N1289 Crester

[National 12 Webmaster]

The life of N1289 Crester. Design: , designed by: John Swinburne

[ocallensmith]

Crester was advertised on FB Marketplace as free to take away in Weston-Super-Mare last August (2021).  The condition was that it was that put back onto the water.
 
On inspection, it had some sprung strakes from being hit/rammed in the side.  It also had deck fittings missing and had been kept in a garage for 20 years, had the mast and sails, though some of the pulleys to raise the centreboard were missing.  The spec for a national is 4.5ft wide but this is nearer 5.5ft beam.  One self drainer is OK but the second needs work.  The rudder is there but in poor condition.
 
A friend and I took it on.  So far we have stripped it, inverted it and sanded it back to wood.  I then drilled and bolted plates through and pulled the strakes back into place.  I glued them there using an external expanding epoxy glue from Evostick and on removal of the plates, dowled the strakes through for reinforcement.  We then gave a sealing coat of varnish, modified a launching trailer to fit and, putting it right way up, storing it in the cow shed to await completing work as soon as we have finished refurbishing 4 Wayfarers.  I will be making a laminated rudder in ash and sapele to replace the existing one.
 
It is our intention to restore the dinghy to the best condition we can, showroom refurbished contition, perhaps 8 coats of varnish to be polished, and race it, bringing it to National 12 veteran events".
 
Nb.  It is unlikely the saleable value will be anywhere near the cost of restoration.

[ocallensmith]

The above is what was sent to me by Julian Eley who is restoring Crester. If anyone knows more about this boat please add it here