Tag: Nick Smith

Nick Smith 16ft motor launch planked up

Nick Smith motor launch for 2011 - batten shows optional sheerline Nick Smith motor launch for 2011 planked up

Traditional boat builder Nick Smith has sent in this photos of a new 16ft motor launch that he has been working on.

The boat has now been planked up – in the first a batten shows where the sheerline will fall if a buyer prefers an open boat: the second illustrates where the deck would lie if finished off with a half-deck and cuddy.

Nick will be off to the New Forest shortly to source green oak for the timbers; the boat will soon be steamed out and rivetted up – see a video of Nick and helpers steaming out an earlier boat.

Two earlier posts relating to this boat are here and here.

Nick comes from Devon, learned boatbuilding the traditional way and specialises in new builds in clinker and carvel for sail, motor and rowing power from 8ft to 28ft with a special emphasis on West Country style and design, and also takes on repairs and refits from 25ft to 50ft. These days he’s based in Hampshire, and can be contacted by email at nick_smith_boatbuilder@yahoo.com and by phone on 07786 693370.

First Dart motor boat Lady Edyth for sale

Lady Edyth 1908 motor launch built at Dartmouth for sale

 

Lady Edyth 1908 motor launch built at Dartmouth for sale Lady Edyth 1908 motor launch built at Dartmouth for sale

The current owner of 1908 Dartmouth-built motor launch named Lady Edyth has asked traditional boatbuilder Nick Smith to try to find the boat a suitable new owner who understands her provenance and wants to get her back in service in a sympathetic way.

Lady Edyth was built by Lidstones in 1908 – she was the first motor boat on the River Dart.

She has now been dry-stored for years and is now in a garage in High Wycombe, and both the current owner and Nick would like Lady Edyth to return to the Dart or at least the South Hams area. She is 19 foot long, classically narrow in beam, has elegant lines (as the photos above show), and is built in pitch pine on elm with a teak top strake. She won’t appear on Ebay, because she could end up anywhere.

Nick says her hull is in incredibly good condition, and even has her original rudder. However she would benefit from reframing and refastening, some new lengths of pitch-pine planking, new decks, engine beds and engine, and of course some paint and varnish work.

Nick, who completed a traditional boat building apprenticeship as a young man, still specialises in West Country style motor launches and will be happy to offer his boat rebuilding services to the new owner. If anyone is interested please phone him on 07786693370 or email him at nick_smith_boatbuilder@yahoo.com.

In fact, Nick himself is a descendent of the Lidstones boat building dynasty, as his father was a Lidstone. The family, which first emerged at Ledstone near Kingsbridge, were carpenters and boat builders in Dartmouth, but the last one, Win, has now gone, so there are none left. Some time ago Nick found the old boatyard: it’s still called Lidstones, but sadly it’s now waterside accommodation.

Nick Smith motor launch is half-way planked

Nick Smith planks new 16ft motor launch Nick Smith planks new 16ft motor launch

Nick Smith planks new 16ft motor launch Nick Smith planks new 16ft motor launch Nick Smith planks new 16ft motor launch

Nick Smith planks new 16ft motor launch

Traditional boat builder Nick Smith reports that his latest 16ft West-Country-style motor launch (see an earlier post) is half-way planked up, and shaping up nicely. Here’s what he says about it:

‘The plank runs have been fair and the ‘jerolds’ (the points where the planks over lap as they run into the stem and the transom, and are carefully tapered to end up flush rather getting an overlapping thrupenny-bit effect) will be watertight.

‘The photos show me rivetting-up with the midships section of the portside plank temporarily clamped in place with wooden ‘gripes’ while the copper nails are drilled and driven, and an inside view of the oak transom and mahogany stern knee.

‘The planking should be finished in a week and then the oak frames will be steamed and bent in place known as steaming or timbering out.

‘The planked and framed hull is for sale. I have some other jobs to do for a month, but if she isn’t sold by then I will continue to fit her out: my intention is to half-deck the boat so there is weekend accommodation forward, a small double bunk,storage and provision for a portable cooker,maybe a chemical toilet also. There will be a bulkhead about midships, with washboards and a sliding glass top hatch, wheel steering and plenty of seating in the cockpit area.

‘Up to the time I start decking her, the option will still there for a new owner to have her fitted as an open launch. If you’re interested please don’t hesitate to contact me for a price for the planked and framed hull, and for whichever fit-out you may require.’

‘I’ll have more photos when the planking is completed and the moulds are removed.’

Nick can be contacted by phone at 07786 693370 or by email at nick_smith_boatbuilder@yahoo.com.

Cheers Nick – thanks for the photos.