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Turn of the century Irish Motor racing boats.

Tiernan Roe — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:08:02 +0000

Probably one of the most famous motor boat racing cups is undoubtedly the Harmsworth Cup. Mostly associated with the feats of Gar Wood and the Solent it was in fact first run in Cork Harbour in 1903 and won by Dorothy Levitt in Napier.

Napier was designed by Linton Hope who also designed the Belfast Lough One Design “Fairy” class. He also designed the Belfast Lough “Jewel” class which I’m trying to get more information on. What’s this all got to do with Roeboats you ask. Well I’m always interested in powerboats that are moderately fast with the least amount of horsepower and these boats are very good examples of this. 70 horsepower was pretty much the maximum available at the time so the hull forms had to be very efficient. But what really prompted this post was Scolopendra and the current efforts of members of the Powerboat.ie forum to put a syndicate together and return her to Ireland.

Here’s a photo of Scolpendra which is currently in Canada where she is undergoing a restoration. But there’s more; months ago I came across the the National Library of Irelands online digital collection and of course I started searching looking for information on boats and I came across a very interesting collection of photos from Waterford.

They are a series of photos of a motor boat race or races that took place on the river just below Rice bridge. But there was one boat in particular which really grabbed my attention.

What a beauty! She was the last vessel built at the Neptune shipyard in Waterford in 1882. The Maritana was 77ft long, weighed 30 tons and was built for Thomas Leger Atkins. She was one of the most elegant yachts of her day and won the prize ofr her elegance at the Cowes Regatta in 1884.

Now that’s a yacht that just begs to be recreated just think of what it would be like to cruise in a beautiful boat like this. You could have it steam driven; but for less smoke and just as quiet a modern electric or diesel electric power system would make a lot of sense. You won’t be able to land a helicopter on it but who really needs one of those dangerous and noisy contraptions. If you would like your dream boat built give me a call +353 86 158 6937.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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16′Skin on Frame Canoe project.

Tiernan Roe — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:24:35 +0000

Well this is what I’ve been up to recently, among many other things of course. A friend of mine has been picking my brains over the last number of years about building a lightweight canoe. Now it wasn’t just a one way thing he’s given me lots of advice about my website. Anyway it was coming up to his fortieth birthday and I guess he felt like adding another ten years to his life by building a wooden boat. So as a birthday present I offered to spend a week helping him build a Snowshoe 16 skin on frame canoe designed by Platt Monfort.
She’s ridiculously light but remarkably strong, the ribs are Ash 6mm by 15mm and the Norwegian Fir stringers are just 9mm by 9mm. As you can see we didn’t get her fully finished. We spent the afternoon it would have taken to finish her out sailing to Cape Clear. Another thing we did while building her was set up a time lapse camera so once that’s edited I’ll be posting it here stop by to check it out.

She’ll be used on the River Shannon above Limerick city and the plan is to tow her up stream with a bike and paddle downstream with the bike aboard. Yikes! I hear you say lots of opportunities to puncture the Dacron skin but he’s going to line the “cargo hold” with some closed cell foam mats. I’m looking forward to getting a spin in her some day.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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Kingstown 18 Footer Dun Laoghaire Three Tonner

Tiernan Roe — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:53:35 +0000

Kingstown was the name for Dun Laoghaire in South Dublin before Ireland gained its independence in the 1920s. And a little like the place where this boat sailed and was designed it has a dual identity. Designed in 1882 by a Mr Ardagh Long this boat the Heathen Chinee, what a great name, was envisaged as firstly a boat that could compete in the local 18 foot class. The rules stipulated that the boat could be no longer than 18 feet on deck. Mr Long had the idea that by building a boat with a removable counter he could also compete in the Thames rated three tonner class which was based on waterline length and beam. I found this design in the third edition 1882 of Dixon Kemps Manual of Yacht and Boat Sailing.

So the Heathen Chinee as you can see is a rather burdensome craft that had a tonne of cast iron on her keel to bear up to the pretty lofty rig. She looks to be a very sea worthy and shippy boat, she would have to be, to handle the often rough Dublin bay. The rig was pretty impressive for an 18 foot boat, she had an 18 foot boom and the bowsprit extended 9 feet beyond the stem. She carried various sizes of jib, flown from the bowsprit, others of her type were cutter rigged, with a high peaked gaff mainsail and topsail. The rig I have sketched out is pretty much a bit of guesswork. Although I do have a record of the spar lengths. If I was to build one of these boats, and I would very much like to, I would try and set her up to be easy to single hand. That may mean stiffening up the mast and deck structure to make the running back stays unnecessary and probably a few other things to make it a little easier but at the same time making her an interesting boat to crew in.

The counter I added in the half hull model is entirely my own creation and is really and extension of the hull faired out to 22 feet. I think it looks fine but it is very narrow and would you’d want to be careful out there when working on the boom.

Only one of this type of boat has survived since the 1880s a Fife designed boat now held by the Scottish Maritime Museum and currently undergoing restoration. She’s a more extreme version with slacker bilges and would be a little wetter sailing than Heathen Chinee.
If you or some one you know would likea perfect gaff rigged daysailor for all the family that would be fun, elegant and easy on the wallet contact Tiernan Roe or give Roeboats a ring +353 (0)28 38973 or +353 (0)86 158 69 37

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

Glandore Classic Regatta

Tiernan Roe — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:07:55 +0000

I spent a few very pleasant days sailing last week at the Glandore Harbour Yacht Clubs biennial Classic Regatta. Which was an uncommon treat, I don’t get to go sailing half as much as I would like.

I was really there doing research, well that’s what I told my wife. I was interested in having a look at the Cork Harbour One Designs. They were designed in 1896 by William Fife and are, as is to be expected from such a master designer, exquisite. I was offered a day helming one, but alas I had already committed to helming for a former piano student of my mothers. So being a gentleman, most might disagree, I had to decline. Damn!

The reason I was so interested in the Cork Harbour One Designs is that I have been able to secure the co-operation of the holders of the Fife archive, Fairlie Restorations, in the building of a new Cork Harbour One Design. Of course the fact that they are from Cork and look beautiful is the main reason; but not only that, as they were designed specifically for the often turbulent waters of Cork Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world, and were not restricted by any class rules they are superb sailors and excellent seaboats even with their enormous cockpits. They also fit in a 40 foot container which makes shipping to regattas far and wide a economic and secure affair.
If you or some one you know would like a Cork Harbour One Design contact Tiernan Roe or give Roeboats a ring +353 (0)28 38973 or +353 (0)86 158 69 37

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

News Flash! Roeboats demonstrating at Waterford Tall Ships

Tiernan Roe — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:39:21 +0000

No I won’t be marching up and down with a placard shouting. I’ve been selected by the Crafts Council of Ireland to demonstrate rope fender making at this years Waterford Tallships Festival on Thursday the 30th of June and Friday the 1st of July from 11am to 8pm at the craft village near the quays.

Come on down for a chat and learn a great skill for protecting your boat and using up old rope. It’s set to be a great few days with lots to see and do and the weather looks like it might even co-operate.

I’m also going to be making a half hull model of an 1891 22 foot 2 horsepower petrol launch pictured above. I want to see what she’ll look like in the round as a super efficient boat like this would be perfect as a family or dayboat for inland and inshore work.

Why not contact Tiernan Roe, about having your own boat built, by phoning +353 (0)28 38973 or e-mailing roeboats@ymail.com

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

William Hand raised deck cruiser half hull model.

Tiernan Roe — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:54:33 +0000

Finally I’ve had time to finish the half hull model of William Hands 25 foot raised deck motor cruiser, Zenith. I started it around the time I did a bit of work on the model yacht started by my father, which has progressed a lot more in the last few months than it has in the preceding 5 decades, which isn’t saying much.
As you can see Zenith would be lovely looking boat. She has a classic fine hollow forefoot that should slice through the water, combined with plenty of rocker for good seakeeping and with her straight chine in the afterbody she should cut a rather stylish dash as you travel around the coast. Powered with an inboard of around 20 horsepower you won’t need to refill very often and with her comfortable two berth cabin with galley and head she’ll make you a fine economic river or coastal cruiser.

Anyway I made the mistake of rushing the start of this model which meant i had to paint which made the whole thing a lot more involved and complicated. I couldn’t get a good finish coat when I was making dust and trying to find time at the weekend to back into the workshop proved difficult and so on and so forth. So the next half hull I’m going to make will be better and unpainted. I’ve already picked a subject which is a boat that is Irish but hasn’t been built in over a 120 years. You’ll just have to subscribe to the blog to find out all about when it’s finished.
If you’d like to have your own full sized Zenith why not give Tiernan a ring on +353 (0)28 38973 or +353 (0)86 158 6937 or drop me and email.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:

Finally she’s ready for the road/river

Tiernan Roe — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:01:20 +0000

Well here’s the finished boat. As you can see she’s come a long way from the very tired looking boat she once was. This is a few weeks ago. I’ve been really busy this last while with other projects, research and getting ready for the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival, I’ll be doing a posting about that later.Here’s the before shot.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

River Cruiser nearing Finish

Tiernan Roe — Wed, 04 May 2011 09:18:00 +0000

Here’s are nice arty kinda shot of me glazing the windows of the cockpit canopy of the river cruiser that I’ve been working on the last while. The stops only needed pinning on the top as the others were a nice tight fit and will be held in with the mastic. As you can see I’m working on the boat late into the evening, I’m trying to make as much of the good weather as possible.

Here’s the boat from another angle, The transom where the engine mounts and the cockpit will be redone next winter. The owner wants to get a feel for what will work best.

The corner supports are a little over engineered as the boat will be in and out of locks with much larger boats and it’s only a matter of time before some one or something will try and push the boat at the top of the canopy.

Why not contact Tiernan Roe, about having your own boat built or restored
by phoning +353 (0)28 38973 or e-mailing roeboats@ymail.com

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

Dublin Bay 21

Tiernan Roe — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:53:58 +0000

Here’s a very nice boat from the board of Alfred Mylne. Designed as a one design class in 1903 for racing on the often windy and rough Dublin Bay, these boats were actively raced until the mid 1980s. Unfortunately since then, the entire fleet has been laid up in a field in Wicklow. All is not lost as a newly built version of one of these boats would make beautiful and practical racer or dayboat today.

LOA 32 ft 6 in
LWL 21 ft
Beam 7 ft 6 in
Draft 4 ft 7 in
Sail Area 630 sq ft

With their high peaked gaff, jack yarded topsail and double headsail the rig has plenty of variations to suit the conditions. As you can see she has plenty of sail area for her size, which would give excellent light weather ability as they were designed without engines. What no engines? Yes, it’s a real sailing boat but if you really absolutely have to have one a diesel electric system could be designed and installed. You might be better served getting an easily approached mooring or marina berth however.

The Dublin Bay 21 has simple accommodations below and her spacious cockpit is perfect for entertaining friends or family. They also sport a short bowsprit which are great at deterring the opposition from crossing too close in front.

If you would like to have your own piece of yachting history built why not contact Tiernan Roe, about having your own boat built, by phoning +353 (0)28 38973 or e-mailing roeboats@ymail.com

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

Cruiser Restoration closer to finish.

Tiernan Roe — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:17:39 +0000

Well progress continues on the restoration of a river cruiser that’s in the yard at the moment. Most of the progress is not very visible but you will notice that the boat now has a rubrail. This needed a little bit of jiggery pokery to get it to wrap around the bulbous bow but it should look good once I shape the laminations to the final form. I’ve to trim the plugs and do some paint touch-ups. I can always know that I’m close to the end of a project when the list of things to do perversely starts getting longer and longer.

Yes I took the photo in the dark and rain so apologies for the quality. The picture below is of the canopy that will eventually cover the cockpit it’s just had its first coat of undercoat so it’s not looking great.

Please excuse the messy workshop it’s another indicator of a project coming to and end. The bigger the mess the closer the end. Anyway if you are interested in having your own boat restored, built or repaired why not contact Tiernan Roe, by phoning +353 (0)28 38973 or e-mailing roeboats@ymail.com

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com