Good Wood Boat exhibted two clinker dinghies at the 2011 Beale Park boat Show.   Wooden Tideway TW233 a restoration project nearing completion and a new build – National Redwing R249.

The Tideway was exhibited to illustrate the quality of varnish finish that can be achieved following non-caustic chemical stripping of the original coating.  TW233 has also had her timbers replaced and a number of plank splits and rot spots repaired.  These repairs were highlighted using labels, as were our custom made buoyancy blocks which we manufacture to suit the wooden Tideway and other classic dinghies.

Good Wood Boat Co. have teamed up with Pheonix Furniture Restorations (Www.phoenixantiquesbarn.co.uk) to offer a varnish stripping and fine finishing service for classic wooden boats.  Pheonix are specialists in the area of sympathetic restoration and conservation of heritage interiors where the emphasis is on consolidation rather than over restoration.  Andy Blundell of Pheonix is a fully accredited member of British Antique Furniture Restorers Association BAFRA.

The photo illustrates varnish stripping TW233 at the Pheonix workshop prior to repair work and revarnishing at Good Wood Boat.

Good Wood Boat Co are exhibiting two boats at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show, Alexandra Palace, London on 5th & 6rh March 2011.  Tideway TW520 – sold last year, the first wooden Tideway to be built for seven years and National Redwing R249, winner of the 2010 dinghy show Concours D Elegance trophy.

R249 has been our demonstrator and show boat and is now offered for sale – £2000 less than her new price and with 12 months guarantee

Picture – TW520 recieving a coat of varnish, with R249 in the background.

Half timbers removed

Restoration of TW233, a Tideway Super, continues at Good Wood Boat Company.

Most of the fit out items such as the aft locker, side benches, sole boards and fittings have been removed.  Every other timber (sometimes known as ribs) has also been removed.  New timbers will be steam bent and fastened in place.  Leaving half the timbers in place ensures the boat keeps her shape as work proceeds.

During this winter we have two Tideway restorations to complete.  The picture to the left depicts an early stage of one of these restorations.  We have assessed the restoration requirements and started  to remove the decking.

The hull requires new timbers, repair of split and rotted planking and revarnishing.  The running and standing rigging, buoyancy and sails are all due to be replaced.  She will also be converted from gunter to bermudan rig.

You can visit this blog to follow her progress.

We visited the classic boat show at Enkhuizen in the Netherlands on Saturday 6th November.  Our interest in the show was 2 fold:

Firstly, the Dutch International 12 foot dinghy class association were exhibiting.  Good Wood Boat has recently lofted and produced templates for our first 12 foot dinghy and the show was an excellent way to meet people interested in the class and discuss various characterisitcs of the boat.

Secondly, the show theme was ‘sustainability’ and since all our new hulls are built using timber from sustainable and ethical sources, it was a good opportunity to further investigate eco-certified timber suppliers.

As part of the need to comply with the ‘Recreational Craft Directive’ Good Wood Boat Co. has recently carried out buoyancy and stability tests on the wooden 12′ Tideway.  In common with the GRP Tideway the wooden boat is confirmed ‘Class C’ – suitable for 3 people of maximum load 225kg & a 5hp outboard motor maximum.

We also took the opportunity to sail TW520, our most recent build, on Derwentwater in the Lake District.  Thankyou to Rev M Davies for the loan of TW520!

Yesterday we sailed our latest National Redwing on Ullwater in the Lake District.  It was an exhilarating sail which yielded some superb photographs for our 2011 brochure.  The day was also an opportunity to conduct trails and tune the boat for competition.  If you would like to book a test sail contact Stephen at Good Wood Boat.

Photo Duncan Wardlow

Good Wood Boats National Redwing R249 has been exhibited at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall during August.  The caption describing the exhibit was “A Cornish thoroughbred designed by a master”.

The exhibit formed the backdrop for the Redwing Class Nationals prize giving, as this year these were held at Falmouth (Restrongent Sailing Club) during Falmouth Classics week.

We intend to race R249 in next years Redwing Nationals at Looe.

This month We have been carrying out a number of repairs to a beautiful 1960s Camper and Nicholson racing yacht.  She is carvel planked, mahogany on oak.

The work has involved repairs to her damaged stem and apron (see photo above), replacing a handrail, repairing localised rot to planking, making a new cockpit locker lid and making an instrument cabinet.

The left hand photo shows the impact damage to the stem and the right hand the finished replacement stem with silicon bronze bolts postioned and ready for tightening.