White paint

HI  we are renovating merlin 636 Fiddlesticks and are wondering what white paint to use on the centreboard and in the centreboard case.
MATT or gloss? what make?
Thanks

Steve dowell

Inside the case doesn't really matter.

As for the board, depending on what's on it already two pack paint from Veneziani, Blakes or International is the best for the job.

If you prep carefully and don't leave too many edges there shouldn't be a reaction with the existing paint, especially as it's probably very old!

Hi chris
thank you for your help i will try sanding the old rudder first! to see if theres a reaction with 
the two pack paint.
MERVYN ALLEN has sent me the correct vintage shape rudder drawing, so it wont harm if it all goes wrong!!!

Thanks again CHRIS

Steve dowell

Steve,

I would suggest International is the one to go for. I have always used it and it gives a good result. I have used Blakes a couple of times recently and it does not give as good a result.

Jack Holt built 636 'Fiddlesticks' for himself in 1955. He won the Silver Tiller with her in 1956. I crewed for Jack in her at Ranelagh once when we were the only boat to finish in a winter gale.

Subsequently Jack lent 'Fiddlesticks' to my brother John and me for the 1957 championships at Torquay prior to me ordering a new boat from him. We argued most of the time and did not do very well. 

I had no idea what happened to 'Fiddlesticks' after that and am delighted to read that Steve is renovating her.

Thanks Jeremy

I think i will stick to international,As like you, Iv found it  the better of the two.
Cheers. 
Steve.

Robert.
Thank you for a bit more history
can you tell me any more about
rotating mast that you mentioned on the forum back in OCT 05.
I have just found a white plastic
badge screwed to the side of the 
centreboard case, With BRIGHTLING SEA SAILING CLUB 1975.
Strange place to stick it!!!
Bit more of her past...???
Thanks again.

Steve Dowell.

Hi Steve, I think I wrote all I know about 'Fiddlestick's' slab mast in that post of Oct. 05. 

Most early Merlins had deck stepped rotating masts. The only version that  worked really well was on 195 'Excusey Moi' which I've described before.

To encourage some experimentation the rules allowed spars that could pass through a 5" circle (now 13 mm). Slab masts couldn't bend of course and needed a lot of rigging to keep them straight sideways. I'm not aware of any boats that were successful with slab masts. 

Bendy masts were coming in and also don't forget that we had cotton  sails so the whole rig was entirely different to what we have today.

My father Harry Harris had a 5" slab boom on his first M/R 490 'Dizzy' which John and I raced a lot. I think that worked well and she was very successful.

Steve, I have a couple of not very good pics of 'Fiddlesticks' at Torquay, if you e-mail me I'll send you copies.

Never mind wat paint. Is that Steve Dowell , Late of Harlow in Essex

HI
DAVE.
YES IT IS THAT STEVE!!
WHAT are you doing on the MERLIN sit? dont tell me that the only time we went sailing together you enjoyed your self, and spent some cash on a TOP BOAT???

HI 
Robert
Thank you for the info on fiddlesticks,And yes please!!
would be great, to see some old photos,I have sent you an Email.
to night.
Thanks again.
Steve Dowell

Picture of Fiddlesticks on Ranelagh web pages.
Nick

BIG thank you to ROBERT for the photos of fiddlesticks they are  great!!!

And thanks also to NICK PRICE for the RANELAGH image!! 
THANKS .
Steve& Alex Dowell

Just thought you may be interested in some history on 636 Fiddlesticks. it was owned by my father approx 70-72 and sailed regularly in hastings. prior to that it was sailed in brixholme reservior (near harlow0 for a few years.
My dad owned her for about 6 years.
contact me if you want to contact him. Good to see she is still alive, great boat in her time.

Steve,

I hope when you've finished the renovation you'll bring her out on the Vintage circuit, especially as we're at Brightlingsea SC for the Whitsun Bank Holiday :-)

Hello Steve,  please send me your new address, I would like to put you on Vintage mailing list again, plus your e mail

Just to point out in case anyone missed it that Mervyn in Kelpie was in 2nd place ahead of most of the Merlin luminaries of the early 60's.

Her is a little more of the history of 636 'Fiddlesticks'.
She finished 5th in the Champs at Whitstable in 1956.
In 1962 she was owned by B Cons at Ranelagh S.C. and in 1964 by P J Wright of the same club.
The 1967 YB shows the owner as A J Penkul of Up River YC.
Then the 1971 YB  records the owner as W P Harragan of Broxbourne SC.
There are no more records of the owners in the 70s and 80s.

Thank you all for the history on FIDDLESTICKS
My farther used to take me to BROXBOURN SC.back in1965/67 be fore we joined
HARLOW SC.down on sunny blackwater lots of muddy fun to be had!!.
I shall have take FIDDLESTICKS back to HARLOW SC. when she is completed.
so my son Alax can see fore him self.
Thanks again.