N1486 Four Square

[National 12 Webmaster]

The life of N1486 Four Square. Design: Mark 6 modified, designed by: Ian Proctor in 1955

Built in 1956 and allocated a temporary certificate by, the issuing authority of the time, the RYA but without a sail number.  The design is a Proctor Mark 6 modified with 4 wide planks against the then traditional narrow clinker planking that the rules required.  Known as Four Square and produced with the encouragment of the NTOA committee for a hull with less labour intensive construction, permitting wider planking, built-in buoyancy, wooden centreboard and a weight rule which allowed the boat when weighed complete to be no less than 216 lb.  At the 1956 AGM few favoured these advanced changes and the Four Square idea was rejected.
The sail number N1486 was subsequently allocated to the boat by the RYA on 17th March 1980. 

[Tim Gatti]

A recent e-mail indicates that Four Square (the prototype four planker) now aged 53, is  in good condition and until recently was still sailing. See attached photo of her on her 50th birthday with her owner of the last 17 years - Peter Hellon

[edwillett]

Now for sale on ebay, June 2011. Located Hitchin, Herts.
[face=Arial]Text from ebay listing - "Vintage National 12 N1486, "Four Square", professionally built in 1956 by Wyche & Coppock to a Proctor Mk 6 design using marine plywood & mahogany.[/face] [face=Arial]Excellent condition for age with many period features such as Tufnol cleats, builders nameplate etc. [/face][face=Arial]Complete with original wooden mast and boom, all rigging, suit of sails, combi trailer and various spares. Built-in buoyancy.[/face][face=Arial]Unique & very important boat in the history of this class of boat as it was the first one to be built with four planks each side. Built as a prototype in order to reduce the rapidly escalating cost of building the standard clinker built boats of that time, which typically used 10-12 planks per side".[/face]