TOPIC:

Recently purchased No 6517 from a member on this site. Can anyone tell me where it was made or its history. Was in sellers family for 20 years and believed to be made in Grimsby. It was left to the seller by his uncle but all paperwork lost.

It is Fibreglass construction all over, Red Hull and Grey decking in good condition. There are slots in the decking for the jib sheets but have been informed jib sheets should really go inboard nearer the mast than at present. Can anyone shed any light on this issue. It has a Proctor mast and spar which is circular in cross section (an older one I am told. The shrouds have no adjustment other that pins. and there is no strut / powering / depowering mechanisms at all on the mast. Main sheet is on the transom. Every thing is manual / basic. So I have to start somewhere. Any suggestions on modernising on a short budget and willing to contruct myself.? Or does anyone have all the control line kit from a project?.

No sails with it as these were mislaid (any sails for sale please?) It has laid in a shed for many years but is in excellent condition. Any advice on this much appreciated.



Peter 01538 304522

Derik



I believeSail numbers are issued with the builders fee rather than on measurement. This boat already has a number (measured or not). As it is GRP boat from a known mould, it is very unlikely that it does not measure unless it has been "bumped" - again unlikely with GRP decks.



However as there is no RYA record, the boat would have to be measured to get a certificate.

I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but a thought occurs - could it be that it was never registered because it wouldn't measure? There were some measurement problems around in a number of classes at that time and I think Albacores were included in that. If so, would the problem still exist?
One other thought - if it does in fact measure then it will have to be registered as a new boat. That means that despite having bought an older boat at a very advantageous price you will have the kudos of having the latest sail number!

Hi Peter - I've sent some tuning details in the post today, although I can't wave a magic wand and give you more information I'm afraid! Good sailing

I would like to thank every one for their input and enthusiasm. I didn't really expect such a response so soon. It must be a fosrite? but a mistery as to why it was never registered. Doubt I will ever want to be a National champion but who knows. I have sent an application for the assoc membership so look forward to information and guidance. Will be sailed on Rudyard hopefully on scrounged sails initially and hopefully I will progress and find the need to justify the expence of new sails and controls to my loving wife. Thanks also to the offers of sails which I will follow up. Just looking forward to getting afloat on a hankercheif if required!



Peter

Hi Peter,



It's definatelly a fosrite, i grew up in Grimsby and have sailed loads of them. My brother owned A6501 which was a Dave Linton Decked fosrite hull. I know sail at Winsford so feel free to come along any Sunday to have a look and get some free advice. We have a fleet of 7 Albacores with 3 more people looking for boats!



If you want any more advice please feel free to contact me directly my contact details are on the fixtures page.



Phil Smith

Northern Rep

A6504"Nemesis"

I was just going through the same process at the same time as Norm. We can say that it isn't a Rondar, as they didn't have slots in the side decks for the jib sheets. If you can make the trip over to Winsford on 10th 11th October take your digital camera!

Peter

Well...Norman's here but unfortunately can't help.

6517 has never been registered with the RYA (and it follows that it can't have competed at National level without a certificate). It would seem that the paperwork was not lost but in fact never existed.

However, this is NOT a run of numbers that went abroad. Adjacent numbers are all UK numbers and include Woofs (which were all wooden), Fosrite, Rondar, and of course Youngs (again wooden). It was a prime time for Albacore building - circa 1977.

I think the Fosrite assumption is a good one without being able to prove it. According to the RYA listing Fosrite made 126 boats (but this one isn't listed) the last of which was in 1981.

Sorry I can't do any more - but enjoy sailing it!

Peter,

In your psot you asked if any sails were available.



We have just posted a copy of an earlier post in the For Sale section, so we may be able to help.



Derek

It almost certainly is a Fosrite. Fosrite were based just outside Grimsby in fact on the road between Grimsby and covenham so the boat has'nt travelled far. They produced dozens of boats in the late sixties and seventies some all glass some finnished as composite by the likes of Bill Bacon,David Linton, Knight and Pink the list is endless . This included at least one Nationals winner. Production stopped in the late 70s and the moulds were moved on only to fall foul of the measurement problems at that time. I believe that the fozzy mould was taken from a Fairey hull. I have no idea where the mould is now but odd " hardly used" examples keep turning up in barns and a well kept example is still a good prospect if you dont want to be national champion. Good luck with your boat.

Sam

Peter



I believe Fosrite were based in Grimsby, but have not made an Albacore for quite some time (1970s).



The only builders of Albs in the UK are Ovington (who build for Speed Sails). In Canada the only current builder is Ontario Yachts.


According to:


www.albacore.org/USA/members/public/identifying_albacore.asp

only 1 Fosrite made it to the other side of the pond, so I dont think Fosrite were exporting to Canada.



Norman may be along soon if there are any details of your boat, in his archives.

JohnW2009-09-06 22:08:16

Thanks for the swift response . Were they building Albacores in Grimsby and are they still producing?

A friend seemed to thing that it was made for the Canadian market and on the register the numbers either side are across the water?

Peter

Hi Peter



Welcome to the class.

Looking at the photo of your boat (on Apollo Duck) I would say it is a Fosrite.






As for jib sheets, yes they should be sheeted further inboard that the slots allow. The slots in the deck date back to when sails were cut for a wider sheeting angle. This photo shows where the jib leads are placed on most modern set ups.







With regard to updating the rest of the rig, I would recommend that you take time to look at a number of other Albs and talk with their owners as there is more than one way of rigging an Alb. Your phone number suggests that you are not far from Rudyard Lake where there are a few Albs (if you are not already a member), or get along to the Northerns at Winsford Flash (Oct 10/11) and take a look at the boats there to get some ideas.

JohnW2009-09-06 21:06:47

Oh, OK - in a lot of classes the sail number is issued when the measurement form is completed, so I assumed the sail number quoted was the number on the sails with the hull, but not necessarily associated with the hull if you see what I mean!
I take your point about grp hulls, but it really is no guarantee. During the 70s and 80s I was sailing a Vanguard Finn - Vanguards were the boat to have in those days. Despite them all coming out of the same mould they measured differently, and at some regattas a boat would measure and at others the same boat wouldn't. It all related to the waterline beam at station 1 a couple of feet back from the bow, and Finn sailors went everywhere with a large tin of plastic padding to 'bump' the area in question if the measurer at the regatta demanded it...happy days!