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Hello,
I own N1297, a 1955 clinker Jack Holt.  I'm an RAF Pilot and have received notice of a posting to the British Embassy in Washington DC departing in July.  She's too big for my family to store but it would be a shame to sell - despite the fact that we haven't recently done any sailing.
I wonder if any bona fide vintage lovers would consider loaning N1297, free of charge, for 2 or maybe 3 years to enjoy at their leisure - on the proviso, in good faith, that I can potentially recover the boat and road trailer on my return from the USA in 2016/2017.
Alloy mast, wooden boom, suit of sails, bouyancy....it's all there!  Just arrive at RAF Benson OX10 6SD and collect.
I'd prefer that this treasure was kept by someone who would look after her rather than stick her on ebay for a quick sale.
Let me know 12 lovers....all I ask is for the odd photo of N1297 doing what she should be doing.
S/L Brad Hewitt

Hello Everyone,
At the end of last Summer I stumbled across National 12 Number 1297 sitting in a car park worse for wear; after finding the owner I purchased the little wooden beauty for 100 quid and set about fixing her up.  According to this site she was clinker constructed in 1955 and from the Jack Holt of Putney plate and the boat photos I believe her to be a Chimp.  This Winter I sealed a centre board leak, repaired varnish chips, repaired the original sails, fitted batterns and tell-tails.  The sails are original as is the boom but the mast is alloy - the standing rigging is fine but the running rigging could do with replacing next.
I need some advice, I'm a Yachtmaser Coastal who wanted a dinghy to improve my sailing and to make it more accessable.  I've only sailed dinghies a handful of times and all have been the forgving double flat hull type with battered sails.  I look at N1297's round hull with plenty of rocker and the huge mast and cannot see for the life of me how the bloody thing is going to stay upright without ballast!
I'll be sailing on my own initally for her first test under sail-probably on the Thames near Benson, plus I'm more interested in cruising than racing (but I suppose everyone says that at first).  My questions are:
1) What is the wind range for a vintage National 12.  With only me at first I wonder how low a windspeed I can go for (High Pressure at the moment but the forecast is for the wind to get to 5-6 kts).  And also how strong before I scare myself without the ability to reef - the sail area just looks huge for the size of boat.
2) Does anyone know of any sailing clubs that will let me rig test my boat without spending the annual fees...I may have to go back to the repair stage and don't want to waste the cash.
3) I'd like to go back to wooden mast - only 29 years old but a lover of all things wooded - is this a waste of time/money and how much do they go for?
4) Are there any vintage National 12 owners nearby who wouldn't mind giving an hour or two to inspect my work and boat, advise me on the quality of my rigging and generally take me under their wing to prevent me going back to the Yachts :-)
Thank you in advance for all of your comments.
B