MY 54
Can you help me identify these two
acquisitions? Neither of the sellers could offer any information.
The first has a hollowed out wooden hull with wooden keel & looks
to be a commercial model. I've seen a nearly identical but shorter version
on display in someone's window. So I guess there are a few out there.
1960's? Apart from the addition of a boom below the jib, it looks completely
original. It sails fairly well, but not half as well as my Ailsa.
Dimensions: 24" overall, 32.5" keel to mast, 26" mast
& 5" beam.
The second is all steel with a large screwed on lead weight to the keel.
Again it looks 1960's to me & unfortunately is a bare hull.
Dimensions: 24" overall, beam 6.5" & 8.5" keel to
deck.
I was planning on a 30" mast. Does that sound about right? The
hull weighs about 4lbs.
VMYG Comment:
I can't help and have consulted
Trevor who is equally unable to offer any ideas on the wooden boat. He has
however identified the metal one as a Triang C24, the largest of three essentially
similar models that they offered in the 1950s. Attached is a clip from an
advert that appeared in Meccano Magazine in March 1955, which is when the
line was introduced. They stayed in production until 1960, when they were
replaced by plastic versions. The photo shows a rigged version, from which
it should be possible to scale the spar dimensions. Trevor suggests that
the mast is 31 inches and the main boom 13. The jib has been mounted back
to front by the owner of this one. There should be a a Triang logo impressed
in the fin just above the lead.
Russell