Any help would be appreciated.

Best

Wayne

I have bought many springs from an online source but they are all too stiff. 
 

thanks in advance

Here is my journey

1 - EZ Vane

I came across the drawings on VMYG and it seemed easy enough to make so I ordered up some brass sheet and set about machining the parts using a handheld drill and a rather wobbly drill-press.   For the round bits I roped in Derek Morland who had a lathe, was kindly donated a dial by Graham Reeves and hey presto, I had a vane.   While it was functional it had a lot of slop and wobbled around a bit.

2 - EZ Vane - Attempt 2

Having acquired a mini-late with a small milling attachment I decided to try again.  

This time I was able to machine reasonable slots in the brass and turn my own shafts.   I also made up a dial drawing and had a plastics shop to make a bunch up for me.

To improve the look I bought and used a small nickel plating kit.   The end result was much better and I still use this vane on my vintage marblehead today

3 - "A" boat Vane

Having had my appetite tickled by the marblehead Nigel Brown kindly gave a wooden 1980's John Lewis design "A" boat.   The hull needed re-decking and a lot of work but we got there in the end.  The guru @Derek Priestley advised that the EZ vane may be a bit light for the "A" and kindly lent me one of his vanes to copy.    

I initially made the body out of 3 pieces of aluminium which I bonded together with epoxy.   Unfortunately the epoxy bond was not great and the vane fell to pieces on day 1 of the 2023 A week.   Overnight I remade the body in brass and silver soldered the pieces together.   Still going strong and it easy to use for a beginner like me.

4 - Baby Jones

The next and most recent project was to make a small vane for my old woodie v36" built by John Gale. Using Nigel Brown's vane for inspiration and some parts donated by @Graham Elliott we now have something that resembles a small Jones.  Not quite done and not yet tested on the boat, but seems to be in good shape

5 - Jones

This is the first of my 3 vanes not built by me.   Needs a bit of a clean and some fettling, but a very nice bit of kit

6 - Corby

A stunning piece of engineering that came with another vintage M that sits in my shed.  I have not used it yet but one observation is that I wonder if it might be a bit finicky to adjust the "broken" tacking angle, not something you want to have to do in a just at the bank.   Also gives you no ability to have slightly different tacking angles on each side to accommodate a boat that sails better on one tack over the other.   But I am sure that, as this is a sought after vane, my concerns are unfounded

7 - 3D printed EZ Vane

This vane came with my 36 but I feel that it's too out of character for the old woodie.   Destined to sit on my shelf until I find something more modern that needs a vane

8 - Clem

Coming up will be an attempt to make a Clem which I will use on a 1932 "A" boat that I will get around to restoring at some point...

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I dread the day when my wife asks me why I have some any vanes, but I will cross that bridge when I come to it....

I hope that this story gives other people the confidence to build something.  Vane sailing a boat is fantastic, don't be afraid.... we are not all grumpy old men.

But… details are rather scant.  Anyone out there with some drawings that they are willing to share?     Failing that, anyone willing to let me borrow their Clem so that I can take my own measurements?

any help appreciated  

Wayne

But to do so I need to find a helper.   Anyone out there willing to offer their services? No previous poling experience necessary, just willingness, and reasonable mobility   

We will not win the event with the old girl, but we will take points off people….

cheers

Wayne. 

I have a Vane A and a Vane 36R - both beauties of “a certain age” and both equipped with rather lovely vane systems… which I have no clue about! In fairness to the vendor he has said that he will help me out if I turn up at Gosport on vane 36 day (which I will!) but I’m just trying to get ahead of the game. 
 

Attached are a few relevant pictures. Is there any resource that can get me started with understanding these glorious objects and how to use them? We are most interested initially in the 36R… 
 

I have got myself a nice wooden V36 built by John Gale and it has a ton of shiny new suits of sails, but no spinnakers.

Before I ask my favourite sailmaker to knock some up for me, has anyone got some lying around that they may be willing to part with?

Cheers

W

Hi All

I am helping restore a VaneM from circa 1980 but we have little information to go on.   What I need to do is find the design of boat so that we can get a sailplan and make some rigs.   The rigs taht came with the boat are clearly not for the boat, so we need to start from scratch.

Boat is GRP hull with plywood deck and there are no marking on or under the deck to help further.

The vane feather carries the name "Hot Chocolate" but we should not assume for now that it came from the boat originally.

Anyone out there who could help with any info?

Cheers

Wayne

PS, only positive comments about the state of my workshop please

I am trying to find the registration/sail number for an A Boat built by Ken Shell around 1997 as I am restoring the boat.  Sadly there is nothing on the bare hull and the deck was removed previously. 
 

we know the design is an Ibis by John Lewis and by the looks of it the hull was built after a bow bumper was added to the class rules. 
 

one line that we can use is racing results from this period to see if Ken raced the boat at all. 
 

anyone know where we can find such results for Vane A, notably M&S, or even better, Gosport. 
 

any help would be appreciated. 

FLEETWOOD CLASSIC & VINTAGE VANE MARBLEHEAD WEEKEND.

We have  25 competitors from far & wide taking part in our "Old Blokes with Old Boats"  and a few ladies too weekend.  

Some of the boats are 60+ years old and some of the sailors are 10 years older than that!   BUT,  they still managed to walk/jog around  Fleetwood's lake which is 270 x 70 yards and covered about 8 miles according to Derek Morland's (Gosport Commodore) watch. 

Hopefully we'll do the same today.

SATURDAY SCORES.

       Sailor                            boat design                              points

     Gareth Jones               Witty  Skippy                             25

    Alan Bell                       Priest  Witchcraft                      25

    Damian Ackroyd          Stollery  Bloodaxe                    25

    Nigel Brown                  Tucker Duck                              20

    Keith Wiseman             Witty Bosun                             18

    Lisa  Priestley                Clem Edwards                          17

    Tony Wilson                  Priest  Witchcraft                    17

    Mick Parkinton             Priest Witchcraft                     16

    Derek Morland             Witty  Wasp                             16

    Peter Iles                        Witty Vega                              15

    David Geldard               Lund  Mirage                          14

    Max Buttimer                Wendy J                                  12

    Richard Enos                 Pocohuntas                             11

    David Mathers              Black Prince                             10

I see people talking telephone numbers for a vane gear and have seen some elaborate designs

But what ARE the rules

Is it simply that the Gear SHALL use only Wind Power to drive the Rudder

Dave

A 9 boat fleet entered this traditional event which has a long history with Fleetwood. A good mix of yachts from the vintage era to some of the more modern designs such as David Creeds Starkers. 

The strong westerly breeze kept the boats mostly using C-rig and thankfully all didn’t have to many equipment issues during the day. To the racing then, the early pace setters have come from the Roberts and Wyeth families. Both Zac and Lewis have taken points from their fathers, the younger generation making their own marks in this regatta. However, Dave Geldard started well in the morning session before loosing momentum after lunch. In the Vintage group Alan and David Bell have taken the most points during the day and provided some close competition against the more modern marbleheads.

At the halfway stage Shaun Wyeth leads with 27 points from a possible 30. Lewis Wyeth is in 2nd place with Zac and Martin Roberts close behind, but the Roberts family have sailed for 35 points and yet to have a ‘Bye’ heat. It’s all to play for tomorrow.

The 2021 (UK) Vane A Class Championship got underway today as 18 skippers arrived at Gosport to compete over 6 days. This Championship as well as the Yachting Monthly Cup are the most prestigious events within the MYA Calendar, both have been competed for since 1932.

This years event has attracted no fewer than 4 World Champions outside of the class, numerous national champions, including experts within the skill of Vane Sailing, plus a mix of new and exciting talent, all of which represent the next generation of skippers.

This year will see a different name on the trophy because the current champion, Graham Butler of Fleetwood was unable to compete this year. So who will be your favourite to win the championship?

Shaun Wyeth - He has to be the favourite for this week. He is sailing on his own lake using a boat familiar to him which has been upgraded recently. Shaun has won this regatta many times and understands the challenges.

Martin Roberts - A world Champion outside of the class, but he has won this event more than once. He will be pushing hard throughout the week. 

Rob Walsh and Peter Stollery - Both skippers are World Champions outside of the class,  but Peter has won the Vane A - Class Championship before. Rob is still yet to achieve this goal but both skippers have capable yachts to win.

Dave Geldard - A past winner of this championship but competing with a new and unfamiliar boat, Matrix which performed well 2 weeks ago at Fleetwood. Dave will pickup points against his rivals, but consistency will be key for him.

Chris Harris - He knows what it takes to win this event, plenty of Vane A-Class experience. He won at Fleetwood 2 weeks ago but has changed his boat for the regatta. 

Or is there another skipper who can raise their game?

Scores will start from tomorrow.

On Sunday, skippers competed for the Northern District Championships. The weather conditions were not as favourable, because the light and variable southerly winds made it difficult, for the skippers to set on a suitable trim. In the end the wind conditions forced the race officer, Derek Priestley to finish the event early with still a round of sailing to go. Congratulations to Chris Harris for winning the Northern District Vane A-Class Championship. In joint 2nd place was Zak Roberts and Dave Geldard. 

Many thanks to all competitors and Derek Priestley for running this weekend’s regatta’s, which was conducted in a safe manner and within Covid restrictions.

The full report can be seen on my Facebook page.

Regards,

JT

I would also like to know a little of her history, she has a name plate inscibed Esther and the sail number is K627.

I am quite happy messing with radio Marbleheads, 10 raters etc but this a little different, any advice would be appreciated.

Filmed by Karl Schmidt (AUT 7)