5) EQUIPMENT

Under the foredeck on a level with the mast thwart is a slotted shelf (1). This is for the stowage of sails and clothes. When the boat is left on its mooring the sun penetrates the cover and heats the interior and this, combined with the air circulation through the slots, keeps the clothes aired and dry so they are left aboard for the whole season.

Stowage (1)

Port Amidships & Starboard

No 1 jib. No 2 jib. Sweater. Shorts. Slacks. Underpants. Pyjamas. Spinnaker. Spinnaker sheet. Shirt. Aertex shirt. Kapok jacket and trousers. The oars are lashed to port Sou’wester. Sun hat. Beret. Bathing trunks. of the C.B. case and the Towel. Toilet gear in plastic holdall. blades project under the Razor. Viceroy dry shaver. Mirror. Camera. foredeck. Handkerchiefs in plastic bag. Boom strop. Dishcloth. Mop. Lifejackets (inflatable).

This stowage assumes I am wearing aertex shirt, pullover and shorts. If shore functions are to be attended then reefer jacket, trousers, shirt, etc. are stowed to port, flat, in a plastic bag with sails stowed on top. The lifejacket is worn when the first reef is taken in. Normally when cruising, the dry shaver is used to conserve water but when going ashore at the end of a weekend I shave in hot water.

Forepeak (2) Port Painter — 6 fathoms 2" sisal. Travelling bag containing mackintosh, shoes and odd personal belongings. Haversack containing thermos, sandwiches, money, pipe, tobacco, etc.

Amidships Spare 6 fathoms lightly tarred 1” Italian hemp. Spare 6 fathoms 1¾” sisal marked in fathoms. 10 fathoms proofed clothes line for anchor trip line etc. Waterproof bag containing tinned food.

Starboard Anchor warp 12 fathoms 1¾” tarred sisal marked in fathoms. Anchor 14 lb. C.Q.R.

List of tinned food 1 Steak & vegetables 1 Pilchards or herrings 1 Heinz beans & sausage (small) 1 Schafft sausages 1 Steak & kidney pie (small) 1 Unox luncheon meat (small) 1 Condensed milk (sweetened) 2 Sardines 1 Peas (small) 1 Nescafé (small) 1 Corned beef 2 Fruit 2 Cream (small) 1 Heinz beans (small)

To port underneath the mast thwart is a 4 valve home made radio (4) switch tuned to Home or Light programmes. Earth lead runs to engine (3) aerial lead runs up groove in leading edge of mast. The C.Q.R. is the minimum weight which will bite into hard sand and stows neatly with no tendency to foul ropes. The extra holding power gives safety in adverse conditions.

3. Amidships Port 2 Buoyancy bags 4’ by 10” (300lbs) (5). 4 half-pint bottles cider (6). Charts (7). 2 gallon water can (8).

Starboard 2 Buoyancy bags (9). 4 half-pint bottles beer (10). Charts (7). 2 gallon petrol can (11). Hand Pump (12).

The buoyancy bags are of such size and so arranged that with the boat waterlogged most of the upper bags are above water level. This reserve buoyancy provides stability so that the boat can be bailed out relatively easily. The bags are quickly detachable and, if half deflated and linked together, form a comfortable air mattress which also obviates the need for a groundsheet. Beer and cider bottles are packed between the lower bags and the edges of the bottom boards. Charts are pushed between the tops of the upper buoyancy bags and the undersides of the side decks where they keep dry yet are accessible. 2 gallons of water last 7 days provided it is used only for drinking. The hand pump delivers into the C.B. case and being 2½” dia. shifts water quite quickly.

4. Aft Port Locker (13) Saucepan (mug inside). Cutlery. Primus. Frying pan. 2 small baking dishes (used as plates). Can for boiling water. Grease- proof paper. Toilet paper. Tinned food as follows: 1 Steak & vegetables 1 Vegetable soup 1 Heinz beans & sausage (small) 1 Pilchards (small) 1 Spaghetti (small) 1 Luncheon meat (small) 1 Condensed milk unsweetened 1 Sardines 1 Brislings 1 Vienna sausages 1 Nescafe (small) 1 Peas (small) 1 Heinz beans (small)

Starboard Locker (14) 2 loaves of bread. Newspaper. Bacon. Sausages. Chops. 1 bottle sherry. Small bottle cordial. Small bottle brandy. Spares box. Barometer (15). Monocular. Compass. Rowlocks. Tinned food as follows: 1 Fruit 1 Cream 1 Steak and kidney pie (small) 1 Chicken soup

Upper Stern Locker (16) First Aid kit. Tin engine grease. Spare valves & batteries for radio. Tools. Engine starting cord. Bottle meths. Rags. Hand torch. Cycle lamp. Fishing gear. 3 in 1 oil. Tin glue. 1½ gallon petrol tank.

(17) Lower Stern Locker (airtight). Ships biscuits. Cheese. Biscuits. Cake.

(18) Kitbag for tent and sail tyers lashed under port locker.

(19) Waterproof kitbag for kapok sleeping bag & pillow slip lashed under starboard locker.

(20) One bottle engine oil and two bottles paraffin under stern bottom boards.

Under stern thwart. Port: Toilet bucket, sponge, scrubbing brush, canvas shoes. Starboard: Bailer, bananas, oranges, apples, tomatoes, onions.

In the port locker are airtight glass jars with plastic tops as used for proprietary brands of pickles. These contain margarine, marmalade, sugar, soda, salt. All crockery is enamelled and lasts for several seasons. The small tin of unsweetened milk is used for weekend trips. For longer trips sweetened milk is used and this keeps for several days after opening. Bread is carefully wrapped in newspaper and is quite soft up to 5 days. The asbestos mats are for resting hot utensils on and excellent toast can be made on them when placed over a primus. Soda is used for softening salt water for washing up. The cycle lamp is used for lighting at night. The tent is laced through screw hooks on the outside of the coaming and is suspended beneath the boom and yard lashed together. Oars are placed outside on the side decks so that the interior of the boat is unencumbered at night. When the boat is left on moorings the tent is set lower down and slung over the boom, the sails, yard, oars etc being stowed inside. Sails are proofed and have not appreciably deteriorated in five seasons. The spares box contains codline, sailcloth, thread, sheath knife, combination knife (this serves as spare screwdriver, tin opener, bottle opener etc.), beeswax, tarred marlin, shackles, matches, sail needles, rubber, pencil, protractor etc. The compass is an army marching type but a liquid type will be fitted next season. The monocular is x4 magnification and is used to help identify harbour entrances etc. Ships biscuits are kept as a standby in case bread runs out and is unavailable. The kapok sleeping bag is very warm but becomes a little less effective each year, however, if covered with a mack it is very comfortable even when it is below freezing outside. The bailer (enamelled) is provided with a lanyard so that it cannot be lost and serves as a washbowl.

The cost of the boat in 1950 was £195 not including engine but including installation and stern gear. Engine was government surplus.

In conclusion I would like to claim that a well found boat of this type explodes the popular idea that dinghy cruising involves ‘roughing it’ and is only suitable for young persons.