N1486 Four Square

[National 12 Webmaster]

The life of N1486 Four Square. Design: Mark 6 modified, designed by: Ian Proctor in 1955

Built in 1956 and allocated a temporary certificate by, the issuing authority of the time, the RYA but without a sail number.  The design is a Proctor Mark 6 modified with 4 wide planks against the then traditional narrow clinker planking that the rules required.  Known as Four Square and produced with the encouragment of the NTOA committee for a hull with less labour intensive construction, permitting wider planking, built-in buoyancy, wooden centreboard and a weight rule which allowed the boat when weighed complete to be no less than 216 lb.  At the 1956 AGM few favoured these advanced changes and the Four Square idea was rejected.
The sail number N1486 was subsequently allocated to the boat by the RYA on 17th March 1980. 

[Tim Gatti]

A recent e-mail indicates that Four Square (the prototype four planker) now aged 53, is  in good condition and until recently was still sailing. See attached photo of her on her 50th birthday with her owner of the last 17 years - Peter Hellon

[edwillett]

Now for sale on ebay, June 2011. Located Hitchin, Herts.
[face=Arial]Text from ebay listing - "Vintage National 12 N1486, "Four Square", professionally built in 1956 by Wyche & Coppock to a Proctor Mk 6 design using marine plywood & mahogany.[/face] [face=Arial]Excellent condition for age with many period features such as Tufnol cleats, builders nameplate etc. [/face][face=Arial]Complete with original wooden mast and boom, all rigging, suit of sails, combi trailer and various spares. Built-in buoyancy.[/face][face=Arial]Unique & very important boat in the history of this class of boat as it was the first one to be built with four planks each side. Built as a prototype in order to reduce the rapidly escalating cost of building the standard clinker built boats of that time, which typically used 10-12 planks per side".[/face]

[Peter Hellon]

A quick update on Four Square, still owned by me. She had been languishing in a friend of mine's barn in St Albans, after an attempt at a full restoration hit the buffers due to lack of time.

I have now retired and she is living in my garage in Cuffern, Pembrokeshire. Sadly her (original?) mast sustained damage in an unprovoked attack by a tractor whilst she was in storage and really needs replacing. Luckily I have Colin Evans of Evans Boatwork around 15 minutes drive away so I plan on commissioning him to build me one.

I have also stripped her back to bare wood for a full refurb and varnish so, hopefully soon, she will be back to her best, ready for sailing on the lovely River Cleddau and the sea also, when conditions permit.

I need to replace the top panel on the rear buoyancy chamber, which has slight double curvature so I need to purchase some 4mm (or possibly 5mm) plywood which is at least 135cm across the short side. Standard sheets are 244 X 122cm sadly.
Robbins Timber have sheets of 5mm ply 310 X 153cm in size but the cost is £175 including the VAT!!

Does anybody have any suitably ply they would be willing to sell me or have any suggestions of other timber merchants I could try?