Tag: Lyme

Andrew Wolstenholme cold moulded electric motor launch built by BBA students

James Bird - Dick Stiles Electric Motor Launch (61)

Emma Brice Dick Stiles Electric Motor Launch Derek Thompson Dick Stiles and his Electric Motor Launch Emma Brice Dick Stiles Electric Motor Launch

Photos by James Bird, Emma Brice, Derek Thompson and Emma Brice – my thanks to all of you for permission to use these shots

Dick Stiles’ silent Andrew Wolstenholme-designed 13ft 6in electric motor launch was the cold moulded boat built by the March 2010 group, says BBA staffer Emma Brice – each 38-week Boat Building Academy course at Lyme aims to have a range of boat construction methods in the workshop.

Dick wanted to avoid a traditional build on this occasion because the boat, which he has names Bia 2, will be out of the water for long periods of time.

The hull is laminated mahogany with mahogany thwarts and seating, sapele decks, and oak detail for contrast on the covering boards. Dick used Douglas fir as a contrast for the sole boards and Emma says he did an exceptional job with the matchboarded veneer bulkhead.

A boat built to the same design was also built as part of student Phil Evans’ course in 2009.

In building Bia 2, Dick added a curved transom, modified the central thwart to house the battery – it has a hinged lid for access – and included a rear seat that conceals the converter and provides a water tight storage area and buoyancy.

Dick, who has dual New Zealand and British nationality, joined the course after thirty years in the oil and gas industries. He has now headed back to his home in Australia to set up a boat building workshop alongside his house there, in which he is to be helped by wife Maria who has herself completed the BBA’s eight-week woodworking skills course.

One of Dick’s main co-workers on the build was Ross Doherty, also from Australia, a project manager in commercial construction. Ross is now in India with his wife Lis to relax after a very busy nine months. On return they are hoping to settle down in the UK and begin a new career in boat building and begin family life, as they’re expecting their first baby.

The BBA website has a series of photos of the electric motor launch build, which strongly remind me of the early days of this boat building technique.

Tom Dunderdale sailing dinghy launched by 2010 Boat Building Academy students

Boat Building Academy launch December 2010

Boat Building Academy launch December 2010 Boat Building Academy launch December 2010 Boat Building Academy launch December 2010

Boat Building Academy launch December 2010

‘Proud builder’ and ‘thumbs-up’ photo featuring Ian Davidson’s wife Liddy were taken by Chelsea Davine and James Bird respectively; the last two were taken by Derek Thompson LRPS. Many thanks to you all for permission to use these shots

Emma Brice of the Boat Building Academy at Lyme has sent me the first of five instalments showcasing the boats built by the Academy’s class of March 2010.

Ian Davidson’s 18ft strip planked gaff rigged daysailer Annie, designed by Tom Dunderdale, is the first of its kind to be built. After a lot of thought, Ian invented the name Kisuli after the three women in his life, daughters Kimberley and Susy and wife Linda.  Then he found out Kisuli means dizzy in Swahili – apparently the women in question have have forgiven him.

The 18ft boat built by Ian and Keian Gillett, among others, has a shallow draft and will be used for sailing outings on Chichester Harbour – it is big enough for Ian to take his family out. It’s a pretty craft, and it would be great to hear how it sails.

Ian’s a keen sailor, and boats and the sea have always been part of his life and describes himself as a fixer with a thing about wood. After serving in the army for 37 years, Ian joined the Academy to learn a skill that he could practice and be proud of.

In the New Year Ian will tackle a house fit out, and afterwards will look for work as a marine carpenter in Hampshire.

Keian, who was Ian’s main partner on the build is a chef who gained a reputation on the course for making excellent bacon sandwiches. From London, he also loves sailing and is now off to Singapore to help a friend with the complete refit of a 43ft strip-planked boat, and from there will join another friend in the Sailing for Sustainability community project in Fiji, building wooden catamarans.

BBA student launch day December 2010

Boat Building Academy class of March 2010 in crab and lobster boat Witch of Weymouth

Boat Building Academy class of March 2010 in crab and lobster boat Witch of Weymouth. They make a heroic load for a 14ft boat

Boat Building Academy crab and lobster boat Witch of Weymouth Boat Building Academy student launch 2010 Boat Building Academy student launch 2010

More photos from the day – explanations will no doubt follow in the next few days

Boat Building Academy principal Yvonne Green has written to tell us about the student launch day at Lyme last Thursday. If you’re outside the UK, you may not know what we’ve had a generally horrible winter up to now – but that’s the reason for Yvonne’s enormous relief that once again the big launch event was blessed with good weather.

Here’s what she has to say:

‘It was a another brilliant launch day with boats and bright sunshine. We’ve had so much luck over the years that the Great Boat Builder in the Sky must be on our side

‘Nine students launched five boats, including Witch of Weymouth, and one student proposed to his girlfriend, on bended knee, in the middle of the harbour and on his boat’s first time out… It was a risky business but all went well and she said yes.

‘The boats were:

  • cold-moulded 13ft 6in electric motor launch
  • glued clinker 14ft Whitehall skiff
  • strip planked 15ft Chestnut canoe
  • 18ft strip planked gaff rigged daysailer
  • traditional clinker 14ft Dorset crab and lobster boat Witch of Weymouth

‘The BBC filmed Witch of Weymouth’s launch because of a piece they’d run about her build earlier in the year, but the other boats deserved just as much attention.

‘The motor launch is now on her way to Australia, the canoe was last seen heading for Norwich on a roof rack and the daysailer is stored in a garage until the summer. Witch of Weymouth will grace the workshop until after Christmas, when she’ll go home to Portland before heading off to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall at Falmouth.

‘Attached are some photographs of the day – our favourite is the class of March 2010 all looking jolly in Witch of Weymouth. More will follow next week.’

Chris Partridge of Rowing for Pleasure has more on the Whitehall skiff and it’s builder’s amazing public proposal here. There’s also a Youtube video including photos from the workshop here.

Thanks Yvonne! We’re looking forward to hearing more shortly. Also if anyone has any further photos, Youtube videos or anything else they’d like to send in, please let me know at gmatkin@gmail.com.