tiggy_cat

Hobby king do some, when they have stock. https://hobbyking.com/en_us/zippy-compact-1800mah-2s1p-30c-lifepo4-pack.html?queryID=81930c21e4be5dd5816b414adaf4b466&objectID=82544&indexName=hbk_live_magento_en_us_products https://hobbyking.com/en_us/zippy-compact-2100mah-2s1p-30c-lifepo4-pack.html?queryID=8b51fbc3434c162e175f2e9587fab9f6&objectID=82547&indexName=hbk_live_magento_en_us_products

The description of the mast tube arrangements that you describe plus the position of the mast quite far forward of the keel position, still leads me to think that the rig was a swing. I was struck when I saw the photos in the original auction, that I had never seen a swing rig on a A before.

Looking at the pictures on Ebay, (I also put a bid on it!) I think that the sails were on a swing rig which would only require one sheet to control it. It wouldn't have needed a closed loop system.

Thanks Mike.

Just as an aside to this, while I updated most of the electronics on the A during the Autumn (removing the Flight Link Duette 27mhz set up which still worked!) I left the original winch in place. This consisted of a large Monoperm motor driving a brass gear train with limit switches on a traveller arrangement. Something else probably knocked up in Brittania's Luton work shops. While a bit "old school" it is virtually impossible to move the winch drum by force except by energising the motor. This was originally via a pair of micro switches mounted on a servo but has been replaced with a solid state switch from a chap in the Channel Islands. The set up isn't lightning fast nor is it proportional, but it is basically simple and virtually foolproof. For the sort of sailing I am likely to do, the winch will probably be fine ( it was back in the 70's so should work just as well now). I did have a look around for something newer to replace it but with the seeming lack of RMG 300 series winches around , I was hard put to find anything that would reliably cope with the not inconsiderable forces involved in shifting the sails as there is a fair old area involved. Just wondering what others use in A's, given that the current breed are probably carrying less sail area. Any suggestions/observations welcomed.

Interesting to note that the A class now has 2 Class Captains , championing the class. Quite appropriate really , as given the weight of some of the older designs that they want to get back on the water, you need 2 people to lift them! Well that's the impression I get when moving around my Dambuster A Class that I acquired back in the early 1970's and used to sail at Emberton Park when it was barely a reclaimed gravel pit. If I remember correctly, the bulb on the end of the keel is somewhere close to 60lbs. I spent some time this Summer, tidying up the A which hasn't sailed for a good few years and it is nearly ready for a rebirth , along with my 6 metre "Tern". The A class was one of 3 identical boats built by a sailor local to Emberton ( David Houssen) for himself and two friends and only "fun sailed" i.e. they were never officially measured . Given all the fuss when Mr Stollery introduced his ovoid designs such as Dambuster and Clockwork Orange that didn't really have a deck edge to measure to etc, this might provide Bill Green with some interest if dropped into his measuring tank!!. I bought mine off of the Senior Engineer of Brittania Airways, who was based at Luton. For medical reasons he had to downsize to a Marblehead and I was sailing my little Starlet on the periphery of the group and he gave me first refusal on the boat at the grand price of £40 if I recall correctly. That price included the boat, 3 sets of Nylet sails and a 4'x3' road trailer used to bring it to the lake! As I had a Mini Clubman at the time, the trailer was sort of vital. The trailer had been built by "the lads in the workshop" from a welded angle iron frame, Indespension units and tongue and grooved wood painted externally and varnished internally. It was probably better built than the A class actually! Unfortunately, the trailer is long gone !! I do intend to get her sailing again, as IMHO , no class of model yacht looks so majestic when set up and sailing properly, although I may have to join a gym and get into training so that I can lift her into the water

Hi Steve, I also saw that another member of the forum said that they had bought the Cerebus plans, , https://mya-uk.org.uk/forums/topic/942-6-metre-rig-rule/

I think that Geoff Raygada said he was buying a set of plans for this.

Believe that there is a copy of Model Boats magazine for sail on Ebay currently, that has a review from 1978 when the yacht was available as a kit. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MODEL-BOATS-Magazine-July-1978-Trapper-Yacht/113943608256?hash=item1a87917bc0:g:dc8AAOSw6VRbDIe5

While the wooden one looks superb, I would probably go for the carbon one , simply because I think it would last better .

Hi Steve, The Revival is a long way off sailing at present. It has been on the back burner of late. The Tern is just about there though. My plan was to sneak over to Hollowell and have a quiet trial sail before its "public" unveiling but a rather silly accident at home this week end means that may have to be slightly postponed. Have to admit to being tempted by one of the 2 Rococo 's being advertised on the 6 metre site at present though. Would like to enter the Two Islands series this year although my large grey friend here will still be around for the first leg (no pun intended) of that😄

Just trying to convince myself that I don't NEED another 6 metre. The wife is already convinced!

I have happily used Kingmax sail winch servos for some time. When you buy from some outlets they say that the servos are programmable but you can only seem to buy them preset in terms of number of turns, almost all of them have the same rotation rate etc. For the sw22hv, it would seem to be able to be set to what you want except that you have to have the means to do it . I believe that you need this little gizmo to do it https://www.amazon.com/KINGMAX-22kg-cm-programmable-Bearings-Waterproof/dp/B07SMSWVF8. Does anyone know any different ?

I am restoring an older wooden built Revival at present. A friend of mine has access to a spreadsheet of registered 6 metre boats and came up with the details of a registered Revival. They were displacement = 12.2 kg. A for mainsail = 1720 mm B for mainsail = 539 mm J measurement = 541mm Mast measurement mark from front = 591mm. My own boat looks like it will turn out just over 12 kg (keel and bulb being detachable and weigh just about 10kg) A = 1720 B = 520 J for these sails = 560 Mast measurement from front currently looks like it is going to be around 570mm. The rearmost position for the mast is limited by the way the boat has been constructed, there being a keelbox which limits how far aft the mast foot can go, the mast itself fitting into a wooden box presumably held in place with wedges Only problem with this is, with the existing sails , the front forestay mark is literally falling off the front of the bow. I may look at a different sail plan with a reduced J measurement. Hope this is helpful.

Don't forget Keith Bell with his two seat Smartcar. He used to get his 6 metre into that !

Hi Mike, Not to worry. I hope that the Secretary is better soon; I wasn't aware that Geoff wasn't well. Just as well I didn't ring him as I know that he had a Revival at one time and I was going to pick his brains. Should have also thought about people being away on holiday given the time of year. Given the friendliness of the TI folk I have met, I didn't think that if I turned up that I would be sent away with my tail between my legs but didn't want to presume😀. Regards

Hi Mike , Thanks for that. For the mast I was actually thinking in terms of one of Mr Bantocks mast slides on the deck and some form of mast step at the bottom of the box while I can get at it. I am afraid that I am spoken for on Wednesday, though I appreciate the offer. I am not sure if I am a member of TI yet, as I applied a month ago and haven't heard anything back yet. Perhaps I have been blackballed!!

Well just got back from the mayhem that is the British motorway system under roadworks, having collected the Revival. Actually better than I thought it might be with no major issues other than needing the deck affixing after the internals have been sorted. Even that should be relatively easy as it has a rebate around the top of the hull for the deck to fit in. Looks like the ali groovy mast is useable and possibly the Bantock sails although they have a couple of nasty stains which look a bit like something rusty has dripped on them. The mast has no proper step at present, simply a rectangular slot in the deck with a box in the hull, neither of which will actually locate the mast properly. That will probably be the first job, followed by a decent mounting point for the shroud plates as what is there (no plates on the deck at present) looks a bit scrawny. Was actually surprised at the weight of the removable keel, it seems very heavy compared with the Tern. Must get the scales out and weigh the hull and the keel . Next step might be to try and get a copy of the plan to see what was intended.

Hi Shaun, Thank you very kindly for that. I thought that if it were a 6m, Mike Ewart would know something about it! I am a member of Abington Park MYC and have also applied to join Two Islands as they seem to be quite active in the class. Ian

Having just about finished my light restoration of a Lewis "Tern" (K924 pictured) , I have got back a bit of enthusiasm for 6 metre boats. Due to a change in interests within my club, these graceful boats have been replaced in favour by the DF95 which is probably a more convenient size for most members. Just before a weeks holiday , I put a bid on a boat on Ebay that I had noticed previously being sold as a Marblehead, but being described as 55 inches long, obviously wasn't. The seller then replaced the ad with one querying that the boat might be a 6 metre which looked more on the mark. He was asking for offers on his starting price and in a moment of weakness ( beware late night Ebay viewing) I put in a quite low bid. To cut a short story even shorter, she is now mine to collect when I have the opportunity. Will be interesting to see how close she comes to being a 6m. If anyone has any inkling as to design or origins of the boat, comments would be welcome

I favour yellow and luckily, so far, seem to be the only one in my club to do so. Does make picking out my boat in the pack rounding the far mark easier.

I have finally got my act into gear and have received the new groovy mast material and fittings to get the Tern back into sailing condition. I took the opportunity to contact the class Registrar who tells me that he has the boat still registered and will transfer it to me , sending any details that he holds. Looks like the 6 metre is pushing its way to the front of the "get sailing again" queue ahead of the A Class Dambuster and a couple of older Marbleheads. Think we are going to be busy.

To be fair , many clubs will not be the arbiters of what happens to the water they sail on as the "owners" will be local councils , water authorities or commercial ventures. You may, as a club, have permission to sail on the water but not to undertake "groundwork" by adding chemicals, straw or whatever. The club that I joined recently sails by grace of the local sailing club on a reservoir which they use by arrangement with the local water authority. Presumably , anyone wishing to undertake weed suppression would have to get that Authority's clearance.

Hi Val, Thanks for that. Looking purely at the geometry of what is there, I had pretty much concluded that it was a twitcher rather than a fine trim set up. I am off to the USA tomorrow on holiday, but when I get back I shall be ordering a new mast and the necessary fittings to re-rig the boat. I think that once I am able to rig it, I may be able to work out how the thing was meant to work! Presumably the idea is to flick the jib out to catch the wind in light airs rather than adjust the jib to mainsail relationship ? I haven't actually tried to see if the Whirlwind winch works yet, if not then I do have a new Tornado winch that I bought for a Marblehead that I have to renovate so that might end up in the 6m instead. Given the current internal rigging, looks like it might be fun to set up! The chap that sold me the boat actually had a spare deck moulding which he offered to me if I wanted it but given how nice the boat looks at present, I think that I will resist the temptation of ripping the current deck off as I doubt that it would improve anything on what I have. Once again thanks for the help.

Earlier this week, I took delivery of my first 6 metre boat. It is an older design ( a Tern) in fibreglass with a couple of suits of Bantock sails. It needs a new mast and a set of rigging. At present the hull is basically complete with a rudder servo, Whirlwind Olympic winch and a 3rd servo with an arm in the front of the hull. The lines from this 3rd servo run forward to the bow, out onto the deck through twin fairleads back to a pulley block each side and towards the rear of the jib boom then forward of the swivel point of the jib where they join together at a metal ring. As not all of the fittings are in place on the jib, it is not clear to what the ring connected. I have been trying to work out what function this rig has and presume that it is either 1) some separate trim function for the jib boom or 2) a form of jib twitcher. My question is do current users of 6m's think that there is any great advantage in either of these functions as , at present, I am minded to simplify the rigging by deleting the servo and tidying up the deck, or at least not bothering to connect it up . The boat in question has been out of commission for a while and has been with a club mate for a while after he bought it , I believe , from an estate sale. It was registered as K924 at one time but I have no certificate or measuring papers for it so presumably will have to get it remeasured. From a sticker inside, I believe that it was originally built in the general Gosport area, or spent some time there