Gypsy Moth IV

[Hwyl]

For those of you that don't know. She's the boat that Francis Chichester sailed around the world in in 1967.

Times have changed since then (he wore a achting cap with a "wool company" logo and some considered him guilty of crass comercialism.

Since then GM IV has been languishing as a static exhibit at the Greenwich museum.

They have pulled her out and someone is going to sail her around the world again.

I'm ambivalent about the public/private consortium arrangements. It's being run by a company UKSA who it seems will do rather well from the volunteerism of others.

I'm not ambivalent about the plan to sheath her in epoxy: Don't do it!!!

http://www.gipsymoth.org/

[uncas]

I see that word fiberglass again...To even consider it is treason...To actually do it is beyond comprehension.

[Dan McCosh]

It was an incredible adventure, but Chichester himself never thought much of the boat. It had severe design problems, and wouldn't self-steer most of the time, overwhelming the vane-steering in a puff of wind. The construction itself was layeres of veneer over caravel planking, a system now being used to restore elderly caravel hulls. Anyway, it might be one boat best left in drydock. I visited her once, years ago, and it was worthwhile.

[Leon Steyns]

Originally posted by Dan McCosh:
The construction itself was layeres of veneer over caravel planking, a system now being used to restore elderly caravel hulls.That's not what the YM-website says (see here (http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/ym/gipsymoth/theman.html) ). "Gipsy Moth IV was designed by John Illingworth and Angus Primrose. She was built by Camper & Nicholsons at Gosport and launched in March 1966. She is 38ft 6in (11.8m) on the waterline and 53ft (16m) overall and of cold-moulded Honduras mahogany construction."

Since a cold-molded construction basically means custom plywood, I don't see why an epoxy-FG layer would do any harm... :confused:

Greets, Leon Steyns.

[Dan McCosh]

I am relying on my memory of Chichester's account "Gypsy Moth Circles the World". I can't find the volume, but as I recall, the construction was longitudinal planking over ribs, followed up by 2-3 layers of diagonal veneer. There is a recent reference to the condition of the "exterior planking", which implies that there is some interior planking. In all likelihood, a layer of glass would do no harm, but probably not do much good either. It was an enormously strong boat, but according to Chister had significant steering problems, which he attempted to correct in a yard at mid-voyage. Maybe someone else has the book.

[Magwitch]

1. It was a boat with severe design faults.
2. It was fitted out as a single-hander.
Now 'they' are going to alter the design, re-build her in a way that is not original and fit her out for cruising with a full crew.
Sorry, I just don't get it,,,,,,,,,,

IanW

[John B]

Cold moulded doesn't necessarily mean plywood Leon.
a standard method used here through the 60's to now is to cold mould 'real'timber . My Father owns a boat built from kauri that way.

[ 02-15-2005, 02:58 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[Leon Steyns]

John,

I used the term "custom plywood", because I think glueing different layers of veneer in a hull shape resembles making one's own ply... smile.gif Muste be me krooked mind. :rolleyes: :D

Greets, Leon Steyns.

[ 02-15-2005, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Leon Steyns ]

[Dan McCosh]

I'm sort of bumping this, because I would like to find an accurate source of the original construction. I remember it mainly because I had thought at the time it was awfully similar to putting a cold-molded veneer on an old boat. Now I'm not sure. Anybody have the book? (Gypsy Moth circles the world)

[Hwyl]

I'd say you are right. Here is a photo of the restoration.

http://www.ybw.com/albums/gipsy_moth_IV/abk.sized.jpg

[uncas]

Ouch!!!!!!!! ;)

[Hwyl]

The rebuild is being worked on by Nigel Irens. They are fitting a redesigned rudder. Mr. Irens (who designed Ellen Macarthur's boat)sometimes partner is a forumite. Any inside stories?

[TR]

Leon's comment on custom plywood is perfect, except the way Gipsy Moth IV was built is even better. She is, essentially, built of two custom sheets of plywood, formed in place to her shape, and joined at the centerline. But instead of the ply’s all running 0-90 degrees, they are at +45-45, with the last layer fore & aft for looks.

She was designed by Illingworth and Primrose and some of her details are discussed by John Illingworth in his book, Further Offshore, though he includes no drawings. As the book was published in 1969 perhaps he (J Illingworth) still felt her design to be "top secret". Or perhaps it was the controversy regarding her performance and handling qualities as commented on very publicly by Chichester.

In Further Offshore John states she was the first large sailboat built by Camper & Nicholson’s with "virtually completely laminated members and with cold-moulded skin." Her backbone is one lamination from stemhead, through the keel, sternpost and the horn timber to the transom. He states she was built upside-down on a softwood "mould" which was strip planked.

I would assume from this that she was all diagonal planked, except perhaps the last layer. He gives no further details but I look to Outlaw, by the same designer built several years previous to GM IV. Outlaw is 8 layers of 3mm planking with frames bent in after the hull skin and backbone are removed from the mould. From the very faint drawing published on the reconstruction website, I would say this is exactly how GM IV was built.

Sheathing her in glass at this point will be a good thing and ensure her being around for many more years. Though I am not at all sure that the new rudder will cure her "cranky" handling downwind. And a carbon rig with the saved weight put into ballast would make her a much better boat.

All the best, Tad

[Hwyl]

Thank you Tad. Great reply. If I were asked to fix the rudder problem, I'd try to integrate a self steering vane into a rudder. So the existing rudder just becomes a trim tab and what looks like the self steering geer does the major job of steering the boat.