N3274
Name: Bella
Design: Crusader 88
Designer: Phil Morrison
Year built: 1988
Build type: Professional
Builder: Gerry Ledger
Construction: Cold Moulded
Hull type: Single Bottom
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ntoa 12-Jan-2007 |
The life of N3274 Bella. Design: Crusader 88, designed by Phil Morrison in 1988 Previous boat names: Kitchen Appliance, Rejuvenator, Mr Incredible. |
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Mike Storey 26-Jan-2007 |
Rescued from years of retirement in a Tyneside garage in early 2004, renamed Mr Incredible and brought south to sail on the Thames at Desborough and give my son Alex his first sailing experiences. Has been on quite a few travels since, and is a regular on the Thames circuit. Boat was stiffened up by Dave Ovington way before my time. Rear built in tanks were removed in late 2004 and replaced by bouyancy bags. Currently sporting a carbon boom, jib pole & tiller extension but everything else is wood or tin. Rarely troubles the front of the fleet and in a force 0-1 struggles to move at all. Mike |
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Mike Storey 26-Jan-2007 |
Its a Crusader 88 - the first one built I believe. No idea what differs between it and an bog standard Crusader. Bilge keels were removed in 2005. Mike |
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Mike S 19-Feb-2007 |
Comments from Bryan Storey: My 4th Twelve was a Crusader N3274 first reg '88 bought under 1 yr old. Renamed Rejuvenator. Spent ages refitting it!! Aft tanks always a bugger but got it to go!. Fast & flew on reaches (in its day) & could be sailed in gales!. A pig in v v light airs. Used very little from '98. Passed to my son Mike in 2004 & has been campaigned in London area, crewed by his son Alex. No stern tanks now ! |
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Mike Storey 21-May-2007 |
2007- relocated off the river for some pond sailing at Island Barn Reservoir. |
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Mike S 14-Oct-2007 |
Recent picture
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Mike S (Guest) 05-Jul-2010 |
Still within the family but back up north again to be sailed by my brother Ed and his family at Grimwith Mike S |
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Ed storey 25-Apr-2013 |
After 3 years of thrills and spills on the northern circuit Mr Incredible is now ready for the next generation of Storey sailors to grow into her... Ed |
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edwillett 27-May-2014 |
Mr Incredible has?now joined the Willett fleet, resident at Cramond Boat Club near Edinburgh. |
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edwillett 30-Jun-2014 |
June 2014...Mr Incredible winning a light wind club race on the Firth of Forth...seems to go pretty well to me!
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edwillett 24-Jan-2015 |
Winter 2014/2015 and it was time that Mr Incredible received some TLC. All the varnished wood was very tired and the painted hull needed attention. All the varnished wood has been stripped and renovated and repairwork undertaken to a damaged side deck and rotten gunwhale.... This pic shows the interior in the process of being stripped. 
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edwillett 24-Jan-2015 |
Interior now ready for new varnish...however repairs are the next job.
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edwillett 24-Jan-2015 |
Rotten gunwhale repaired
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edwillett 24-Jan-2015 |
"Extra" jib track mount removed...weight saving!
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edwillett 24-Jan-2015 |
...and finally before the epoxy and varnish a bit of beautification...the original number was somewhat ugly consisting of a series of drill holes to define "3274"...so with careful use of a sculptors chisel the holes were joined up to pretty-fy the number....
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Paul2760 24-Feb-2015 |
Looks lovely. A?couple of question if I may? 1) How (products and tips welcome) did you (or are planning to) seal under the gunwales/foredeck as my Cheshire Cat is suffering from discolouration from underneath 2)? was the transom always that shape?? As above my Chesire Cat has a full transom with transom flaps hich are always problematic... Thanks Paul |
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edwillett 25-Feb-2015 |
Paul Re the Transom. Yes it is that shape...however it has an aluminium bar that essentially is the transom top and transom flaps are mounted to that. Contact me by email and I will send you the details of how the wood is being finished. |
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edwillett 01-Apr-2015 |
Five coats of white paint applied by spray gun to the hull, two coats of epoxy to the bare wood followed by four coats of two pack, also applied by spray gun and Mr Incredible now looks like this.....time for the refit now!
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edwillett 01-Apr-2015 |
more....
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edwillett 01-Apr-2015 |
more 2....
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edwillett 01-Apr-2015 |
foredeck
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RichardB2 01-Apr-2015 |
Fantastic job Ed. Well done! Tell me, did you do the spray work yourself? If so what paint/varnish thinners ratio did you work to? For the initial two coats of epoxy did you thin both coats? Good luck wih the boat. ? Richard? N3126 |
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edwillett 02-Apr-2015 |
Richard, a friend did the spraywork. Paint, epoxy and varnish were all thinned accordingly by him to enable spraying but I dont know the ratios I'm afraid. |
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edwillett 11-May-2015 |
So we have a new chapter in the life of N3274; re-launched May 9th 2015 for the second of the Spring series races at Cramond BC...sporting nearly new Alverbank sails, an Aardspars carbon boom and many new fittings throughout from Pinnell and Bax. Certainly ahead turner in the dinghy park and on the water.....and a delight to sail.
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edwillett 11-May-2015 |
looking stunning....
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monkeynuts 11-May-2015 |
Very impressive! I need one of those booms I think. |
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edwillett 23-Jun-2015 |
A rather nice photo taken of me sailing N3274 to victory in Cramond BC's first of its long distance Pursuit race series of the year on June 9th 2015; coming ashore just as the sun is setting...a fabulous evening.
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edwillett 02-Nov-2022 |
I sold N3274 to Matthew Freeman in 2020. October 2022 and she is up for sale by Matthew on social media, still looking good. Located in Rugeley, the advert reads as follows : Beautiful looking wooden National 12 Crusader 88, dry stored, stunning condition, 2 sets of sails, carbon boom, new rigging, Alu mast, combi trailer, under / over cover and loads of spares. Can deliver locally if required. Ideal boat for an adult and child. We are relocating so this is priced to sell! 
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