Author: Gavin Atkin

Preserving old cotton sails

There’s a query on the forum that I can’t begin to answer, but someone might know the best approach.

Our correspondent has bought an old Enterprise dinghy dating back to 1957, and it has arrived with cotton sails. Is there anything he can spray on them to protect them without staining?

If you know the answer to this, please go to the forum – there’s a link in the sidebar to the right of this page!

For more on Enterprise dinghies, this link takes you to the Enterprise Class Association website: http://www.sailenterprise.org.uk/

Merlin Rocket 252 brought back to life

Merlin Rocket 252 Merlin Rocket 252 Merlin Rocket 252 Merlin Rocket 252

From the wonderful Classic and Vintage Racing Dinghy Association, here’s a heart-warming series of photos in which traditionally-built Merlin Rocket 252 is brought back to gleaming life. Great work!

The Merlin Rocket class was born when the established Merlin and Rocket classes merged a long time ago. With such an early sail number, I wonder whether this boat predates the merger? And if so, was it a Merlin or a Rocket?
http://www.cvrda.org/gallery/pages/garry/index.htm

For more on small boats: http://intheboatshed.net/?cat=18

Meanwhile, traditional boatbuilding flourishes just outside Caernarfon

14ft Myth

Here’s a top-class boatbuilding job that I’m pretty sure is as epoxy-free as anyone could wish for: a 14ft Trearddur or Myth class dinghy designed by Morgan Giles and built by Classic Sailboats. She couldn’t be prettier, could she?
http://www.classicsailboats.co.uk/…/myth

For more on boatbuilders click here: http://intheboatshed.net/?cat=17

And also the links page: http://intheboatshed.net/?page_id=12