Who owns a Robert Tucker Caprice?

C

carl170

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Joined
13 Nov 2003
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halcyon23.blogspot.co.uk
As I cannot find an Owners association, or webiste about the Robert Tucker Caprice, I am thinking about starting one.

But before i put a load of effort in, I would like a rough idea of how many there are still out there.

The initial idea would be to set up some sort of register and maybe some problem pages, etc

Please add your name to this thread if you have a Caprice (ANY Model).

Regards

Carl
 
They were quite popular at one time but of course a lot of the wooden ones may well have perished by now.
There is one nice GRP one in the yard. There may be some remains of one or two wooden ones too but long since abandoned if there are.

Before you put any effort into forming an owners association make sure you have enough people committed to it to make it a success.

Even the Corribee OA has ceased to exist. Forumite SRP maintains a website thats about all.
 
Class forums can be set up quite easily, for free with Yahoo; the Hunter 19/ Europa owners do well with just this, it's a fairly lively set-up with plenty of answers to questions posed.

A proper website with a register is a labour of love; it takes a surprising amount of effort, I know as I run one !

There are significant hosting costs, and don't forget postage and printing costs for non - internet members; I have only got close to breaking even once, despite a fair few members...

Then again I do put a lot into it, as I say a labour of love; it would be a shame to have the Caprices go quietly into the night.

If assembling a website, don't forget a 'Buyers Guide' for potential newcomers to the boat, and a 'For Sale / Wanted' page, I place ad's for members who have paid their sub's.

Try to place an ad' for any website ( or Yahoo forum ) you may set up, in clubs, and major magazines if possible; has there been a review on 'buying a Caprice nowadays' lately ? if not that may get the class some notice, and a chance to promote the Class Association - a good C.A. is always a major point in a boat's favour if contacts will be required for spares and tips etc.
 
carl170 said:
As I cannot find an Owners association, or webiste about the Robert Tucker Caprice, I am thinking about starting one.

But before i put a load of effort in, I would like a rough idea of how many there are still out there.

The initial idea would be to set up some sort of register and maybe some problem pages, etc

Please add your name to this thread if you have a Caprice (ANY Model).

Regards

Carl
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I've owned a Caprice and I think the OA was part of the Sillhouette Owners Association. Website here: http://www.soia.org.uk/

Cheers, Brian.
 
flobbergob said:
I've owned a Caprice and I think the OA was part of the Sillhouette Owners Association. Website here: http://www.soia.org.uk/

Cheers, Brian.
Click to expand...

I have searched the SOA pages and it doesn't appear to be part of them now!

As I have sail number 1000, I would have thought a fair few would have survived.

So far there is tobermoryphil, mbt274 and myself. The rally should be good!

This will have to do for a start. I have probably seen about 20-30 for sale in the last few years, but I guess they do not read these forums.

Anyone else please let me know (via PM may be best).

I will post updates when any progress has been made.

Regards

Carl
 
I've got one - based in the Solent area. Looked into an OA as well but couldn't find one although there is a domain registered for one. I've got the email address of the guy who owns the domain.
Might be better to set up a Yahoo group rather than doing a website.
Wot
 
Mark 4 # 771

Hi, I have a Mk 4 currently nearing completion of a light renovation (whatever that is). On land at Somerleyton, Suffolk (the boatyard where the first hovercraft was created).

Sail number C771 outboard.

Hoping to trailer her up to West Coast of Scotland later this year and the Adriatic either in the Autumn or Spring 2012.

Happy to contribute to a website, as I am a retired ICT teacher, so a simple task, at least in the early stages.

Chris
 
Guilty!
I have a Mk 4 Caprice, which I bought in 2004 - the Soton show model 1978, sail no. C902. I met, by pure chance, the original owner, a former ferry captain. Yes, I have tried to trace any owners' association, but I now have very limited leisure time, as I am a full-time (apart from 4 hours per week) carer, but I've not hung up my oilskin.
 
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Hello Carl170 & everyone: Did you get the forum started? If so, I am having trouble finding it, so could you send me a link? I actually don't know how to sail, yet, and am shopping for my first sailboat. I've come across a curious 'for sale' listing of a boat in my neighborhood. It's listed as a "1978 Capri 20' " and said it's made in "Brittain". The advertisement has some photographs, and after much research I believe that the boat is in fact a 1978 Caprice Mk5. The current owner was given the boat by someone who just wanted it out of their backyard, and has been working to restore it. I don't believe he did much research on the design, however, because certainly a selling point would be that it is a Tucker and that one similar, though a smaller model, holds the record for smallest boat sailed around the world. Certainly he would have mentioned it - though perhaps my research is wrong, which is why I am seeking additional information and am hoping you've been successful in launching a website forum. Photos, spec sheets, history, etc. would all be so very helpful to me. I am curious how the boat handles and what conditions it is best suited for, etc. This fella is selling his labor of love, which is only just restored, as he is soon to be a father and will have neither the time nor resources any longer. He's done about everything on the restoration except purchase new sails - so he hasn't had sufficient time on the water to provide me feedback on the boat's handling. When I started my research on this boat I was hoping to find the rigging specifications and information on the hull design and anything else I could learn. What I've found out so far is that the current owner knows so little about the boat (doesn't even know what he owns) that I shall need to rely upon my own research in making the decision to purchase. That and perhaps a good marine survey. Please send any links you can, or any additional information on the forum, as I could use advice on these very interesting boats. Thank you so much. Mary Maggio from Barnegat NJ USA/ email: mary.maggio@gmail.com
 
Hi Mary, Tucker Designs still exist as a company and are most helpful with sail plans, etc. Their address is http://www.tucker-designs.com/
I can't help you with the sailing qualities of the Mk 5, but I've had a Mk 2 and currently have a Mk 4, both of which are very seaworthy and capable of more than most other pocket yachts.
It was Shane Acton who sailed a plywood Mk 1 round the world. I suspect he got away with it because he didn't know quite how crazy the idea was! Sadly he died of lung cancer, I believe, while still quite young.
Good luck with the boat - have you any idea how it found its way to your side of the pond? Maybe someone sailed over!
 
carl170 said:
As I cannot find an Owners association, or webiste about the Robert Tucker Caprice, I am thinking about starting one.

But before i put a load of effort in, I would like a rough idea of how many there are still out there.
Click to expand...


Hi,

Owners of a Caprice 19 here checking in... (fibreglass hull model - not sure of year...)
Its currently in Ireland.

I would be interested following any owner club if you have created one...



Also - Would _really_ appreciate a scan of an original operator manual or anything else like brochures etc if anyone has one for this boat.


thanks :)
 
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How many left?

carl170 said:
As I cannot find an Owners association, or webiste about the Robert Tucker Caprice, I am thinking about starting one.

But before i put a load of effort in, I would like a rough idea of how many there are still out there.

The initial idea would be to set up some sort of register and maybe some problem pages, etc

Please add your name to this thread if you have a Caprice (ANY Model).

Regards

Carl
Click to expand...

I've got one in GRP. Allegedly its a MK5 but I don't know where the build plate or hull number is. (when these were built Hull Identification Numbers were not mandatory) The boat looks sound apart from things like loose cleats and the odd steel screw or shackle fitted by an impecunious owner. Performance on sail is allegedly 4 knots maximum. Performance with the 7.5 HP Johnson Seahorse outboard is allegedly 6 knots. The boat was bought for a friend and its best feature is the way it takes the ground. No need for yacht cradles with one of these and if the tide goes out whilst you are having a pub lunch its not a problem. I'm STILL looking for a plug to fit the outboards lighting socket but at last I think I'm getting warm. There was a similar boat called a Ballerina but its a bit bigger and heavier. The Caprice at 19 foot six inches can save on marina fees and at approximately 1.1 to 1.2 tons displacement it can be towed by almost any full size car.

By the way the Caprice MK1 was built from 10mm plywood. Look up "Shane Acton" and "Shrimpy".
 
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Plug for o/b socket - I made my own for a Johnson 9.9. Get prongs from suitable plugs to fit in the holes, connect wires to them, grease the inside surfaces of the socket, put the prongs in the holes & stuff the socket with epoxy putty. When it has gone off you will have a perfect socket readymade.

Fat lot of good it will do you tho I suspect, the output from O/B's is pitiful. I made up a rectifier & connected it to the batteries, but the output is pretty low & I simply didn't use the engine enough to make a difference. A solar panel & wind genny will do much more, but will cost a bomb.
 
Searush is correct as usual, but if there's no alternative the charging coil on an outboard is still worthwhile.

Modern outboards, especially those designed with cruisers in mind, have twice the electrical output of earlier jobs, at around 6 amps - beginning to be properly useful !
 
I think you may find that the plugs with a short cable attached are available from dealers. At least they are for the models that superseded the 7.5 Unfortunately the lighting coils do not seem to be listed for the 7.5 on the (American) parts websites. They must have been a peculiarity of the European models!

However once you see the price you will be looking for an alternative.

That alternative is to simply bring out a cable connected to the lighting coil outputs and connect to the boat using a normal deck plug.

Those with a charging output are done like that anyway!

If your lighting coil has a three wire output then the diagrams below will be useful in understanding how to connect it for lighting or to a rectifier for battery charging

....................
 
Outboard AC Lighting

VicS said:
I think you may find that the plugs with a short cable attached are available from dealers. At least they are for the models that superseded the 7.5 Unfortunately the lighting coils do not seem to be listed for the 7.5 on the (American) parts websites. They must have been a peculiarity of the European models!

However once you see the price you will be looking for an alternative.

That alternative is to simply bring out a cable connected to the lighting coil outputs and connect to the boat using a normal deck plug.

Those with a charging output are done like that anyway!

If your lighting coil has a three wire output then the diagrams below will be useful in understanding how to connect it for lighting or to a rectifier for battery charging

....................
Click to expand...

I have now discovered that the connector is in fact a standard 4 pole deck plug! Amazingly the young lad at Maplin Electronics didn't recognise the plug saying they didn't sell anything that big! A chandler in Plymouth was phoned and they said I'd have to go to a Johnson agent, duh! you just can't get the right staff any more. The plugs are sold by E C Smith as 4 pole 2 to 3 amp deck plug. OK the outboard motor won't make a lot of electricity but even a couple of amps can go a long way with LED lighting.
 
davey said:
I have now discovered that the connector is in fact a standard 4 pole deck plug! Amazingly the young lad at Maplin Electronics didn't recognise the plug saying they didn't sell anything that big! A chandler in Plymouth was phoned and they said I'd have to go to a Johnson agent, duh! you just can't get the right staff any more. The plugs are sold by E C Smith as 4 pole 2 to 3 amp deck plug. OK the outboard motor won't make a lot of electricity but even a couple of amps can go a long way with LED lighting.
Click to expand...

That's lucky.
Pretty certain that the ones fitted to later models are not standard deckplugs/sockets!

Mine, having a DC output for charging, does not have a plug and socket at the engine end. It came with a lead connected directly to the rectifier terminal block. Intended to connect directly to a near by battery.
I fitted a plug to the end of the lead and a deck socket on the boat to plug it into.
 
Caprice Owners,

did you get any further towards a class association ?

The easiest and cheapest ( free ) way is a yahoo group, as I say it works for the Hunter 19 / Europa people.

I get the impression there's not enough demand for a website costing money to run, or I'd offer to 'build' one for you for free ?
 
Website Thoughts

There are ISPs who offer discount hosting. I manage a small website for Avebury Chapel using UKHOST4U. It is only about £24 a year including domain name and, if I recall correctly, 512MB of space. Now at say £5 a head for membership, I concede that's 4 members, but it's a lot more flexible, surely, than Yahoo Groups??

One of the 'capriceowners' domains is taken, but I think from what it says on WHOIS, this is the Caprice car owners club, not the yacht.

ps Launched mine (Trilobite) today at Somerleyton, down the very slipway that the first hovercraft was tested and ... no leaks! Yippee!!
 
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