Ok well I’ve just opened my package that arrived today.
Or as my wife stated, “ another boat?!”
A little window on the past. Some hand written notes of imperial ply sizes. A small square of sandpaper. A brass rudder and tube. Engine mount ready. Throttle cable and exhaust tubes in. But propshaft bent, no servo mounts and no glowfuel contamination (good news!). Outside skins still old bare plywood and not watertight.
I was driven to purchase another Javelin. It needs some tlc. In some ways it’s in a better state than mine, but in most it is not! My rose-tinted buying specs made me imagine her somewhat more seaworthy but it’s also quite nice to find an unfinished Lesro Javelin and hopefully bring it to life or at least float.
Skins haven’t been treated at all on the outside.
Some delamination of bulkheads and chips of skin missing at corners
Hasn’t sailed as unfinished
Was being kitted out for glowfuel motor but exhaust unused and absolutely no fuel contamination inside (Yay!)
Has a brass rudder and brass tube (good news)
Varnished inside
No rubbing strips
No deck at the rear that joins transom? Missing bulkhead or two here?
Hatches don’t fit
One lonely, partial strake
Propshaft and tube bent badly.
Skins seem much more flexible than mine especially near the engine bay so either because:
1. Untreated,
2. delamination
3. Thinner ply? Or any other clues?
Lots of questions and I shall place Javelin 2 on the top shelf as I need to focus on the other one. Having said that life is getting in the way (could be worse) so not much progress on that front. May decide to reskin this one or even convert to Rapier? Who knows....
Must stop looking at eBay!
I nearly ended up with a Graupner Pegasus III but decided a 4 foot twin motor and rudder boat was not going to fit in at home really (a boat I dreamt of owning as a teen living in Germany but my dad could only afford the Carina (which was a great first boat and much easier to build from what I’ve read))
Anyway back to the simpler (in theory) Javelin - Not sure how far to take it apart before getting it finished as the original builder must have intended. She will be getting either new skins or some fine glass cloth over the top I imagine of both. Or lots of filler
. Of course not, ahem.
Bob I am trying to join you in your efforts but fear I may be biting off more than I can chew. Still I can but try. I can understand your feelings about your dodgy Rapier now.
Having recently managed to acquire a lovely Sea Hornet kit unbuilt in original box (that’s for the future but couldn’t resist saving it) my other half has decreed no more boats to pass the threshold! I have more than enough to keep me busy over the next few years I reckon! Unless I can sneak some into the dark recesses of the loft but that’s not the best place for them.