Category: Small boats

How to build a 1930s British sharpie

I’m going sailing, so you won’t hear from me for a day or two.

In the meantime, here’s a chapter from an old book describing how to build an old-fashioned British sharpie. Not many people would build a boat like this now, but I think it’s interesting, not least because it could so easily be a predecessor of the GP14.

This chapter includes instructions and plans for the hull and spars; see part II for sailmaking instructions:
How to build a 1930s British sharpie, part II

Build a sharpie Build a sharpie Build a sharpie

Build a sharpie Build a sharpie Build a sharpie

Build a sharpie Build a sharpie Build a sharpie

Continue reading “How to build a 1930s British sharpie”

Fireballs at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Fireballs

Fireballs

Allèz, a Fireball trapeze dinghy built by Jack Chippendale will feature at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth for the next two months.

Designed by Peter Milne in 1962, the International Fireball is a high performance one-design sailing dinghy. Milne’s intention was to create a boat that was cheap, simple to build and maintain, but with exciting performance – the single-chine hull is designed for planing at low speeds (it is said to plane at just 8 knots) and is scow-shaped. Usually sailed by a crew of two, it has a trapeze and a symmetric spinnaker.

First reviewed by Yachts & Yachting in March 1962, the Fireball was an immediate success. By May of that year, 73 sets of plans had been sold for self- build, and at least one company was selling complete boats for £188. Continue reading “Fireballs at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall”

Punts galore at Oxford

If you’ve been admiring the punt described in Chapter 3 of Boat Building for Amateurs, my guess is that you might also be interested in seeing some of these elegant river boats in action.

I took this collection some years ago with a low-spec camera, but I think they paint a pleasantly bustling scene, and show quite a lot of useful detail, if you’re planning on building one. If you are, please don’t forget that we’d love to hear your story.

Punts galore at Oxford Punts galore at Oxford Punts galore at Oxford

Punts galore at Oxford Punts galore at Oxford Punts galore at Oxford

Punts galore at Oxford Punts galore at Oxford Punts galore at Oxford