On Sunday, September 6, 1998 at 8:00:00 AM UTC+1,
[email protected] wrote:
Would any (probably UK) contributor have any information about the
boatyard in the subject line ?
Location : Norfolk Broads, UK
Timescale : 1950s and later
It was that of my father, H.O. Allen, known as Tim. He designed and
built small, plywood hard chine craft - mainly sailing. Though pipped
at the post commercially by Jack Holt's Enterprise, and , later, by
Barry Bucknell's Mirror dinghy, he nevertheless developed and built innovative and successful boats including an early catamaran, a
tunnel-hull scow (pipped again by the Fireball), and many very nice
dinghy designs. One tailor made boat was equipped with a wishbone boom
before anybody thought of windsurfing. Hero was Uffa Fox.
Other achievements included a super lightweight hydroplane and some
American inspired outboard runabouts with which a team won the Poole
harbour 100 mile race in 1952/3 ?- I was 6 at the time...
About 20 years ago his final designs and models experimented with
hydrofoils on trimarans (before Tabarly) and the last balsa model he
built - which I mocked at the time ! - was a hard chine spitting image
of the latest Vendee Globe type monohull planing racers !
If he had had access to modern materials.....
If any of this rings a bell, please reply to the NG or Email me
direct.
Thanks in advance. I look forward to hearing from you
Andrew Allen
Pornichet
France
Hello Andrew,
This is fascinating as I have a DEE-CRAFT double kayak bought by my father - apparently from yours in 1957. I'm currently restoring this beautiful boat, stripping it down to the bare (mahogany!)wood and treating it and decided to look into its origins by
researching the name on the small brass plaque on the seat....that's how I found your post.
I would also like to find out more - the craftsmanship is superb and it's still a joy to paddle.
Best,
John Savage
[email protected]
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