Can anyone tell me what happens before 1970, please - on the Old Website there used to be a link to that section - but it appears to have "got lost in the move" - is there still a link, or has that info been lost?? - peter (635, 1067, 1614) 

This is something that needs to be done, but it needs be done by someone who knows the ins and outs of these boats. Dougal's book will undoubtedly shed rather a lot of light on this - i don't know if he would fancy doing us a short article?
 
The old guide was very good at what it covered at the time of writing but that was 20+ years ago. Prices and times have changed, and the vintage boat owning fraternity have separated into two camps. We need information on the Jack Holt designs, Adur designs and a few more which were not covered before.

 
The book does indeed include a lot of detail on designs, pre 1970 and later - in fact, the scope of the hull line pages (which I can say are just incredible - as I didn't do them so can  pass the comment) run from Merlin to the latest Jon Turner Genii Evolution. But... in the book there are 18 full page layouts - which equates to about 10% of the total and that, I can assure you all, was nothing less than a major undertaking. Still, it could be done... you have people such as Rod Andrew who had 1620, Foreign Affair, a Proctor XV (just as an example; the XV is a boat that I think you will find that the plans no longer exist). Some of the clever minds could come up with a simple way of measuring the hull form - except, if the output is going to be worth anything at all, accuracy would be important, and owners such as Rod could create the hull lines for their boat. Then these need turning into a format that anyone can understand. I've been truly lucky to have the ongoing assistance of Keith Callaghan who did just that! He took  basic hull lines and turned them into a format that even I could understand (though even then he still had to answer some pretty basic questions; I mention this because just producing the lines is still not 'job done'. Someone would need to write a half page or more explaining what the designer was trying to do, where he had succeeded and where he had got it wrong. Then add in a couple of pictures, and not just any pictures, but ones that illustrate the text and you have one page of the guide. That all sounds rather negative but I don't want it to be so, it is a great idea but, having struggled to get info for the book (even with the help of KC) I know what a task it would be. This is not something for the individual, this really ought to be a class wide initiative that everyone contributes to.
Dougal
 

 Dougal is right - he has done a great deal of research for his book, and I have helped him with recording some of the designs, but there is much that others could also contribute. I am thinking of having a comprehensive design guide on my website, but will not 'go live' until Dougal's book is published. 
We do not have much info on pre 1970s designs - the lines of Proctor and Jack Holt boats, for example, are as scarce as hens' teeth, and we have no record of the designs of Michael Jackson, Tom Booth,Tony Freeman or Deadman and Brooks etc, etc.. It would be good to organise a 3D LIDAR scanner for a day, then scan as many of the old classic designs as possible.
But I think that Peter might be happy to have at least some indication of the characteristics of  each old design, and certainly resurrecting the relevant parts of the original MROA design guide would be a good start and surely cannot be a monumental task? 
 
If anyone has lines drawings of any of the classic designs then you know where to send them if you wish them to be recorded for posterity! 
 
 

 Kieth i agree entirely with you - as a newbie - have 3 pre-70 boats which i intend to restore to be as near to original condition as i can - so i need all the information and photos that i can find
 
if you can get the scanner - and you don't mind a lack of decking, at present, there are three to do : a Jack Holt "Martine" (635)(has still got its decking), Jack Holt "Tequila" (1067) and Brookes and Deadman "Adur 7" (1614)
 
surely all we need to do is reinstate the link on the New Website - then at least it is still there and can be used until a decision  is taken as to how to proceed in future??
 
peter
 

Peter, you say, "Surely all we need do is reinstate the link on the new website", and it seems a reasonable suggestion, but the mills of the MROA grind so very slowly. How much patience do you have?

Last moth I had a great evening at the royal Lymington YC with Dougal,Barry D, Lou Johnson and talented photographer Nigel Brooke...

All legends of the rocket class in different ways. It was superb to see them going through photos for Dougals book and hearing the stories of innovation, failed innovation, partying and general shenanigans.

Maybe it would be great to get a collection of all that is not included in the previous book and the new one collated through clubs hosting a few merlin evenings and inviting friends past and present to bring their photos and stories along... Hopefully we could document these to the website...?

Sounds like we have some volunteers :)

I am keen to help in any way I can as I find it all very interesting.

Let me say I am a practically computer illiterate rigger by trade so would need some help on the technical side.

Chris this might coincide well with the emerging fleet of POL boats that we are trying to get to a number of ST events next year...?