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I became the new owner of this old boat in August 2009, and decided that I would restore and race her in the vintage fleet. It was in quite a sorry state, and despite the owner saying she was fine I prepared myself for some serious work.
The cockpit was painted white/cream, and much of the paint on the bottom 4 planks was flaking and coming off. The Centreboard case was very black, and the hog soft to the point of rotten. Some of the planking was starting to come away from the transom.Oh well another "ebay" bargain!
I started off my sanding down the fore and side decks, but they were not very pretty to look at, and once done decided they would need to be replaced. The boat has a retro fit back tank, but this was rotten in places, and decided that it had to go!
I then started to strip off the paint in the cockpit. What a job that was! Hour after hour I sanded stripped and burnt off the paint, and by Christmas, most had been removed. However it left white paint residue in the grain, which looked horrid. So more sanding!
New Year came and i decided that the boat will have some surgery, in the form of new foredecks and side decks, and the hog and keel needed some attention. I enlisted the help of Sam Mason, ex commodore at the club, which was entrusted to "do what he can". In the end he managed to replace all the rotten hog, and it cam back in Mid February with new Decks, parts of hog replaced ,and new thwart, and keel removed and reshaped. All in all a great job done.
Since then I have been prepping the boat up for the hull to be painted, and the Hull now has a new shiny retro finish, and I am in the latter stages of varnishing the cockpit and decks. All being well it should be ready to be fitted out in early May.
I have added some photos below for the record, both before and after!!
Moral of the story- cheap boats on ebay never end up being cheap, but the time spent on it has been worth it!

Area around the Hog! August 2009

Decks sanded off  Sept 2009

Inside Cockpit 2 weeks in!  Sept 2009

cockpit sanded down, rot around the hog between centreboard and transom removed- Jan 2010

New Decks!! Feb 2010

Hull Painted- April 2010
 

Concern has been expressed among the boating fraternity that despite the continuing downturn old traditionally made rove and rivet boats are attracting ever more attention from international criminal gangs. Several Folkboats from the 1950’s and even clinker dinghies from the 40’s and 50’s have been targeted with the owners only realising that they had been the subject of attack when starting to take on substantial amounts of water on launching.
“It’s no laughing matter” said one irate owner while up to his knees in water. “These people are showing scant regard for our safety. We leave our boats in the yard or dinghy park never thinking that we will be the subject of such wilful behaviour. There may be well over 1200 copper rivets in a Holt or Woottens Merlin Rocket so the thieves may well think there are some easy pickings. I blame the recovery and long for the days of the depths of the recession when nothing had a value. Since 2009 copper has gone through the roof”.
And the reason for these problems is the ever increasing value of many marine metals, leading common criminals to turn their attention from the Ferrari and Lamborghini black market to the sale of illegally obtained semi-precious metals from the hulls of boats. Loose planks and garboards coming adrift are not the only danger.
One unfortunate owner has had the gunwhale of his dinghy detached for the sake of thirty countersunk copper nails and four brass 11/2” size 10 slot head woodscrews and nearly fell overboard. “They’ll steal anything” said Nick Fasteners a bona fide scrap dealer. “They come in here with small plastic bags full of nails expecting to make their fortunes but to be honest with you the amount of work involved doesn’t seem worth it. The real ones we want are the silicon bronze grip nails but they seem to be more secure so they go for the easy copper stuff, brass and phosphor bronze fittings”.
His business partner Rob Emblind says there has been a sea shift away from lead being stolen from keels. “These guys don’t really know what they are pinching sometimes. One chap had obviously spent an age removing the keel from a Flying Fifteen thinking it was lead and that his luck was in. He was a bit shocked when we told him it was cast iron. He would have been better with a centreboard from an old Merlin. He lost his temper somewhat and was seen thumping anything he could get his fists on” he laughed. “I think the word got around on that one and so they are concentrating on the copper and bronze.”
There is a further worrying development in this trade. The next big thing, as there are fewer nails available will be copper based anti-fouling scrapings with the gangs likely to set up small home-based factories to extract the precious oxides and making fresh stuff to offer the economically hard pushed boat owners.
Detective Inspector Smelter a leading copper expert from the Solent Officers Department has said that the theft of antifouling is a worrying trend by ever desperate people but his men are slowly getting to the bottom of it. “If you are offered this bit of kit don’t touch it” he warned. “There can be all sorts of stuff in there which really won’t do you a lot of good. You might have the short term euphoria of a job well done but long term it’s a disaster“.
Regarding the theft of nails and screws the police on the South Coast are hoping they will get to grips with this trade in the near future but for the moment have warned classic boat owners of the dangers of going afloat without closely inspecting their fastenings. The only cure seems to be to smear the rivets with a small daub of epoxy to deter all but the most hardened of criminals.
 
Thank heavens for Plastic fantastics, and glue clinkers Watch out Tim!!<!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->

and bid at your peril, given a -2 feedback rating!!!!!:-/

...depends on the name of the boat you inherit....a subsequent owner could hate some of the names..... and as Jane says you pay your £10 and you take your choice.
 
Martin
N3458 (orginially Up Yours and Now White Heat)
N2306 (previously Snafu (??) and now sticky fingers (which is more rock and roll!!;))

Entry Form posted today. Not sure what boat at this stage, it will either be a feeling foolish or the restored starfish.. It will depend on how long it takes it get the starfish on the water.
Martin and Matt
3458 or 2306

Re the cat wee, I think it would be best if you try and stop the local feline feral population using your lovely boat as their toilet!!!
As the boat it called shotgun, perhaps thats the answer!!

 
Martin

One here from the Archives... At Tynemouth one summer;)
A Very Talented chap, sailing solo,
I belive the opposition just melted away
Martin

Get well soon mate, Thanks for the photo showing your big swelling!! Oh errr:P
Martin

Sam
 
I think Pauls point is does a Vintage boat have to sail off 1092 handicap, could it be adjusted to reflect the age of the craft (and helm?)
Martin

Hi
 
I am planning to come this weekend, but my son is not able to come with me now.
This has left me crewless, so if anyone wants a ride for 2 days, then please reply to this post. cannot promise a win, but can promise a good time!!
Martin
3458 White Heat

martin and matt will be there!
 
Martin
3458
White Heat

I suspect after all the rotten wood has been replaced there wont be much left that is original!!!

Hi Will be there Saturday in White Heat!
 
Martin and Matt
3458

As first timers to Tynemouth we both thoroughly enjoyed the racing and  hospitality at the club. The Saturday sailing was exhilerating and exhausting in equal measures, and whilst we did not manage to finish, it was great sailing and excellent courses. The rescue crews in particular wee brilliant and we kept them well and truly busy!!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to add to Steve's comments, its a great venue, and for those that missed the event its worth making a diary date next year.
 
Martin and Cathy
3458
 

Marek
Thanks for the tips, will use them. Had initial inspection and some bits and pieces needing attention.  The paint on the hull (inside) has let water in, and wood underneath looks black. Will leave to dry out and see if that sorts things, or indicate some rot. Also Planks on transom are starting to come adrift, so need to look at that too,
I have added some pics on the boat webpage, comments welcome from more seaoned boat restorers!
Thanks
 
Martin 2306/3458