|
|
Post by desperation on Dec 5, 2011 9:12:19 GMT
Hi all,
'Best of British' Moth 459 has been bought and will now reside at South Cerney Sailing Club on the Wiltshire/Glouceshire border, near Cirencester. The only Moth at the club.
The boat has been bought by my son Chris (16) with his own money. He has been sailing Cadets at the club for years and was looking for something single handed - but, like his dad, he likes wooden boats and is on a budget. He has crewed for me in my classic Merlin Rocket at a few CVRDA events over the last year or two, but now wants to drop the old man...
At one or two of these events he has seen classic Moths in action, which is why he is attracted to them.
The boat is not in bad condition and came with a almost new sail. It was refurbished/lightened/strengthened by its previous owner after being recovered from a garden in the Chester area, apparently. With a new deck, which seems serviceable enough, and new cleats and recent ropes.
One bit the previous owner missed was the centreboard case, which need some work towards the front, forward and above the pivot bolt on the inside. There is some delamination/softness/gouges, where the centre board friction device rubs.
I will allow to dry out before I remove any loose material and stabilise it with 'wet rot'. I will then fill any voids with epoxy. I will probably try to insert some 'formica' type panels in there for the friction device to work against. the case inself seems sturdy enough. At least we have a plan.
Anyone know any of this boats earlier history?
Steve on behalf on Chris.
|
|
|
|
Post by Meat Pie ... on Dec 5, 2011 9:34:22 GMT
Steve[ and Chris]
Firstly welcome and really good to hear that there is another Moth in Glos. and relatively close by to us at Frampton.
We will check out 459 and see what we can find out and let you know.
You mentioned the magic words "she has been lightened and strengthened and comes with an almost new sail"which indicates that being re-decked and re-roped she certainly has been cared for.Lets hope the Centreboard case can be sorted out OK.
Would be interested in hearing more about the Boat...layout,spars etc.
As ever would like to meet you both and 459 of course !
You would be very welcome if you wanted to visit us at Frampton and talk Moths for a while...we had 3 Moths racing yesterday.
Our season ends at the end of the year but just give me a call if you would like to come over.
If you need any help also please let us know.I guess you know that Moths are unique and spares tend to be rare-ish but if you need any bits please get in touch and we will try to help.If we cant we would be able to put you in touch with someone who can
We hope to see you at some of the events/opens next year.
We start off at Whitefriars with a training weekend on March 24/25th and the fisrt Open of the year the following weekend at Frampton ....
Roger Witts
FRAMPTON MOTHS
|
|
|
|
Post by desperation on Dec 5, 2011 10:51:26 GMT
Whitefriars is next door, lake wise, to us at South Cerney.
I am also in contact, through the CVRDA, with Rupert Wheelan, a Whitefriars member and ex-mothist
Lets hope we can sort something out by then - although I think Chris would prefer to get to grips with her first, at his own pace, over the summer - its a bit different to what he is used to (Cadets). I am not 'allowed' to make arrangements on his behalf any more - without first discussing it with him : ) But it would be worth a visit, just to have look and blag a cup of tea.
As far as the circuit is concerned - I doubt if the boat will be competetive, as it is old and heavy. I suspect he will eventually aim to do a couple of CVRDA events for this year - however it is early days yet.
Cheers
Steve on behalf of Chris
|
|
|
|
Post by Meat Pie ... on Dec 5, 2011 12:52:55 GMT
Yes we know where you are....
I am sure Rupert may be able to help out or advise especially if anything structural needs doing...
If she is a little overweight [although you said she had been lightened] it will not necessarily render her uncompetitive...
We have many expamples of older and heavier boats being and remaining very competitive.
If the hull and foils are fair and you have a good rig and "engine" Chris will be in business.
However with our "river handicap" he will have his work cut-out to do well against the SCSC Solo,s etc in all but lighter winds and drifters.
Give me a call [07970 626862] if you want to pop over to Frampers one Sunday before the end of the year for a cuppa.....
Sneaky suspicion that 459 is maybe an ex Shropshire S.C. boat owned by Jim Shipp....
Could be wrong but will check when I get home...
RW
|
|
|
|
Post by desperation on Dec 5, 2011 13:19:21 GMT
You are correct. We picked it up from Jim at Shropshire Sailing club on Saturday.
Desperation is the name of my 1959 Proctor mkVIII Merlin Rocket by the way.
Thanks for the invite.
|
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Dec 5, 2011 20:22:07 GMT
Welcome to the world of the British Moth
I will update the Fleet listing, shortly a project I have been working on for a while.
Don't worry about older "heavier " boats mine (708) isn't the lightest around and I try to get to as many events as I can.
By the way I am only down the road in Maidenhead if you want to contact me. We sail throughout the winter (subject to ice on the water).
Look forward to meeting you soon
Simon Hall
BM708 Bertie
e: webmaster@britishmoth.co.uk
m:07710 216038
|
|
|
|
Post by Meat Pie ... on Dec 6, 2011 9:20:04 GMT
Steve
459 was built by E.C.LARGE....
No build date listed but she must be 45+ years old...
Archives [Christina Hardyment] may be able to tell you more.
Alternatively Graham Pope [Secretary] or Ian Edwards[Treasurer]may be able to fill you in when you re-register her in Chris,s name and hopefully join the BMBA.
We did race against 459 at Shropshire a couple of years ago when we went there for an Open...seemed quite a nice boat and was competitive.Jim Shippp certainly knows how to make a Moth go well so she should be well set-up.
RW
|
|
|
|
Post by desperation on Dec 6, 2011 11:13:27 GMT
Nice to know.
He seemed to know his stuff, as he had several mods on the boat that he explained. It was obviously not his first Moth. He had had this one sine 1996
He has modded the mast, as it was too stiff for his liking - by removing material from the front edge until he was happy with the amount of bend he had - like the article about measuring mast bend. It has spreaders and all ropes are led back into the cockpit (downhaul, outhaul and kicker) with modern fittings.
The cover is recent - but unfortunately for a more modern moth as the points for the chain plate and the mast are not quite right. But it still manages to keep the boat dry.
So just a bit of fiddling really.
|
|
|
|
Post by desperation on Dec 7, 2011 8:09:07 GMT
I spoke with Rupert yesterday and had a look at some old Moth Year books. Looks like the boat could have been built as early as 1961, as boat number 460 Obsession, helmed by C.Nielson, won the Amethyst Trophy in 1961. Even if 459 had not actually been launched at the time, it would probably have been soon after. It also looks like Mr Shipp built his own Moth, as he is listed as owner/builder on a later boat. He is down as owning 459 since 1996. The sail Chris has is a lightly used loose foot R&J?. How this modern sail will affect the way the old boat handles he will have to find out. Cheers Steve H Attachments:
|
|
