N3144 Pterodactyl

[National 12 Webmaster]

The life of N3144 Pterodactyl. Design: Tigress, designed by: Michael Jackson in 1980

[Scooterman]

I  am now the proud owner of 3144 and in the process of getting her back on the water, at some stage the hull has been heavily modified with two large chines, which I'm told were intended to channel water under the hull and promote planning. Does any one have any evidence these work, as they seem to add a lot of wetted area/weight and before I paint the hull it may be better to plane them off!!
Will attempt to add some pictures soon to further explain the mods

[Pip Hudson (Guest)]

Pterodactyl was my first National Twelve. I ordered her as as an unfinished hull from Bob Hoare in September 1980 and then finished her over the winter. Extra options on the hull were 4 layers of veneer instead of 3 and wider/more curved gunwales. I equipped her with a Milines Centreboard, made my own rudder, and ordered a suit of Hyde Sails with a 2.4 Jib. She was quick from the first time on the water and we won a lot of events in the Thames area both in light and strong winds. Most memorable was a win at Thorpe bay when it was blowing 6 to 7 with big waves (we were one of the few to gybe) and had a big win. We always felt that the boat was a slightly slow offwind (could have been our heavier weight) in marginal planing compared to what were becoming the ubiquitous Baggy Trousers and so after the second year changed the rig to a smaller jib and slightly larger mainsail. Not sure that this really made much difference. Compared to my next boat, a Baggy Trousers, Pterodactyl was very easy to sail and we only ever capsized a couple of times. 
I then sold her to Dan Alsop who also went well, particularly in lighter winds. It was he who decided to change the aft section to try and improve downwind performance. 

[dave101]

I have bought N3144, now named 'Tigger'. Previous owner removed the chines and did a great job of doing the boat up. I've been singlehanding it and taking my 5yr old son out. Slowly getting used to handling it (it's my first 12)