N2730 Orient Express

[National 12 Webmaster]

The life of N2730 Orient Express.  Design: China Doll, designed by: Phil Morrison in 1967
Original boat name: Crafty Clara.

[DavidW]

A beautiful 7 plank Doll built by Richard Lovett - I bought her from Steve Culliford inthe mid 70's having admired her at Salcombe Week - I renamed her from "Calamity Jan".

Enjoyed a a good bit of sucess in the Thames Area in her and a 3rd at Hunstanton during NWNW in 1976 beating many of my heroes of the time!

Sold her to a girl from Aldenham when I bought my 1st Cheshire Cat.

David Wilkins

[Tim Gatti]

This boat spotted on E-bay 6th Feb 2008 named 'Lively' with the interior of the hull painted red.

Ebay seller writes:
My husband and I took on an abandoned boat from his sailing club, so we know little about her history. We subsequently sought advice from the National 12 association, who advised that she is probably a vintage proctor 14, built in the late 1960's. After lovingly restoring her (complete rub down to bare wood and revarnishing the hull, new brass rubbing strake, and all done between months organising our wedding!) we've sailed the boat a few times and she certainly lives up to her name, 'Lively'. As we have embarked on other projects and moved out of the area, we regrettably have to sell her. 

The boat is clinker built and comes with a full set of sails (a great purchase from Ebay), a trolley, a waterproof cover, and a wooden paddle and all the rigging.

[martin 1262]

I think sails and boat don't match. The pictures on ebay look like something other than a China doll.
More like a early Proctor

[Chadders]

I have contacted the owner to see what the boat number is as the advert  suggests that they bought the sails from ebay hence this is not the boat number.  The hull has no number I am told though they did look for one, it appears that at some stage they have been told by the "association" that the boat is a mid sixties Proctor design.   Howard C N2, N2266 and N3356

[Richard]

A 2730? was advertised for sale on 21.04.06..........

[Richard]

And on 15.07.06........

[Richard Emerson]

Sold on Ebay France 12 april 2008

[martin 1262]

...for the grand sum of EUR 1750, A tidy amount of money!;D;D

[David_Wilkins]

But which boat was sold? Was it the "probably proctor" or the genuine 2730?

[simon moss]

2730 now back on e bay looks great
simon

[ocallen]

I have bought N2730 on ebay and collected it today. Really pleased with the general condition and the way the seller had looked after it. He was a really good guy to deal with and it came with excellent sails (2 sets) and had been maintained well enough that initially I can't see anything that needs to be done before sailing.
History wise seller owned it for three years, in 2006 he bought it from Simon Cooke of Lincoln, I see in the 2003 yearbook that it was owned by I Hunter of Stockport. I will try to fill in more details but if anybody can furnish me with information or add anything here, please do so.

[David_Wilkins]

A really lovely boat - I'm sure you wont be dissapointed. I was just a little tempted to bid myself for a bit of nostalgia!
I changed the colour from yellow to dark blue with a white "Smoothie" bottom over my first winter of ownership. That's about all I can add.

[ocallen]

David, when did you get the boat and when did you sell it ?
Good to hear from you.

[David_Wilkins]

My comments are above under David W
I'd have to look back throught the old year books to check but I'm prtty sure I sailed it in 1976/77.

I remember spending many hours drawing and cutting out a stencil of shaddow writing to spray the name on the side (should have been studying at the time!). Looked great!
Sold to a Miss E Campbell when I bought my first Cheshire Cat which I found incredibly stable in comparison.
The photos seem to show that the one piece beech tiller I made may still be in service?
Cheers
David