The following source list may help to you to find some of the small items needed for vintage boat repair. It is not to be taken as an endorsement by the VMYG of any company listed.
If you have any other useful sources please email Nigel Hancock with details.
Boats
Southwold free-sailing yachts with GRP hulls.
29" Beach Yawl (1920). The official VMYG Pout Cup one-design.
20" bermudan sloop (1920s). 25" bermudan sloop (1930s).
Bare hulls to fit out yourself or complete boats ready to sail.
Ian, Tel. 01394 386587.
Cutting Mat
Think of it as a very thin bread board with a self healing surface. Available from several places but we like the price at http://www.ryman.co.uk/, put "cutting mat" in their search box.
Fenders
Knotwork bow fenders expertly knitted by hand in white or beige soft cotton. Available in 4 standard sizes. Small (5"), medium (6"), large (7") and extra large (9"). Medium is suitable for a 10-rater. Side and stern fenders also available.
C Sadd, Tel 01749 347212.
Fittings
Fittings, including steering gears, for vintage model yachts made to your drawings.
"MacFit Model Yacht Fittings", Bernie, Tel. 0151 639 7106
Lead Casting
Leadatom Europe Ltd., Unit 1, Brockenhurst Industrial Estate, Gosport, PO12 4DP.
Tel. 02392 523973. www.sales@leadatom.co.uk
"Aldruscilla", 8 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3UU.
Tel. 020 8543 8710. www.aldruscilla.co.uk
Line, Hard-laid Cotton, Off-white.
Available in two thicknesses as “Faithful” brand chalk lines. Each chalk line is 18 metres long, and they come in boxes of 12. However, they are left joined up in 3s, so in effect each box contains 4 lengths of line each 54 metres long. A supplier who holds stock will cut off and sell just one 18 metre chalk line, but a supplier who orders specially will have to order a box of 12, and so he may be willing to do so only if the customer agrees to purchase the whole box.
When the line is cut, the end has a tendency to open up because the fibres are so smooth. The way to deal with this is to work a little weatherproof PVA glue into the end and then re-twist it. When dry, trim the end with a sharp blade and a small piece of wood.
- Catalogue number FAI 303. About 1.5mm diameter. Price, box of 12 chalk lines, £11.45 + vat.
- Catalogue number FAI 304. About 2.0mm diameter. Price, box of 12 chalk lines, £14.19 + vat.
“Faithful” chalk lines are stocked by some, but not all, builder’s merchants, tool suppliers and hardware stores. They are distributed by “Toolbank Express”, which has a country-wide organisation of licensed Toolbank Express retail outlets, who either stock an item, or can order it to be dispatched on the next working day.
To obtain a list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the 10 Toolbank Express retail outlets nearest to your postcode, go to http://www.toolbank.com
(Prices correct as at 3/05/2009.)
Plans
See plans section of website
Restoration
All aspects of repair and restoration undertaken by traditional methods to a high standard.
Chris, Tel. 01428 722817.
Sails
Sails made of traditional materials.
Apex Sails, Tel. 01278 785938.
Nylet have been making sails for 78 years, and will make any sails to order in your sizes, in scrim, dacron, cotton or varnished terylene. Sails for vintage yachts a speciality. Yachts rigged, advice and assistance with your project, restoration work undertaken. Also a full range of model yachting requisites including yacht kits, sail winches, rigs, masts, fittings, books, batteries etc. Send 11 1st class stamps for the full 36 page illustrated catalogue. Ring for free mini catalogue.
Nylet, (Dept VMYG), PO Box 5416, Bournemouth, BH6 5XT. Tel. 01202 420370. www.nylet.co.uk
Sail cloth (cotton)
The most appropriate material we have found in the UK is down proof cambric, used for lining cushions to stop the feathers coming out. It comes in various weights and a small range of cream and off-white colours. The one the Vintage Group in the UK prefers comes from stores in the John Lewis Group and is 'downproof cambric 31805'. Go to the furnishing and upholstery department, not the dress fabrics section.
Screws (inc. brass in small sizes),
Mr Lee Ryder, Screws Line.
3 Willand Close, Breightmet, Bolton, Lancs. BL2 6TQ
Tel: 07972 779907
. www.screwsline.co.uk
This is a new address August 2011.
Screw Eyes, Brass.
Available from B and Q DIY Stores. (Prices correct as at 1/5/2009.)
- Screw eye, extra small, brass. Bar code 0321 0468. Quantity 25. Price £5.73.
Outside diameter 7mm. Threaded tail 8mm long.
- Gate hook and eye. Brass. Each packet contains 2 gate hooks and 4 screw eyes.
- 5.0mm size. Bar code 0506 6339. Price 98p.
Screw eye outside diameter 10mm. Threaded tail 10mm long.
- 7.5mm size. Bar code 0506 6797. Price £1.28.
Screw eye outside diameter 11mm. Threaded tail 14mm long.
- 100mm size. Bar code 0506 6780. Price £1.48.
The screw eyes are the same size as those with the 7.5mm size gate hook.
Available from Homebase DIY Stores. (Prices correct as at 1/5/2009.) >
- Screw eye, brass, small. Bar code 5 050595 240522. Article number 824416. Quantity 6. Price £2.99. Outside diameter 7mm. Threaded tail 8mm long.
The prices of the small screw eyes seem excessive, especially from Homebase, but at least they are obtainable
Star Yacht Stands
VMYG member Mark Russell has made up a batch of reproduction Star
Yacht stands, they're available in 3 different colour variations
and 3 different sizes to suit most models in the Star Yacht range. A
larger stand to suit the BR4 "Comet, SB 4 "Baltic Star" and SB5
"Western Star" will be available in due course.
They also sell Skipper Yachts, a modern version of the Star range. For the next generation?
Terylene
Varnished terylene sailcloth.
UK Insulations Ltd., Syke Mill, Belthorn Road, Belthorn, Blackburn, BB1 2NN.
Tel. 1254 264499. www.ukinsulations.co.uk.
