When I was a kid, I decided that anyone who could build a clinker built boat and make all those beautifully shaped pieces of timber fit tightly together must be some sort of wizard. I’m still inclined to think so.
Tag: boatbuilding
BBA short courses for 2015 now online
The Boat Building Academy at Lyme Regis has written to say that its programme of short courses for 2015 is now online.
BBA staffer Jane Cashin says that new courses included in next year’s programme are Basic woodworking 2, Furniture making and Introduction to GRP.
To book a course or buy a gift voucher, contact Jane and colleagues on tel +44(0)1297 445545 or email office@boatbuildingacademy.com. Alternatively you can download an application form from the website and send it to the BBA;s address, which is also on the website.
Also, I wondered if your readers might like to know about the new online epoxy magazine called Epoxycraft? Some of our graduates and current students have recently contributed to its regular section on projects. The site has lots of news and tips about working with epoxy in boat construction, maintenance and repair.
BBA students build a new design composite sailing canoe
Boat Building Academy students Richard Lyford from Portland and Steve Roberts built and launched a newly designed 14ft 5in composite sailing canoe as part of a 38-week boatbuilding course. The photos are by Janine Cashin, Liz Griffiths, Becky Joseph, John Pritchard, Grant Morris and Jenny Steer.
Richard took a career break to attend the course.
Richard believes that with interest in the Victorian idea of sailing canoes is growing in the UK and that we’re on the way to a real revival. So he worked with sailing canoe specialist company Solway Dory to develop and design a new light-weight composite sailing canoe and built a prototype as part of his course.
Water sports enthusiast Steve joined the course from a career in the Royal Navy where here worked as a mine clearance diver.
The two created a tulip-wood hull plug, which was then glass and epoxied to create the mould, which was lifted off the plug, polished and used to create the canoe.
Rock Pipit can be paddled or sailed, and has an unstayed Bermuda rig, which Richard argues is simple to rig and easy to reef.
She looked elegant in white and royal blue, so much so that BBA technician Steve Hewins, a man who has seen countless boats, watched her go out and said ‘One day I’m going to have one of those… ‘
Richard returns to his job as a Submarine Systems Engineer in July. Steve has already started work at Compass Tenders, Port Hamble, building bespoke tenders for superyachts.
The Rock Pipit design will become part of the Solway Dory range. If you are on the Devon or Cornwall coast or estuaries look out for Richard, who intends to use his new sailing canoe as often as possible.