Thread: 12 foot clinker cadet dinghy

They're old, they have a sail and they float.

Originally Posted by Gumby

They're old, they have a sail and they float.

Correction: some of them float.

Originally Posted by Gumby

They're old, they have a sail and they float.

mmmm can you be a little more specific, some people say there are members of this forum that this applies to

Any piccies ?

My mother used to sail one on Sydney harbour during the 1940s (I blame my old boat addiction on her ). I have a number of old photos of her and her boat 'Scamp'.
However, more contemporaneously, they are/were still sailed on the Derwent. I think the RYCT has/had a shed of them. I am a bit uncertain as it is a 2 - 3 years ago since i saw them there, so they may have been disposed of in favour of dinghies that have more sex appeal for the yoof of today ........
IIRC, they are 12' long, clinker built (usually Australiuan cedar, gunter rigged, much like a mid-century skiff.
Nice boat - would love to see some photos .............

I shall post photos soon. She is western red cedar and silver ash. NOT gunter rigged but dipping lug. If anybody has photos of them I would happily pay for them or copies of them.

but you might also check with Largs bay Sailing Club and the Brighton club in Vic. They still sail them - both were big in the Stonehaven Cup which is the interstate race for this class (there is also a a cup of the same name in golf!)
LBSC website (not lkooking very complete) says that they still sail them, and the banner photo on the history page seems to be the interior of a cadet.
Royal Brighton (www.rbyc.yachting.org.au) also lists them as active classes and has a few small photos .....


As may have realised, i have a soft spot for thesde boats .......... looking forward to your photos.

I am not quite sure how to add pics. I keep getting asked for URL for my pics? Any help please!

Well here goes, I think I have worked it out. Enjoy!!

Looks to be in pretty good shape - what are your plans for the project? Major refurb, or tidy up and get sailing?

CM

Project is well advanced. A fairly major job. Have re-ribbed her, replaced stringers, splined all splits, made new spars, stripped her back to wood, re varnished her and am now fitting her out.
My major problem at the moment is that she has opened up a lot and am hoping that when she is ready I will sink her for a day and then the planks wil take up.

Well done Sassy!

A very worthwhile project, preserving some of these older boats of traditional construction.

Hope you'll keep us posted with stories, pictures, updates etc.

Sounds like launching day is not too far off.

Do you have any photos that show what it was like before you got to work?
I reckon she will take up all right, just keep your fingers crossed thst the splined splits don't cause more problems as the wood swells!

CM

Noticed this blog about the 12' Cadets and the Stonehaven.
At Largs Bay we still race this class along with Royal Brighton and King Island Boat Clubs.

The 12' cadets have soft spots in a lot of hearts around Australia and is up for the 80th National championship this year to be held at Largs Bay Sailing Club.

We would like this event to be a celebration of the class and the culture so if you know of anyone who has competed in years past would love to hear from them.
It is still the best way of producing excellent sailors with crew mentality and a way to get kids into sailing at minimal cost.

Wonder how sassy went with the restoration of the wooden one;

For some unknown reason I have found myself blown to this forum. I started looking for information on lightweight sharpies and came across recent pictures of cadet dinghies in Victoria. I used to sail in Cadet Dinghies at Largs Bay Sailing Club in the 60's. Solid rudders, steel centre-plates and "dipping the lug". I recall seeing Terrapin for sail recently, one of the boats we used to sail against. When I saw the new versions with glass fibre hulls, Bermuda rig, aluminium spars and adjustable rudders, I lamented at the loss of character. I realise that clinker built hulls are an art form and it's easier to mould a glass fibre replica. It was wonderful to sail in the "Cockle Barges" and share the great camaraderie. The dinghy boys were the rebels of the regatta. The sweet smell of western red cedar and varnish., keeping the hull damp in summer so the planks wouldn't shrink. A wooden bailer that was more like a shovel......