Voluta

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voluta

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I've just bought an old boat called Voluta. 50ft long, centreboarder, built 1900 by Stow and Sons, Shoreham, gaff yawl, well in need of a lot TLC, chequered history, of what I can gather, well known in the West Country in the Eighties.....any snippets well appreciated. Full scale rebuild/restoration already in progress. Many thanks...
 
Hi there, is this the boat that was in Rhodes? If it is, it was owned in the 50's by a Douglas Miller. My Grandfather used to sail with him!
 
Hiya Woody. Yep, this is the boat that was in Rhodes. I bought her on ebay in the end and with the help of lots of sawdust, lead tingling and expanding foam managed to sail her over to france where I'm starting a pretty major rebuild. I'm very interested in any info you may have on her or the people who sailed her, however insignificant it may seem-especially any photos or details of any description. Would your grandfather have been sailing with the old owner in Wales? I think she may have been there in the fifties-possibly as a bermudian yawl...?I'm trying to get her back to as close to as original as possible, and although I've a couple of old photos of the exterior, I've no idea how she was laid out inside, so thats of special interest.
Thanks for replying,
All the best seasonal greetings!
Simon.
 
Hi Simon. My Grandfather died twenty years ago but I'll try and find out some more from my Dad. Douglas Miller and my Grandfather both lived in Brighouse, West Yorkshire and I believe Voluta would've been kept in the Liverpool/North Wales area when Douglas owned her. I'll also see if my Dad has any contact with Douglas' children as they may have some more information.
Season's greetings to you too!
Chris
 
Hi Simon, just spoken to my Dad, he has photos from the fifties and also a copy of a BBC documentary about a previous restoration of her. He can probably also put you in touch with the Miller family.
Shall we make contact directly?
Chris
chris.wood747@virgin.net
 
No, from a chap called Mike Lee. Seemed like a nice chap tho never met him. I think it was him who bought her from Frith. Mainly interested in any of her earlier history,( especially pre-war), to try to restore her to as original as possible, although still interested in stories of her from any era...
 
Hi - I've been trying to track Voluta down for years - I used to know Brian Frith well - he ran a garage business near Bristol which is how I knew him. When he sold up he went into partnership with two or three other folk, one of whom was a chap called Mike, in order to buy and restore Voluta and then use her in the charter business.

My navigator/co-driver did some work on Voluta with Brian when they restored her. I also have a copy of the BBC documentary though I would need a little time to look it out.

She was used as a charter vessel after the last restoration both for sailing holidays and as a dive tender. The company that ran her was Devon Offshore.

I don't think I can add much more but if I think of anything I will post again.
 
Voluta.

Hi.

I was wondering if any of you could email me photo's and could any of you give me a copy of the BBC documentary,please? My great grandad may have been a skipper on the Voluta but I dont know the year,his name was John Frederick Sharpe and my Nan may have been in the documentary the surname was Wade from Brightlingsea,Essex and Ive never seen this documentary as I live in Scotland. I hope that one or all of you can help,please. My email address is:- carsdvd2005@yahoo.co.uk

Many thanks.

Dave.
 
Voluta.

Hi.

I was wondering if any of you could email me photo's and could any of you give me a copy of the BBC documentary,please? My great grandad may have been a skipper on the Voluta but I dont know the year,his name was John Frederick Sharpe and my Nan may have been in the documentary the surname was Wade from Brightlingsea,Essex and Ive never seen this documentary as I live in Scotland. I hope that one or all of you can help,please. My email address is:- carsdvd2005@yahoo.co.uk

Many thanks.

Dave.
 
The others in the Devon Offshore partnership were Mike & Jenny Collingwood. They ran Voluta and a Sadler or 2 out of the Yealm. After the school closed Mike & Jenny bought a Moody and went to the Caribbean.
I spoke to them just after they had bought Voluta and had survived a very hairy delivery trip from (I think) the Solent.
 
It was/is a big project! Half a keel, sternpost,horn timbers, stern knee, many frames a few planks, refastened, all new centreline bolts new rig-still in progress etc etc. Finish off rig and interior this winter with any luck then go cruising at last! In a bit better shape than when I got her 5 years ago anyway.
 
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