Wooden boats

[Paddingtonbear]

I am the newish, extremely proud owner of a wooden boat. Does anyone know of any good wooden or classic boat forums based in the UK as it appears that most are based in USA where it appears all specialist services are available very locally and high quality wood is likewise and is cheap as well. I recently read a thread on the Wooden Boat forum where a person building a replica Danish fishing boat had the choice of two high quality bronze founders in his small town!! This means that the particular forum is of very little relevance to wooden boat ownership in the UK.

 

[Tranona]

Classic Boat used to be very active when it was part of IPC but has gone sour since the current owners took over the publication and forum. Magazine changed direction as well with concentration on the posh end and the US scene which provides nice pictures but of little practical use. Watercraft is useful for techniques but concentrates on the smaller boat scene, and no forum.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Classic Boat used to be very active when it was part of IPC but has gone sour since the current owners took over the publication and forum. Magazine changed direction as well with concentration on the posh end and the US scene which provides nice pictures but of little practical use. Watercraft is useful for techniques but concentrates on the smaller boat scene, and no forum.

+1 to both observations ... Classic Boat a great shame ... lost the plot completely!

 

[Romeo]

I agree that Classic Boat is not what it used to be. The magazine seems to have turned its back on those who do not buy luxury products such as watches that cost as much as yachts. Anyway I digress.

There is still a classic boat forum at http://www.classicboat.co.uk/ , but many who used to post on it have abandoned it and I suspect that for practical questions you will find more folk on PBO forum with knowledge of wooden boat maintainance/ removation issues than you will on the classic boat forum.

 

[Paddingtonbear]

Yes I had tried Classic Boat and have been on the forum but it is obvious that they has been killed off for Uk users. Perhaps someone (me?) should try and start a dedicated forum, I will have a word with techie boy when I go home on Friday.

 

[Zagato]

What boat did you get, any pictures

 

[bluemoongaffer]

Woodenboat forum is the best really - there are quite a few international contributors (Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, Scandinavians, Germans etc). Plus some good advice and help finding bits / wood.
Forums are all about getting a critical mass of like minded people and I don't think there are enough wooden boaters in the UK (or at least enough who want to spend time on a forum).

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Yes I had tried Classic Boat and have been on the forum but it is obvious that they has been killed off for Uk users. Perhaps someone (me?) should try and start a dedicated forum, I will have a word with techie boy when I go home on Friday.

Sadly, when the Classic Boat forum was removed from here, they shot themselves in the foot by insisting on moving all existing users, contrary to the wishes of many who objected to the forum being moved. If they had handled the move with a bit more tact and diplomacy, then I am sure it would have remained strong. Unfortunately they confused the readership of the forum with readership of the magazine!

This forum often attracts useful topics, and there is nothing to stop you asking on here - chances are someone will know what you want to know!

 

[chinita]

It is a shame that there is no UK based forum.

Although of little relevance, the US woodenboat forum is at least of some relevance.

I also visit this US site from time to time:

http://www.diy-wood-boat.com/Woodboat_Questions.html

 

[skipper681]

Congratulations, I grew up with and worked on wooden boats all my life and the small sailing boat I've just bought is my first GRP. I affectionally call it my first tupperware boat lol.

IMHO there's nothing like a good wooden boat.

 

[Paddingtonbear]

wooden boats

Absolutely brilliant Chinita, just what I wanted, a bit more down to earth than Wooden Boat.

 

[pyrojames]

I am one of those disenchanted by Classic Boats approach. I don't visit their forum but I regularly read PBO, YM and Liveaboard.

I have lived and breathed wooden boats all my life, and I am unlikely to change now!

 

[skipper681]

I found myself with nothing to do a couple of days ago, so made this while thinking about the original question, (I need to keep occupied lol)

http://www.everythingafloat.co.uk/index.php

I'm not trying to spam, it will just be interesting to see if we get any wooden boat owners on board.

 

[ffiill]

For fittings-Davy and co.For timber plenty of specialist timber firms about.For Spars there are still vey good timber mast builders.
With a wooden boat you either look after it yourself(and my old one is in a state of total neglect)or you pay a timber boat specialist.

 

[cdogg]

PHOTOS- Talking of wooden boats

My last wooden boat. If the photos are actually attached!

 

[johnlilley]

Used to know the original owner/builder of her . She was Keltisle lll I think. Tony Denton. Kept the boat in Itchenor Spent many hours aboard her. He had built several Keltisles & the name was the pedigree name of his Sheltie dog.
Moved to Jersey where he built his last boat. Sadly no longer here (Tony that is)

Very skilled man.

John Lilley

 

[cdogg]

Yes John you are right. I recognise the names you mention from the original construction drawings I had at the time.
The photos were taken, which you will probably have guessed: Albert Docks, Irish sea, Crinan Canal, Caledonian Canal en-route to The Moray Coast.
Thanks for making contact. Sadly, after I sold her she was seriously neglected and is now in a sorry state on the hard at Liverpool awaiting a kindly restorer.