. Made from one sheet of hardboard. Only lasted a couple of years but what fun! I still have a quiet read of 'Build your own boat' every now and then. Thanks, Percy - you started me on a life long adventure.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Sounds intriguing. Do you know where I might lay my hands on a set of plans?
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
Wooden Boat Fittings
Well-Known Member
RIP Percy. What an inspiration he was to so many of us.
I built a wood-and-canvas PBK27, Kareela, to his design in 1960. She's a 13' cruising kayak, and the plans were purchased from the Melbourne Scout Shop. I built her complete with lugsail, leeboards, pedal-operated rudder, and trolley. Everything worked perfectly and still does, over half a century later. I've paddled and sailed her on Port Phillip Bay, on Western Port, in numerous rivers and lakes, and indeed in Bass Strait, and she has never once given me a moment of concern.
I personally owe Percy a great debt of gratitude, and I was pleased to be able to tell him so just a few years ago.
Mike
I built a wood-and-canvas PBK27, Kareela, to his design in 1960. She's a 13' cruising kayak, and the plans were purchased from the Melbourne Scout Shop. I built her complete with lugsail, leeboards, pedal-operated rudder, and trolley. Everything worked perfectly and still does, over half a century later. I've paddled and sailed her on Port Phillip Bay, on Western Port, in numerous rivers and lakes, and indeed in Bass Strait, and she has never once given me a moment of concern.
I personally owe Percy a great debt of gratitude, and I was pleased to be able to tell him so just a few years ago.
Mike
