Although not strictly the subject of this thread, the worst coal dust/slime I ever encountered was around 1965 in a 505 at Pennington Flash which I think was known in those days as Lowton S.C. Worse than that, we arrived from Scotland, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, only to be met with a carpet of white stuff in the dinghy park. On closer inspection and checking with the club members, we discovered that the club had just been visited by vandals who had burned about four or five 505s, the polyester resin going up in flames leaving the fibreglass cloth behind. This was a very sad start to our visit and after a capsize and putting our mast in the bottom, we went home with the top of the mainsail looking the worse for wear and virtually impossible to clean when we got home. I have read much happier reports from Pennington Flash recently and I am sure it is a very nice club! N3535 (ex-505).
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#17
General National 12 chat / Re: Restoration 2208
30 Mar 2012, 09:07
Alistair's advice is absolutely correct but don't do what I did many years ago when trying to repaint a boat in a cold cellar. There were no electrical power points in the cellar so I brought in a paraffin heater. After at least two disasters with the paint crazing, I realised that the water vapour or the fumes from the heater was the culprit. I then tried repainting without the heater and everything was fine although it did take a long time for the paint to go off. I am a bit out of touch with some of the latest paints but I have little doubt that in all circumstances paraffin heaters are off limits. We learn from our mistakes, particularly when they are expensive ones, as mine was. N3535.
#18
General National 12 chat / Re: 2012-13 N12 CALENDAR ORDERS
27 Mar 2012, 05:02
Well done Jeremy - another superb calendar which arrived today. My wife, a learner crew absorbed the May and December pictures without a murmur. I have yet to discover whether that reflects shock or awe. Either way, we shall be trying to improve our sailing this season. Nigel. N3535.
#19
General National 12 chat / Re: Transom Flaps
23 Dec 2011, 02:11
Just about every idea has been posted but I can add that I have made two ideal flaps from the bottom and the lid of a redundant video cassette box. The plastic is almost impossible to saw without it splitting but an hour or so with a Stanley trimming knife and you have two good-sized flaps - just a little sanding down required at the edges. N3535.
#21
General National 12 chat / Re: T foils, a steep learning curve
12 Jul 2011, 06:40
While being most impressed by anyone who can make his own foiling rudder, I feel secure in the knowledge that mine (Paradigm 2) has had no input whatsoever from me and is, presumably, Gavin's work. With weed on the lake where I sail, I am currently sticking to a traditional blade and await the thrills (!) mentioned by Mike Day. What is interesting however is that recently posted photos and videos clearly show boats other than DCBs with the DCB rudder. Is it the case that "one size fits all" or is it essential that the foiling rudder design is compatible with the design of the hull? N3535.
#23
General National 12 chat / Re: 75th Dinner-Contact Help Please
18 Mar 2011, 09:12
One of the best items of news I have come across in years is that my former clubmate (in Scotland) and fellow N12 skipper Richard Roscoe, is alive and, I trust, well. We were both students back in the mid-l950s and went our separate ways after graduation. If such things are possible, I would love to be able to contact Richard, once more. I may possibly be able to attend the Pitsford meeting, but even if I can't, I would hope it might be possible to meet up and if those reading this post can bring that about, I would be delighted. Nigel Fordyce N3535.
#24
General National 12 chat / Re: Swinging spreaders
16 Mar 2011, 01:17
Since my initial post and subsequent helpful advice, I have assembled (thanks to P. & B.) a set of Superspars angle adjusters, machine screws etc. It seems that however you fit these there is likely to be a sharp edge ready to work its way into the mainsail, either by cutting off the head of the machine screw or simply leaving the head exposed. I was in RC yachting for some years and find I still have a good supply of shrink tubing, of which you use a lot in model yacht building and tuning and it comes in various sizes. Someone must have tried this already, but I reckon that one and perhaps two layers of this tubing over the end of the machine screw (or its original head) would encase the sharp edge neatly and of course it can be easily cut off again if you want access to the slot to make further adjustment to the settings. Is this too simple?
Nigel. N3535.
Nigel. N3535.
#25
General National 12 chat / Re: Swinging spreaders
14 Mar 2011, 08:46
Very many thanks to you all. I have a little metal working to do but at least I know the general direction to go in and now understand why I have seen bits of elastic and other miscellaneous cords on some masts. Perhaps some enterprising person might come up with a spring-loaded adjustment screw device which would do away with the restraining cord.
Nigel. N3535.
Nigel. N3535.
#26
General National 12 chat / Swinging spreaders
14 Mar 2011, 04:05
If anyone with a moment to spare could assist with a serious gap in my slowly accumulating knowledge about modern N12 spreaders, I would appreciate that very much. My new Paradigm was collected with the spreaders on its Superspars carbon mast fixed by Rondar, apparently to avert the possibility of inverting the mast, although I knew even then that limited swing spreaders were probably universal. Most times when I have had the chance to look at other boats' arrangements the mast has been upright in the boat and with the spreader arrangement out of view. More recently I have seen a variety of settings varying from what appears to be removal of the inner fixing bolt, and the spreaders free to swing within the radius of the bracket to a more limited setting controlled by elastic round the front of the mast. Is there a recommended arrangement which could be described by a simple explanation? I tried to obtain information from Superspars but without response. I also assume that limited swing spreaders must go hand in hand with adjustable shroud tension - fortunately that is already provided and I have what currently looks something approaching the correct pre-bend setting of the rig. However the question of the swinging of the spreaders has me beaten for the moment.
#27
Boats / Re: N321 Hengist
20 Feb 2011, 11:13
This boat, along with N12 Horsa, was owned in the late l940s and early l950s by Peter Adam, a former pupil and at that time a master at Glenalmond College, Perthshire. He later had a Proctor Mk.8 with which he won the Scottish N12 Championship. He was also a member of the Perth S.C. on the River Tay.
#28
Boats / Re: N328 Horsa
20 Feb 2011, 11:07
This boat was owned in the late l940s and early 1950s by Peter Adam, a former pupil and by then a master at Glenalmond College, Perthshire. I was a member of the school sailing club at that time but spent most of my time sailing in the YW Cadets. Peter owned a Proctor Mk.8 later in life and was a winner in that boat of the Scottish N12 Championship.
#29
Boats / Re: N974 Hi-Jack
15 Feb 2011, 10:13
I was saddened to hear of Peter's passing. When I was a member of the Cowal Holy Loch SC in the mid-1950's Peter was a true friend and mentor. When my N12 1149 came up to Sandbank from the south of England by rail, slightly damaged, Peter immediately repaired it and re-varnished it for good measure, ready for me to race when I came home from university that summer (1954). I well remember him building that beautiful gunwhale. I think I am correct in recalling that until then, the class rules allowed only a half-inch rubbing strake. Peter wasn't going to be satisfied with a simple extension from the top plank! He was worried about an unnecessary weight penalty and built it beautifully, hollow. Several of us, including myself, extended the gunwhales of our boats but none as neatly as Peter had done. He was a master craftsman. I last met up with him (and Alastair, his brother) in the early 1990's. By then the switch to Merlin Rockets had faded away and Peter told me the club was back into handicap racing.
#30
General National 12 chat / Re: Carbon boom / Mast
12 Feb 2011, 01:23
Jeremy, in an earlier life you must have been either a showman or a masochist. Marvellous footage, designed to either terrify or inspire, depending on your point of view. Congratulations. Nigel. N3535.
