Thread: Flying Dutchman Restoration

There is one being restored in Queensland on another thread here.

MIK

Originally Posted by Theo

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.
Ill be in touch threw the project.
Good luck with the launch.

Regards

I am doing the same But my FD is fibreglass hull.A good site to check out is www.hyannispoint.com/sailing/restore_project.asp It shows a blog of a restoration.

Originally Posted by onthebeachalone

Took the opportunity to help out with restoring a Flying Dutchman. Thought it worth sharing pics of construction having carefully removed the outer skin.

The first pic shows original construction under the foredeck (hull inverted). The trouble some folks will go to to save weight! The second is under the side deck towards the stern. The third is the transom frame all clamped up after re-gluing.

Very complex framing but beautifully done, and obviously very light and strong.

This could be under way for some time.....

If I have to replace the strongback on my own FD,do you have any suggestions as to what timber to use?Is tassie oak any good?Mine has fibreglass hull but all ply was interior grade and has totally delaminated.I have a big job ahead of me.LOL

Originally Posted by onthebeachalone

Hi Theo,

The research we did before starting indicated that there were many variations in the Flying Dutchman design over time, so It's hard to find a standard model to work to. We were given a second boat which was not suitable for restoration so we have used it as a source of some components, rigging etc.

I don't know if it was universal, but the boat we have been restoring was constructed by purchasing a 'floppy', which was two factory-made laminated half hulls with no frame. The builder then built the frame, then attached the floppy skin . We were restoring the boat to sail actively, so needed to be sure that the frame was securely glued together. Our approach was to surgically cut along where the two halves joined at the stem and keel, then peel them off. We re-glued and repaired the frame where necessary, then re-attached the skin. Both the removal and the re-attachment were pretty nerve-wracking.



More pictures here.

We had to get under the cockpit floor as well, and found the best way to do this was to cut holes in the (Sob! beautiful ) plywood floor between frames and stringers. After completing repairs we laid new 'reproduction' plywood floor panels so it looks like new.



That was the general approach to our project. More advice about boat restoration in general is available in many books and, indeed, from this forum. If you make a start and need specific help just ask here, with photos if possible. If I can't help I will get answers from some of our guys who were more directly involved in the project (I was just a labourer) .

We hope to launch her on 16 May, hopefully with photo's.

Mine has a fibreglass hull,it has 1968 regatta stamp on main si i guess it is at least THAT old.I have a question,,,What type of timber could i use to replace the strongback?

For those who may be interested, and in the area next weekend, Big Secret will be taking to the water at Caloundra (at Military Jetty near Golden Beach on Pumicestone Passage) on Saturday 8 August.

Hopefuly we will have some more pictures after the event.

The way things worked out we couldn't manage a 'secret' launch and shake-down sail so it was all done in the full public glare. Naturally we had the expected dramas but all were overcome and she was launched in 15-20 knots at Golden beach, Caloundra on Saturday 8 August.

On Sunday the weather was milder and there was a lot of great sailing on Pumicestone Passage.

She certainly is easy on the eyes, both on and off the water, and attracted a lot of favourable attention.

Nice to have an old one back on the water John!!!

Are most of the fittings original too? And the big test is ... how much water did she take during the sail?

Will the boat be on exhibition at the museum?

MIK

Most of the fittings were original. Some were retrieved from another Dutchman we were given that was beyond restoration.

She took a bit of water in the bouyancy compartments but that was probably due to the capsize test. The problem with boats like this (as with the Mirror 16) as that, when capsized, they float too high for the crew to reach the centreboard, climb up, and right her. So we had to determine which compartments should be left open so that they would flood and let her sink to the correct level. Testing this meant that everything got thoroughly flooded.

The cockpit itself is self baling once the boat is righted.

Now she has had a test run we have a few minor repairs and mods to keep us busy for a while.

Thanks so much for that John. Really great a classic has been preserved.

MIK

Some boats, you don't care if they aren't cutting-edge lightness / technology / whatever.
They are just so beautiful.
FD is one of those.
Nice job Bloke !!

cheers
AJ

Originally Posted by onthebeachalone

Took the opportunity to help out with restoring a Flying Dutchman. Thought it worth sharing pics of construction having carefully removed the outer skin.

The first pic shows original construction under the foredeck (hull inverted). The trouble some folks will go to to save weight! The second is under the side deck towards the stern. The third is the transom frame all clamped up after re-gluing.

Very complex framing but beautifully done, and obviously very light and strong.

This could be under way for some time.....

Hi everyone

I also had opportunity to buy an old FD hull built by Van Doesburg ( NED ) in 1965. The owner wanted to build the boat himself but has never done it. Reading the FD's history, and captivated by the boat, I couldn't resist and bought it. Therefore, I now own a empty old but brand new FD hull in plywood, mast, sails, and a bunch of original fittings !

In my case, and because I have to build the boat almost from scratch, I looked arround on internet to find kind of an established design, plans, pics etc. Like you said, many variation in FD design were made, and no standard can be found.

The previous owner also gave me plans, printed in 1963 by IFDCO. They even show two kind of layout. Plus the original invoice from Van Doesburg said that the hull was made for a single bottom design ( the hull is just an empty plywood form with centerboard "box" attached and keel strengthening ). That's why I first decide to build the boat like it would have been built in 1965 ( i.e. Single floor, no bouyancy tank ... ).

After a bit more reading over the web ( boatdesign.net, fdbulletin.org, sailinganarchy ) I changed my mind. It seems that single floor design FD are pretty hard to put right when capsize, and with no bouyancy tank some kind of dangerous. I've navigated on Laser Std for one year, and often in water ;-)

Onthebeachalone : I can see that the FD you restored with WBA members is a full double floor design. Would you have more pics of the restauration? ( some links in this thread are dead ). Also, what did you learn trying to know which compartiment should be left open in order for the boat not to float to high when capsize?

Helliconia54 : what about your project ? The links is dead ;-(

Now I want first to build the cradle, since the empty hull is pretty flexible. Because I can have a free access to A0 printer, I managed to get the curves with the offset table I found in the class rule, via delftship ( free 3D hull modeler ), but I'm not able to get section curves correctly. I think I gonna try to copy/print the fullsize IFDCO plan I have. Then glue on plywood and cut the cradle section. What do you think ?

I would be glad to share about my project. Here in France, were the FD serie did not have the same success as in US, Australy and North Europe, it s hard to get advice ( the 505 serie "stole" in France the success of the FD, and FD were reserved mostly for the best french competitor navigating in international events ;-(((( )

Regards

Thomas Chabrol

Originally Posted by totomatoto

Hi everyone

I also had opportunity to buy an old FD hull built by Van Doesburg ( NED ) in 1965. The owner wanted to build the boat himself but has never done it. Reading the FD's history, and captivated by the boat, I couldn't resist and bought it. Therefore, I now own a empty old but brand new FD hull in plywood, mast, sails, and a bunch of original fittings !

In my case, and because I have to build the boat almost from scratch, I looked arround on internet to find kind of an established design, plans, pics etc. Like you said, many variation in FD design were made, and no standard can be found.

The previous owner also gave me plans, printed in 1963 by IFDCO. They even show two kind of layout. Plus the original invoice from Van Doesburg said that the hull was made for a single bottom design ( the hull is just an empty plywood form with centerboard "box" attached and keel strengthening ). That's why I first decide to build the boat like it would have been built in 1965 ( i.e. Single floor, no bouyancy tank ... ).

After a bit more reading over the web ( boatdesign.net, fdbulletin.org, sailinganarchy ) I changed my mind. It seems that single floor design FD are pretty hard to put right when capsize, and with no bouyancy tank some kind of dangerous. I've navigated on Laser Std for one year, and often in water ;-)

Onthebeachalone : I can see that the FD you restored with WBA members is a full double floor design. Would you have more pics of the restauration? ( some links in this thread are dead ). Also, what did you learn trying to know which compartiment should be left open in order for the boat not to float to high when capsize?

Helliconia54 : what about your project ? The links is dead ;-(

Now I want first to build the cradle, since the empty hull is pretty flexible. Because I can have a free access to A0 printer, I managed to get the curves with the offset table I found in the class rule, via delftship ( free 3D hull modeler ), but I'm not able to get section curves correctly. I think I gonna try to copy/print the fullsize IFDCO plan I have. Then glue on plywood and cut the cradle section. What do you think ?

I would be glad to share about my project. Here in France, were the FD serie did not have the same success as in US, Australy and North Europe, it s hard to get advice ( the 505 serie "stole" in France the success of the FD, and FD were reserved mostly for the best french competitor navigating in international events ;-(((( )

Regards

Thomas Chabrol

Re.Dead Thread.I had to put my FD rebuild on hold.Now working to get another classic on the water for this season.it's a Hartley ts16.The FD is not forgotten,just on hold.