Time passes by so fast and its ages since I posted here. A few things have happened since my last post. Firstly, I treated Margherita to some new sails. The two headsails were pretty rough after 11 years out in the weather so I asked Peter Sanders of Lymington to quote for new ones. I ended up thinking I may as well replace the mainsail too. With a slightly longer bowsprit as well, the overall result is much better headsail separation and a boat that points better and is faster in a given wind (below and up to hull speed).
The second thing that happened in 2019 was that I met a man called Bob Aylott at the Solent Gaffers Yarmouth Rally in May. He operates a web site called "My Classic Boat" on which he posts short videos of people talking about their boats. He interviewed me at Yarmouth and later in the year came down to Poole to shoot some scenes of me sailing around in the shallows of Whitley Lake. The result can be found here....
The third thing was that I finally had enough of crawling under the boat on her trailer sanding down antifoul and putting on new. It kills me these days. In any case, 10 years worth of self-eroding was starting to come off in lumps and I could not face stripping it back. This, coupled with worrying corrosion on the steel centre plate led me to book her into Traditional Shipwright Services in Poole. She will get a new Bronze centre plate, a copper coated hull and a full paint and varnish job. I re-do the varnish regularly, but the paintwork has lasted since 2008 and is now showing signs of fade and failure on corners. The bill is rather eye-watering, but everything should now last me out I think. To keep costs down a bit, I stripped her bare before delivery. Should look smart in 2020!
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| Weird linear corrosion. The guttering is some 2mm deep now |
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| Margherita stripped bare - inside and out |
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| Tucked into a crowded boatshed at TSSS Poole |
Is it possible to purchase a set of plans for Willow Bay 'Shilling'? The logistics of getting one built in the UK is impossible as I live in New Zealand and I am quite capable of building one myself. I hope you are able to help.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the delay in replying - I have been out of the country. Plans are available from Willow Bay Boats in Lyme Regis. See http://www.willowbayboats.co.uk/. They have a policy of not allowing home builds of the hull as this is the hardest part and they want to maintain a known safety and quality in the "fleet". How that works for NZ, you are best off talking to proprietor Dick Phillips about.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your reply. I understand any concerns about the wanting to maintain build quality - I will contact Dick Phillips directly.
ReplyDeleteHello: I am currently building a Shilling in Clandeboye, Manitoba, and have been looking for opening portlights for the sides of the coachroof. I have just discovered that Vetus marine offers nice looking stainless units in 6 1/4" 7 1/4" and 8 1/4"sizes (Vetus sizes them according to the outer diameter of the external trim ring), and I would be VERY interested to know the two sizes of the portholes on Margherita. Thanks!! Dr. Bruce Bolster
ReplyDeleteHello Bruce. VERY sorry for not replying earlier, Google does not notify me of posts (not sure why) and I have not looked for a while. I have measured some spare bits I have as the boat is stored elsewhere at present. The larger portlights aft are 8 and 1/8 (205mm) in diameter. the smaller forward ones are 7 and 1/8 (180mm) in diameter. Both dimensions are to the outside of the outer decorative ring that you can see is my pictures various. I am happy to help with any other questions. I am loath to put an email address on here where all can read it but you can find me on Facebook and send me a message. Jeremy
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