Messages

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

The poor rake seen in the photos above has been corrected by the addition of a custom-made mast step which can receive packing for rake adjustment.

Alan,
Very kind of you.  Would Goring SC be an ideal place? I live on the RAF base but can travel to anywhere that is convenient for you.  I'm away this weekend from 1100 Friday until Sunday evening but should be able to get a towing vehicle any other time that you are available.
You should be able to tell me if it is a genuine 'Chimp'.
Brad

Jeremy,
Thank you for the invite.  I'll be there on the 24th March to say hello and see the National 12s in action.
You never know, it could be an ideal sink or swim time...what with the safety boats on call :-)
Brad

Tim,
Thanks for taking a look at the photos. 
The shrouds are attached at the lowest bar one hole on the chainplates, moving them down will give me an extra 1/2 inch.  I think the problem may be that the shrouds are a little on the long side plus I found, when restoring, that the mast seat was rotton and leaking; I gently chiselled down to good wood, sealed it and then moulded a seat from thickened epoxy.  The result of course is that the mast sits about 1/2 inch lower therefore the shrouds could do with being shortened by 3 inches...there are no adjusters on the actual shrouds and they are crimped at both ends.
I put the buoyancy bags where the attachments are but it makes perfect sense for them to be under the seats in the centre....I'll look into moving them and I could use the forward points to stow baggage.
I can pull the jib down easy enough just not sure if it will drop whilst at sea or if I can reach it, I guess so...we'll give it a try.  As for the brass eyelet - thank you for clearing that one up.
Thank you so much for your advice Tim.

Thanks Tim, photos are now uploaded on the boat database N1297 - Taeping
Brad

Photos of Taeping 13 Mar 12

Photos of Taeping 13 Mar 12

I acquired Taeping in the Summer of 2011 and set about repairing her.  I think I have now finished and she is ready for the water under sail.  Here are some pictures taken 13 Mar 2012.
Brad

Thank you Howard and Tim,
I rigged the boat today and I'm in the process of uploading pictures of Taeping to the website on the boat database section.  I can see from the bare poles photo that the shrouds are a little loose as the mast appears to be raked forwards.  It also appears that the foresail doesn't drop on its own - thinking of fitting a light line as a downhaul - is that what the small brass insert is for in the spray dodgers?  Also the sails were repaired at the Joint Services Yard in Gosport and the chap was delighted to work on mitre cut sails; I did give him the original sail numbers to re-attach but he chose to use the new adhesive type.
As you can see I have 4 secure buoyancy bags: bow, stern, and 2 x beam.  All are secure.  Once I find a buoyancy aid for me I may just give it a go when a F2 comes along...actually quite excited.
I'm based at RAF Benson near Wallingford on the Thames between both Dorchester and Goring SCs (halfway between Oxford and Reading) - I'll get in touch with them and I will definitely be joining the N12 Association so will wait for the info from the yearbook.
When I acquired the boat it was obvious that the centerboard casing was leaking so I started a repair; thickened epoxy followed by a glass tape fillet.  I tested without rig on the Thames and had a leak rate of about 1 gallon per hour from the centerboard sandwich seams.  I prised apart the dry sandwich and hopefully re-sealed it before clamping and tightening screws - I'm quite confident that it will be dry enough to sail for hours, even at the previous rate.
I think I'll stick with the alloy mast at the moment, but I think it just doesn't look right on such a nice boat....but a hell of a lot more practicable :-)
Anyhow, would apprieciate your comments on the photos. 
Thanks,
Brad

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