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#41
General National 12 chat / Vintage National 12 - looking ...
Last post by DavidR - 15 Mar 2025, 11:54I have a National 12 in excellent condition which I would like to give to a good home. I sailed it for many years in Burnham Overy and it is enormously fun to sail.
It is a beautifully crafted vintage boat and has been kept in dry storage at the Burnham Overy Boathouse in Norfolk since the 1970s. The clinker dinghy (N1488) s a Proctor Mark VI. It;'s in very good condition and comes complete with mast, sails, cover and buoyancy. I've posted it on the Associations boat for sale listings.
It is a beautifully crafted vintage boat and has been kept in dry storage at the Burnham Overy Boathouse in Norfolk since the 1970s. The clinker dinghy (N1488) s a Proctor Mark VI. It;'s in very good condition and comes complete with mast, sails, cover and buoyancy. I've posted it on the Associations boat for sale listings.
#42
General National 12 chat / Re: Where to now?
Last post by Dave O - 11 Mar 2025, 08:03Hi.
Really interesting to read where, what and how the class is trying to address the issues which I think most classes face - diminishing fleet sizes, lack of participation and, new boats being built.
Having done most of my sailing circa 40 years ago in Fireballs, GP's, FF etc where NAT champ numbers were regularly over 100 and open meetings over 30, I've returned to dinghy sailing after a 30 years out of the game.
My main boat is a Fireball but I keep looking at a N12 as a 2nd boat. A lot of the discussion here certainly reflects that of the Fireball class however they have decided to have a design change, allow carbon hulls and introduce twin poles and adjustable rigs. Whilst a lot of the hull design changes are supposed to make production easier, I'd be surprised if the hull retails less than the last fireball built in 2020.
Rumour has it there's 10 boats on order but will that be sustained? If those new boats are substantially quicker than the original design then existing owners are left with an uncompetitive boat. So you're left with buying a new boat (£18k ISH) being uncompetitive, or moving class. Time will tell.
The 12' s will have to play a careful game.
My hesitancy into buying a 12 is lack of suitable sized crew (there's no youngsters running around at the club) and if there is a diminishing, south centric open meeting circuit. I'm happy to race non foiling category.
Again, the Fballs have dropped most of their opens - now having 4 'championship' style events - of which nothing is north of Rugby.
So, very little open sailing for the cost of the boat outlay. I understand most sailors can't afford or maybe don't want to do an open circuit but if you do your best option is the ILCA fleet.
It's a difficult one to summon up the magic answer. The 12's are relatively cheap to buy and maintain secondhand so should be attractive to new entrants, but definitely, please don't diminsh the racing calendar.
I'll continue to travel a long way south for my Fireball racing despite healthy club numbers in northern England and hopefully find a lightweight crew and N12 boat when spring arrives.
Really interesting to read where, what and how the class is trying to address the issues which I think most classes face - diminishing fleet sizes, lack of participation and, new boats being built.
Having done most of my sailing circa 40 years ago in Fireballs, GP's, FF etc where NAT champ numbers were regularly over 100 and open meetings over 30, I've returned to dinghy sailing after a 30 years out of the game.
My main boat is a Fireball but I keep looking at a N12 as a 2nd boat. A lot of the discussion here certainly reflects that of the Fireball class however they have decided to have a design change, allow carbon hulls and introduce twin poles and adjustable rigs. Whilst a lot of the hull design changes are supposed to make production easier, I'd be surprised if the hull retails less than the last fireball built in 2020.
Rumour has it there's 10 boats on order but will that be sustained? If those new boats are substantially quicker than the original design then existing owners are left with an uncompetitive boat. So you're left with buying a new boat (£18k ISH) being uncompetitive, or moving class. Time will tell.
The 12' s will have to play a careful game.
My hesitancy into buying a 12 is lack of suitable sized crew (there's no youngsters running around at the club) and if there is a diminishing, south centric open meeting circuit. I'm happy to race non foiling category.
Again, the Fballs have dropped most of their opens - now having 4 'championship' style events - of which nothing is north of Rugby.
So, very little open sailing for the cost of the boat outlay. I understand most sailors can't afford or maybe don't want to do an open circuit but if you do your best option is the ILCA fleet.
It's a difficult one to summon up the magic answer. The 12's are relatively cheap to buy and maintain secondhand so should be attractive to new entrants, but definitely, please don't diminsh the racing calendar.
I'll continue to travel a long way south for my Fireball racing despite healthy club numbers in northern England and hopefully find a lightweight crew and N12 boat when spring arrives.
#43
Boats / Re: N3043 Leprechaun
Last post by edwillett - 11 Mar 2025, 05:46For sale on eBay March 2025, located in Ashbourne.
Ad reads as below :
National 12 3043 Scooter Design in Fibreglass.
2 mainsails, one requires repair (see pic) other very used. Jib fine.
Dangly pole requires refitting, rope purchased and included in the sale.
Seat has been reinforced.
100% watertight.
No trailer but launching trolley included.
Ad reads as below :
National 12 3043 Scooter Design in Fibreglass.
2 mainsails, one requires repair (see pic) other very used. Jib fine.
Dangly pole requires refitting, rope purchased and included in the sale.
Seat has been reinforced.
100% watertight.
No trailer but launching trolley included.
#46
Boats / Re: N2958 Purfect
Last post by Kevin Sneddon - 07 Mar 2025, 10:55March 2025, 2958 is now repainted and the interior has been stripped and varnished. The areas identified for non slip have been prepared and I am turning my attention to the decks. An area of damage on the starboard gunwhale will need attention, I'm deciding how best to proceed with that. The plan is to be ready to launch at Easter at Manor Park Sailing Club near Kings Bromley in Staffordshire.
#47
Boats / Re: N1000 Stimulus
Last post by edwillett - 06 Mar 2025, 03:07Stimulus pictured in Plate 2 in Ian Proctor's 1953 book "Sailing : Wind and Current".
#48
Boats / Re: N3168 Sky
Last post by edwillett - 05 Mar 2025, 08:44Offered on FB Marketplace March 2025. Advert reads :
National 12 dinghy project. Hull number 3168. The boat is generally in reasonable order but needs work to get sailing again. There's a crack on both sides where the foredeck and side decks meet. Complete with rig, sails, rudder etc.
Free to a good home. Sitting on a launch trolley but doesn't have a road trailer.
Collection only from Lowestoft.
National 12 dinghy project. Hull number 3168. The boat is generally in reasonable order but needs work to get sailing again. There's a crack on both sides where the foredeck and side decks meet. Complete with rig, sails, rudder etc.
Free to a good home. Sitting on a launch trolley but doesn't have a road trailer.
Collection only from Lowestoft.
#49
Boats / N3553 .
Last post by National 12 Webmaster - 01 Mar 2025, 08:52.......... Design: Dead Cat Bounce, designed by: Jo Richards in 2008.
#50
This sail number was issued to David East in late 1980 for his latest boat, a modified (wider) Design 6. Unfortunately the hull failed to measure and the number was withdrawn. The hull then sat in David's shed for a decade before the gunwales were sawn off and the boat then measured and certificated as N3359 in 1991.
The story is in the N12 Newsletter 89, January 2025.
The story is in the N12 Newsletter 89, January 2025.