Tarana - an early Dallimore design

As there obviously has been some interest in Dallimore designs I have decided to post a few pictures of Tarana - a 22 foot Dallimore that is being restored by Gweek Quay boatyard. She was shown off in at the London boat show in January and what a beauty she is. Very similar to Roach, but she is a gaffer and had an older underwater profile with a slightly deeper draft and heavier keel. I envy the level of workmanship - something I can't even begin to emulate.

Pansies in Spring

Roach has the earliest version. A Mk1!!!!!

I write this in Spring-like weather – and you can thank me for that. It’s Sod’s Law that as soon as i have found the ideal heater for Roach, the weather warms up.

After months of deliberation and searching for a heater for the Winter, Winter passes and now it’s Spring. The idea of a heater was not put on the back-burner (excuse the pun) as I know full well that dry heat is a very welcome thing after a being soaked to the skin in a Summer squall, wanting some way to dry out below.

Not only that, now that Roach will be launched, the umbilical cord of a power lead and fan heater will go. Some sort of dry heat is essential before next Autumn when her fit-out will continue and I am sure to be spending maintenance weekends on her. I know it is a long way off, but as I have no car, I need to get the bulky things installed on Roach even though they may not present themselves as immediate priorities.

The heater I have gone for is the delightfully named Pascal-Atkey Pansy. An original in copper and brass, from the 1940’s, in very good condition for its age; perfect for a 1940’s yacht. The Pansy burns charcoal – which although messy, has some key advantages over gas and paraffin. They are safer and therefore can keep heating the cabin when the crew is asleep. They are very simple and therefore less prone to breaking down. They are totally silent and lastly, but very important for a small yacht like Roach, they have a very small 1inch diameter flue. This means there is less protrusion on the flush deck.

I think you will agree that once she is polished up the heater will fit quite at home on the bulkhead. I think I will wait till the weather gets poorer before installing it though, that way a certain Mr. Sod, will be sure to give us all another heat wave!

A few progress pictures

You can see here the new cockpit is almots finished with the coamings now in place. The backing pad for the gas overboard drain and a rather messy interior as the fit-out continues. The sideboard and trotter box can is in assembly to Port. The hooks on the side of the Port side of the hull is for the traditional style pipe-cot.

Sails for Sale

Well It has been a while since I have made a progress post. Who said that it was only Noah that launched on time?

The last two weeks have been spent with very little time at the boat – a friends wedding and a few interviews have crept and sabotaged my lovely work plan. So whilst I have not been at the boat I have decided to sort out Roach main method of propulsion. Having spent a fortune on the new BETA set-up, I realised that she is in fact a sailing yacht! It was time to do something about her rather worn cotton mainsail.

I already have two brand new jibs, a McKillop new no.1 and a Sobstad no. 2 – both very lucky finds on e-bay as they fit perfectly. The Sobstad might be a bit heavy for a no.2 though as I think it must have been a larger yachts storm sail. I am not worried though as Dallimore designed Roach with a tack downhaul, and eventually I will be adding a reef to the Mckillop sail which is excellently made.

So all I need is a new mail to compliment the foresails. Quotes from UK sailmakers rarely dropped below £700, so I eventually I decided to look abroad to Hong Kong, where I was quoted half that.

A word of warning for those considering this option for a classic. It has taken two weeks of constant mailing to clarify what I need. Roach has an elliptical mast with a raised track, and this has confused the sailmakers no end as I was not a “Stock” design on their computer. Loads of photos and diagrams were needed to make them understand my tack arrangement – but in the end I think we both understand each other. Watch this space to see what comes of the end result!

One thing that has come apparent in this process is that classic yachts were VERY WELL designed in the past. My gooseneck arrangement and raised track seems to have been designed around the sail, rather than the other way around, meaning that the tack and clew can be in the corner of the sail with no cut-away (as common with many modern yachts). As I say, I will let you know of the end result when my sail gets DHL’d to me later next month.