|
Post by hallg on Aug 17, 2014 13:03:46 GMT
Hello Moth Gurus,
I've bought BM617 which has swelled the number of Moths at Bury Lake by over 30%. This Moth carried the name "Tiffin" but I'm going to revert immediately to the original name which I think is "Newtwitu". I can work out some of the history from the forum, but I would really love to hear from anyone who has owned the boat in the past. Hopefully "Newtwitu "will take to the water again in a week or two. For anyone interested, BM533 "Whippet" is now finished and ready to sail, but looks so nice that I'm keeping her tucked up in my garage for now.
All Best,
Gavin
|
|
|
Post by hallg on Aug 17, 2014 20:34:21 GMT
Project "Get Newtwitu Back Afloat": Day One.
I thought some members who knew this boat of old might be interested to hear about her return to the water. My aim is to get her back afloat as quickly as I can without spending much if any money, so please don't think too badly of my low-cost methods Today was Day One when her pervious owner (an absolutely first class gentleman all round) delivered Newt to my club BLYM. A very quick look suggested that the hull (now cream / white) is in good condition, with most fixtures stripped and a good bit of the varnish removed too. Time just permitted her to be acquainted with a new (old) trolley from a scrapped Mirror, and then and covered (with a good but old RS200 cover) before the heavens opened, ending all thoughts of serious work on the hull. Many readers without a workshop and with limited free time will be familiar with that sinking feeling which comes when rain cuts short the planned work for the day.
Returning home, I decided instead to tackle the centreboard, the handle of which was completely broken into two pieces. I thought about making a new board for around three seconds before opting instead for a repair. Using plenty of epoxy mixed with micro-fibres which I had in the shed, and a couple of long wood screws, I very carefully shaped, fitted, drilled, screwed and glued the pieces back together with help from my five year old son. It looks horrible at the moment (the centreboard, not my lovely son), but that can be fixed tomorrow; at least it's back in one piece and is strong again.
Noticing that my wife's patience with boats for the day was not yet fully exhausted, I then took a look at the sail; it's clearly much more recent than the hull, having a number in the 800s. I do want to have the correct number on the sail, for reasons I'm not completely sure about myself, so I had a go at removing the old numbers. An internet search suggested several ways to remove old numbers, but all of them involved substances not currently in my shed, so I simply pulled the first "8" off one side of the sail. This of course left a perfect glue-image of the number behind. A dab of white spirit did little to remove the glue, even with encouragement from a toothbrush. However hot water applied diligently and rubbed in with a kitchen sponge / scouring thing did melt the glue sufficiently to allow it to be slowly scoured off. Eliminating the first "8" took about an hour, but I'm delighted with the result. Anyone who knows how to do this job more efficiently please do tell me; I've still got the rest of the numbers to remove.
I have a few days off this week so, weather and family permitting, will hopefully make some progress.
Hoping that the story is of some interest...more to follow.
Best Regards,
Gavin
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Aug 17, 2014 21:53:10 GMT
Gavin
Pleased to see you are increasing your fleet at BLYM.
The boat I believe was owned at one time by Andrew Cooper who won the Nationals in her in 1974, and as a consequence had a good record. No doubt you may get more replies on this in the future.
The sail you have is from Nutmeg. To remove the numbers easier it is possible to get sail number remover from the likes of P&B or use Graffitti remover. THey are effectively the same chemicals and will do the same job.
As you have 533 up and ready are you likely to be coming to the open meeting at Desborough or Tamesis in September. It would be great to see you there and put a face to the name
Simon BM847 BMBA Secretary
|
|
|
Post by hallg on Aug 18, 2014 17:47:54 GMT
Project "Get Newtwitu Back Afloat": Day Two Thanks Simon for your note - I'm hoping to get to one of the events before the end of the season if I can. Today the restoration project really got going when I found 3/4 of a pot of International varnish in the shed and some thinners. Much of the varnish on the hull had already been removed, and the miracle of modern sanding technology enabled me to prepare the hull (not very well) and apply a couple of new coats before "home-time" arrived. The finish is far from perfect (it was about the best I could do in the one day available to me), but the boat has already really started to come alive. The boat is now highly effective at attracting all manner of people - just like a good classic car she stands out from the crowd, and I feel that any right-thinking individual would have to describe her as "beautiful". She also prompted great curiosity, and many were surprised at how inexpensive a BM can be. My hopes for establishing a small fleet at my club are once again on the up. Less positively, peering down the centreboard slot and into the forward buoyancy chambers (two inspection hatches) revealed a bit of a mess; much flaking paint and some bare wood; I think she has been stored indoors for a long time so all is dry. I'm left wondering how to paint those areas, and what to paint them with. Blowing the budget completely, I have purchased a brand new tin of primer (none in the shed) and will work out how to apply it tomorrow. An hour now remains before my boys require their bedtime story; just enough time to have another look at that centreboard... All Best, Gavin
|
|
|
Post by hallg on Aug 19, 2014 17:22:29 GMT
Day Three of the Saga
A slightly depressing half-day which saw the old self-bailers revealing the small but important fact that they leak a bit, and a small hole or two being revealed at the base of the bulkhead. Much varnishing, epoxy mixing, sealing, gluing and fixing whilst trying to do other things at the same time. There seems like a lot of work ahead, and I'm not sure why I'm doing this. Never mind - I'm sure many readers have had this feeling. I'm off to borrow the mast step from 533 - hopefully I will cheer up again by tomorrow!
All Best
Gavin
|
|
|
Post by hallg on Aug 20, 2014 16:09:16 GMT
Day Four: Will Newt Ride Again?
It may be that I am getting too close to this mini-project. Last night I dreamed that I had entered 617 for an open meeting, but with ten minutes to go until the start I was still rushing around trying to find various essential bits of rigging. As the five minute gun went, I realised that most of the numbers were still missing from the sail. Come to think of it, that's a bit of a metaphor for my life.
Today I managed to re-step the mast and get the centre board into reasonable shape. I've decided to bodge the leaky self-bailers with a little sealant for now and perhaps get some new ones later on. I can imagine that this may horrify some readers - but I think that two new self bailers may cost nearly as much as the boat did. All in all I think 617 is looking quite good now; not perfect in any sense, but good. I've got a few more hours tomorrow in which I hope to put the sail up and sort out the boom / rest of the rigging. Soon there will be no option but to put her into the water and see what happens, ending her six years or so on dry land - yet I am still plagued by nightmares in which the front tank gradually fills with water and fountains spurt up through the self bailers...
Can anyone recommend a company to make me up a new pair of shrouds / a new forestay please as they are looking quite tired? The rig has the original tubular spreaders, and one is slightly the worse for wear; can these or something similar be purchased anywhere?
All Best
Gavin
|
|
|
Post by pegasus on Aug 20, 2014 20:44:34 GMT
Gavin
I have a set of tubular spereaders somewhere in my stocks of bits and pieces if you are interested. They came off an old SSS mast
You can order made to measure from P+B at Northampton, Jimmy Green Marine in Somerset soamewhere. Or go upto Datchet and Purple may be able to make a set up as required.
Simon BM847 Secretary
|
|
|
Post by hallg on Aug 21, 2014 20:19:02 GMT
Yes please Simon, if you could email me on hall_g@habsboys.org.uk about the spreaders that would be great. Thank you for your recommendations on the rigging too. This afternoon I spent a couple more hours working on BM617 before tentatively slipping her into the lake. With only the slightest weep coming through the bailers and the front tank dry, the time to sail her drew near. I chose to "lash up" the sail (and rudder etc.) with various bits of rope rather than sort out the sail controls properly today, simply because I wanted to have a go. I only sailed BM533 for an hour or two in total before taking her away for refurbishment, so basically know nothing about sailing Moths. I had a great time sailing BM617 today though on what was a gusty afternoon. Despite the sail being badly set up, the little Moth really accelerated well and flew along during those rare moments when I got things right. I did get the sense that she wanted to throw me in; perhaps a BM is not the easiest dinghy to sail well (for me at least), but in terms of smiles per Pound / hour spent, an old BM which needs a bit of TLC is really exceptional. I've still got a long list of jobs to do, starting with sorting out the sail controls, but will continue to sail her as I go. Hopefully we will see both of the active BLYM Moths afloat together sometime soon. Best Regards, Gavin BM533 Whippet BM617 Newtwitu
|
|
polyfiller
Mothist
14 x winner of the annoying git on the water award.
Posts: 126
|
Post by polyfiller on Aug 29, 2014 9:44:45 GMT
Gavin, am really pleased to see Newtwitu has gone to a good home and is receiving the TLC she deserves. As Simon says in the above posts - the boat was owned by my brother (Andrew Cooper) back in the 70's. Andrew can provide more history from that time ... if I can ever get him to logon to the forums. In Andrews hands it won the nationals in 1974, courtesy of some very strong winds and a very very floppy mast. Around 1980 something the boat was sold to someone else at Broxbourne and then at some point found it's way into the hands of Bob Falconer who did some extensive rebuilding / renovation, including getting rid of a rather difficult to mount rudder assembly which required passing a fixed rudders through a hole in the rear transom before mounting it on the pintels. 617 always went well in a blow, regardless of which mast she had. IIRC the centre board was one made by Bob Falconer and was a really good shape, similar to the original.
I can make up shrouds, but do charge, and at present am out of suitable wire. If you get stuck, let me know and I'll order some wire.
If you need more / better cleats but want to maintain the period character of the boat, I have some stainless steel holt allen cam cleats I took off When - these won't be super cheap, but less than buying brand new cam cleats. For spreaders - if you don't' want tubular - give John Claridge a call - he has some super spar spreader bar he can cut you a length from.
Enjoy 617 and maybe join us at an open meeting so we can help take a look at the controls etc. and give you some advice.
BTW, the original hull colour was a royal blue.
|
|
|
Post by hallg on Aug 30, 2014 16:20:45 GMT
Thanks so much for the information which is much appreciated. I don't suppose you have the mast step fitting from When do you? I'm also after a good second hand cover if you come across one. If you could email me some more details on the cam cleats to hall_g@habsboys.org.uk or even a photo then that would be brilliant. All Best, Gavin
|
|
polyfiller
Mothist
14 x winner of the annoying git on the water award.
Posts: 126
|
Post by polyfiller on Sept 10, 2014 0:40:43 GMT
I think the mast step fitting for When ... is still on When... I don't think I changed it when I renovated... but I'll check my garage to see if I have an old one tin there.
I'll try to take some photos of the cleats this week and will mail them to you.
|
|
polyfiller
Mothist
14 x winner of the annoying git on the water award.
Posts: 126
|
Post by polyfiller on Sept 10, 2014 0:43:24 GMT
And just as a suggestion ... if you can bring 617 along to an open meeting, we can help with fitting out advice (and even do some of it for you ... we are a very resourceful bunch).
|
|
|
Post by hallg on Oct 20, 2014 22:20:45 GMT
Just to finish my part of the story of 617 (and indeed 533): After not sailing her for six weeks or so I decided to sell Newt. Each week I pushed my Merlin past her on the way to the slipway and felt vaguely guilty - four boats is far too many for me, especially when they are all lovely and deserving of owners who will actually sail them. Some readers may have seen Newt on Apollo Duck; I could have sold her five times over, and indeed sold BM533 Whippet to a gentleman from Chester who was very sad to have missed Newt. On the basis that the now absolutely beautiful Whippet had been parked in my garage for over a year, I felt that he deserved her more than I did - and he was highly delighted when he saw her. So that's the end of my Moth ownership (for now at least). Was it all an expensive huge waste of time? Absolutely not; I've loved owning the Moths, and they were worth every penny spent, and every hour worked. May I close by thanking the many fine people in BMBA who have been so kind and free with their advice and encouragement over the last couple of years? What a great bunch of people, and what a fantastic little dinghy.
BM617 and BM533 both leave me in excellent condition - I hope very much to read much more about them on this website in future years.
|
|
|
Post by danbell73 on Apr 7, 2015 14:48:52 GMT
Dear All,
After many months of 'I'm just popping out to the garage for ten minutes', 617 is now ready to return to the water! I've taken pictures of each stage of the strip, seal, paint/varnish, fit out and foil freshening, all of which I intend to post shortly.
In the meantime, can anyone please confirm whether 617 is/was actually called Newtwitu, as I'm thinking of putting the name on the hull and wouldn't want to anger Poseiden! Failing that, I can always carry out a re-naming ceremony, as the kids have some great ideas for what she should be called (and my wonderfully patient Daisy has a whole different list of names, none of which are appropriate for a forum lol!)
Many thanks
DB
|
|
|
Post by oldgreyfox on Apr 7, 2015 18:37:21 GMT
Dear All, After many months of 'I'm just popping out to the garage for ten minutes', 617 is now ready to return to the water! I've taken pictures of each stage of the strip, seal, paint/varnish, fit out and foil freshening, all of which I intend to post shortly. In the meantime, can anyone please confirm whether 617 is/was actually called Newtwitu, as I'm thinking of putting the name on the hull and wouldn't want to anger Poseiden! Failing that, I can always carry out a re-naming ceremony, as the kids have some great ideas for what she should be called (and my wonderfully patient Daisy has a whole different list of names, none of which are appropriate for a forum lol!) Many thanks DB According to the 70th Anniversary handbook it was indeed named Newtwitu, built by M Jenkins. When Goffo did the research for the book it was owned by T Sporne and sailed at Milton Keynes. As an aside to this information I did at one time own 533 Whippet which at the time was a self drainer with raised floor and open transom. I found it very difficult to hike comfortably and sold it on to Goffo who returned it to "normal". Old grey fox
|
|