Row at Helford

[fisherman]

At last, got over to the river for a pull, Gweek and back: here's the Fisherman's Acme boat shifter in action, as the tide was a bit recalcitrant getting to me. Tide waits for no man, but don't rush neither. Rolled her about fifty yards on those.

https://imgur.com/a/DEJXkJo

No boats! Bit of a shock. Got to Gweek where three or four kids zooming about in toppers, every day when the tide arrives, I was told. Small space for them so plenty of action.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

At last, got over to the river for a pull, Gweek and back: here's the Fisherman's Acme boat shifter in action, as the tide was a bit recalcitrant getting to me. Tide waits for no man, but don't rush neither. Rolled her about fifty yards on those.

https://imgur.com/a/DEJXkJo

No boats! Bit of a shock. Got to Gweek where three or four kids zooming about in toppers, every day when the tide arrives, I was told. Small space for them so plenty of action.

I went for a row to recheck new potential moorings last sunday. Muddy and uncertain chore, but so nice to get my back into a row. You were lucky enough to have a better spot and I like your rollers

 

[neil_s]

We had Sea-esta Rollaboats back in a day. Inflatable sausages of Li-Lo-like material. They worked very well for those of us who couldn't afford a launching trolley. Over soft ground, too - as your buoys-on-string show. They doubled-up as under thwart buoyancy in my plywood sailing dinghy!

 

[Boathook]

Very pretty looking dinghy fisherman. Is that the little creek by the Shipwrights?

 

[fisherman]

Very pretty looking dinghy fisherman. Is that the little creek by the Shipwrights?

Yes. Launched at the ford at the top.
The boat was last used as an oyster dredging punt. 15ft long, found having been in a barn at Mawnan Smith for 30 years, thought to be 80-90 years old. I had to put in a stem, most frames, and a couple of half planks, one thwart and four knees, and scarf a broken gunnel. It was evidently built for racing, we tried it at the local regatta, mixed randan, two 70 year olds and a girl of 19, we came an honourable last.
Should call it Trigger's broom, but named it after the wife.
Er-yn-dauz.

 

[johnalison]

Having got over my shock at the possibility at a contretemps at this beautiful spot, I was reminded of a lovely evening we spent there. Sadly, I think it is unlikely that we will be able to return. We sat in the cockpit when we heard something of a racket as some craft approached, This turned out to be a sailing school/club, with a group of about eight dinghies accompanied by a couple of small RIBs. The racket was being made by the children in the dinghies who had been encouraged to behave as badly as possible, ramming each other and chucking water around. My pleasure was increased by the realisation that this was the ideal way to teach youngsters to sail, by distracting them from the stress of having to make the intellectual effort of trying to follow the rules.

 

[fisherman]

Helford River Children's Sailing Trust

 

[fisherman]

Incidentally, what do we think of a rig like this on this boat?
Skerry (Balanced Lug Rig) Sailing, Rowing, Motoring Cruising Light Craft | eBay

I have a gunter rig + jib off a Tutor ten, identical to a Mirror rig which I have fitted, but would a dipping lug be better?

 

[NPMR]

No direct experience to help you. But ....

I made an 8' plywood rowing dinghy some 40 years ago.

A few years ago, I decided to convert it to sail as well. Got a loose footed gunter sail made up (at Penrose Sails), recut from an old sail from my Cutlass 27, long since sold, and measured photos of other boats for position of unstayed mast, and dagger board I felt would be good.

Result, absolutely NO upwind ability at all. Happily runs down wind and across the wind but useless close to the wind!

I suspect the mast position may need to be more carefully thought about!

Rows back up wind quite well still!

 

[fisherman]

Interesting. Of course this has a 15ft long (almost) straight keel. Rather than turn on a sixpence I'm expecting the GDP of a minor Pacific island nation, so the temporary ten foot steering oar may be an advantage. The mast is stepped on the for'd thwart....but I'm going for trials before anything is final. The stays will be in the way if the tack is for'd of the mast.
Loose footed... the one in the pic has a boom, and I have all that kit. I was going to cut the sail from the mirror main, but it's triangular for a start, the dipping lug is near square. Find another sail is the answer.
Pic of the gunter rig:
Found some sails