Jack Holt’s first Heron on show at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall

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Flook - the first example of Jack Holt\'s Heron design

Flook – the first Heron, designed by Jack Holt

Not long ago, it would have been difficult to imagine popular small dinghies appearing at the National Maritime Museum – but that’s one of the important things that the NMM has been able to do at its Falmouth site in Cornwall.

The boat shown here on show at the NMMC is Flook, the very first Heron dinghy.

Designed in 1950 by the world renowned and highly respected Jack Holt, this 58-year old remains a popular do-it-yourself project and starter boat.

In the years following World War II, people began taking to the water in greater numbers than ever before in boats they built for themselves using waterproof glues and plywood developed during the war. The new materials meant that designers such as Holt could provide a new range of affordable boats.

The popular Heron can be rowed, sailed or even driven by a small outboard motor, and can be carried on the roof of a family car, and more than 10,000 Herons have been built around the world.

In addition to the Heron, other well known Jack Holt-designed boats include the Mirror dinghy (Mirror No 1 is also on display at the museum), International Enterprise, Solo, Hornet, Flying Ten, Lazy E, Merlin, GP14 and Streaker.

See the NMMC website.

There’s a section discussing waterproof glues and plywoods in my book Ultrasimple Boatbuilding.

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