P UBLISHED B Y P ETER G S TUBBINGS V OLUME 1 , I SSUE 2 , F E B 0 6 Hunter Liberty & Minstrel

ALMOST 50 BOATS complete re-design and build of the boat. We also have items for sale of specific interest to LOCATED Liberty & Minstrel owners, including complete boats.

During the first year of the Association In this second Newsletter we Finally, a big thank you to everyone who has we have located almost 50 of the 114 have a wealth of hints and tips donated to the Association. You will see Liberty and Minstrels which were built submitted by other Liberty and from the figures inside that we now have a between 1981 and 1992. This includes Minstrel owners, from leaks in healthy bank balance which will allow us to the very special rigged Liberty the hull to single line reefing, produce the next Newsletter, assuming the shown below, which was built by from minor modifications to a articles keep flowing in. Moodys of Swanwick for Hans Schaeuble. “Golden Wind” is now on a two year cruise with her proud owner. More about this unusual boat inside.

First of all an apology. Yes, we did intend to issue this Newsletter in July, but happily I had so much work on (being self-employed this is important) that I was unable to even get started. Now, with the help of a new computer and scanner, we hope to get all of your wonderful contributions out early in the new year.

A very special thanks to all those people who have contributed to this issue. We are now gathering a wealth of information about our boats and their owners.

Thanks also to Mick and Dee Wells who organised the meeting on the Blackwater in August. Although sadly suffering from a bad back Lesley and I managed to motor Lydia over from Tollesbury, and joined seventeen others for an excellent meal in the Green Man. There was an opportunity to examine each others boats in Bradwell Marina, and a brave few even had an exciting sail down to Maldon for lunch.

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 1 of 22 K EEPING Y OUR L IBERTY IN T H E U PRIGHT P O SITION

Notes: Some Thoughts on Ballast Some pundits have suggested that every 1lb aloft needs 20lbs in the keel. by Peter Poland MD of Hunter Boats has David Parkinson said that if single-handing on a regular “Liberty” basis 200lbs ballast should he added down below I have owned LIBERTY (believed to were bought at a local DIY store and Mick Hughes who owns SHERBET be the very first boat) for the last six wrapped closely in strong rubbish has laid sheet lead in his lockers with years. We sail the South Coast and are sacks to keep any dampness from the very positive results. sometimes out when more sensible lockers. 1OO lbs went port and mortals are at home. I had been starboard in the aft lockers under the I have seen five Liberty mainmasts (all seriously considering selling the boat, forward berths, 501b in the starboard of Proctor manufacture) broken just as she has always been very tender. locker under the quarter berth, and the remaining 501b in the forward section above the coachroof. I believe later masts were more strongly constructed, I should explain that when she was of the cockpit locker. but have no data on this. purchased, her previous owner had fitted a massive double-sided Cobb This has seriously stiffened the boat, mainsail and homespun , and explains why Hunters increased Editors Note: together with a new mast. Needlespar the weight of the bilge runners on later of Warsash specialise in un-stayed boats. Note that if you trail regularly, LIBERTY MASTS masts, and this was of very heavy and are close to the towing vehicle’s section, resulting in an increase in maximum weight, ballast that can be I have been told that later masts were weight aloft. removed is important. internally sleeved, but do not have any information regarding exactly when On the delivery trip from Newton The second row of reefing points this was done. Creek we decided the lack of forward proved their worth over Easter. In vision made helming too difficult, so a order to have the best sail control Nigel Vear, owner of Bluebottle, has new track was fixed up the back of the possible from the safety of the cockpit, details for getting a mast re-sleeved. mast, and the original sail used once we double-reefed the main as the wind again. (I still have the new Cobb sail if strength increased; leaving the mizzen Reg Chapman had his mizzen mast anyone would like to make me an fully deployed. repaired and strengthened by Proctors. offer!) Although we still had to hold the We also recived the following article This year I decided to take some sheets in the hand to spill wind in the with one of the many letters sent in by positive action to reduce her tender most fierce gusts, she heeled more members. Unfortunately the name of qualities, and made some simple slowly, was more predictable and gave the contributor was not written on the modifications. First of all, both sails us increased confidence. piece. If the member responsible for were sent back to Hyde sailmakers this highly informative article would (who bought out Cranfields, the Our decision to double reef the main contact me I will make sure that full original makers) to have a second row was vindicated on meeting the severe credit is given in the next issue of the of reeling points provided. They had to chop off Cowes Roads, turning Newsletter. go back again, as the first job was of downwind - mizzen stowed and very poor quality. dealing with Force 7 squalls. (The wind speed was later confirmed by the Secondly some 300lbs of sand was crew of a Bowman 40). added in the lockers and directly over the bilge runners. Sand is a very We shot up the Medina River under inexpensive way of altering the ballast reeled mainsail alone, against the of a boat before playing with more two-knot tide, still making 4/5 knots expensive materials like lead, or nylon over the ground. A restorative visit to encapsulated steel. The bags of sand the Folly Inn was a necessity!

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 2 of 22 TALE OF A LIBERTY MAST that I took the butt of the spar to a local the pieces to them at Southampton LIBERTY engineer where it was sawn through they would see if they could make a MAST either side of the collar. repair. The remains of the mast was now in As the top of my mast was very badly four pieces. Perhaps some foreboding bent and twisted I was very doubtful In March of ‘97 I broke the mainmast made me make a careful plan of the and anticipated a fruitless journey. of my Liberty 27 on an overhead whole spar before the surgery. telephone cable. The spar took a A friend suggested I contact Eurospars considerable permanent bend and After some weeks Proctors rang to say of Plymouth who readily agreed to snapped at the halyard exit slot. that they could not supply and would carry out the work. Fortunately my return my fittings. No, they could not drawing proved to be accurate and the I first contacted “Proctor Masts” and let me have a drawing from their new spar is excellent. Cost about they agreed to make a new one with records. Needle Spars had one and £1,000. the proviso that I supplied all the old would make the mast. Needle Spars fittings. When taking these off the were very sympathetic, but they didn’t Contact: Eurospars Ltd., Queen Annes mast I found I could not loosen the set have a drawing, had never had one and Works, Q.A. Battery, Plymouth. bolt that held in the hinge collar. couldn’t, and never had, made such a 269756 mast. I had this cut off and sent all the However they had repaired several fittings to Proctor. I should explain Liberty masts, and if I would take all

LIBERTY TO CALAIS

Duo Log and Echo-sounder. Liberation to The luff slides had also been a problem on the mainsail. They were such a thin section, and when close hauled in a blow they would snap. With the help of my cousin I made Calais seven stainless steel ones, and fitted these in strategic places by where the plastic ones had failed. The rudder downhaul was modified so that it cleated on the Bob Banks side of the tiller, and jackstays were fitted to each side of the coach roof. A piece of plywood was cut to take a folded Yacht Liberation admiralty Chart, and a Bretton Plotter completed the preparation. th (This is an edited version of Bob’s eight-page contribution Departure was set for midnight, Thursday 13 August. to the Newsletter)

I first met Stan when he approached me for a lift to work. Travelling together, the conversation turned to and I asked him if he would like to sail to Calais with me. He readily agreed, and after consulting the tide tables a week in August 1992 was chosen.

I concentrated on preparing the boat. Anything I had the slightest doubt about had to be put right. The outboard, a 4hp Yamaha, had been given to me as part of a special deal from Hunters when I bought Liberation as a kit in 1982. It always seemed a bit small, so I exchanged it for a new, charging, Mariner 5hp.

The next priority was navigation and I opted for an Incastec

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 3 of 22 LIBERTY TO CALAIS

After studying the tidal stream for the Thames Estuary it Saturday morning was ideal. SW 3 to 4. We took the outside seemed to be a good idea to take the flood to arrive at Black route round the Goodwins, and when we reached Goodwin Deep No.9 at high water, and then the ebb would take us Knoll we set the autohelm and sat back for a relaxed sail. round North Foreland to Ramsgate. The shipping lanes were very busy, which gave us plenty of practice taking collision avoidance bearings with the We watched the weather anxiously. On Thursday morning hand-bearing compass. the shipping forecast for Thames was SW6 to Gale 8 veering NW 4 or 5, showers, moderate or good. Thursday Leaving the shipping lanes we raised the French courtesy evening Stan came to my bungalow in Heybridge basin for a flag and cracked open two cans to celebrate. Before long we meal. radioed for permission to enter Calais, and were crabbing across the strong tide into the harbour. Stan picked up one The rain was torrential, and we wondered whether to call it of the waiting bouys, and after half an hour the road bridge off, but at 11.30 we made the ten minute walk to the opened and we motored in to tie up alongside a Blackwater Sailing Club. We rowed out to Liberation in from Levington, Suffolk. The passage had taken 7 hours, pitch darkness and pouring rain. and the log read 30.5 n.miles, almost exactly the charted distance. Gear stowed, we set off for Bradwell under power. As we made our way down the Blackwater the rain eased, and we That evening we dined “al-fresco” and sat and watched the moored in the Marina at 2.30a.m. street life, feeling rather pleased with ourselves.

By Friday morning the shipping forecast was Northerly 4 or 5, becoming variable later. We had a fry-up for breakfast and set off for Ramsgate with a reef in the mainsail. With a cheery wave a man on the end of the pontoon shouted something to us about a mooring fee!

As we made our way out of the estuary towards the Wallet Spitway there was a large slop left on the sea, and at times Liberation put her side decks under. I took comfort in the fact that forecast was for the wind to ease. At least it was blowing in the right direction! Arriving at Black Deep we were only about half an hour later than our E.T.A. of high water Sheerness at 14.15 BST.

We set a course for the Edinburgh Channel, where we met the ferry Olau Britannia. Crossing the Thames Estuary toward the East Margate buoy the wind eased, and Stan shook the reef out of the main. By the time we made the On Sunday the shipping forecast was West or Southwest 4 Elbow the sun had come out and the wind had died to 5, rain at times, moderate, becoming good for a time. completely, but the swell still remained. Force 5 was the limit I thought prudent to cross the channel, but Stan had to be back at work by Wednesday. The booms crashed from side to side, and the motion of the boat made us both seasick. Stan started to choke and went a To pass the time before departing we walked around Calais bit blue, so I gave him a hard slap on the back, which and found a small supermarket where I bought some wine seemed to do the trick. and Stan stocked up on cigarettes. Arriving back at the boat a gendarme asked to see our papers. I showed him the small After Stan had a fag we decided to call it a day. We took the register, insurance, and radio licences, but my sails down, got the engine going, and set course for passport was more difficult as it was in a wallet attached to Ramsgate outer harbour. We moored up at 6.00 p.m., 8 3/4 my belt and tucked inside the top of my trousers. Try as I hours after leaving Bradwell. Despite feeling very tired we might I could not extract it. The only thing to do was to step went in search of the nearest filling station to refuel the inside the companionway and undo my trousers, much to outboard. On the way we found a small café, so had dinner the gendarme’s surprise and Stan’s amusement. there rather than cook on board. We returned to the boat and got our heads down, ready for an early start the next day. The time to sail was rapidly approaching, and the wind

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 4 of 22 LIBERTY TO CALAIS whistling through the of the moored boats sounded We arrived at Bradwell Marina at 6.00pm and went to the ominous. I put a second reef in the main and the single deep marina office to pay our fee. Finding it closed we decided to reef in the mizzen. go to the Green Man for a few pints. Getting back on board we found a note asking us to phone the office. As we motored out of the outer harbour Liberations bow seemed to fall into a hole in the water with such a thump The next morning we were under way at 4.30 a.m. to catch that it caused the glass chimney on the oil lamp to jump off the tide on our swinging mooring at Heybridge. and smash on the cabin sole. The thought went through my mind “could this be portentous for the rest of the passage?” As we sailed up the river we watched the dawn, and arrived at 7.00am to find our faithful tender waiting for us. Turning to port I started to raise the mainsail, but, sods-law, the courtesy flag jammed in the luff track. I went up to the There were no welcoming crowds, no bunting out at the bow well to release the flag, and managed to bring it down, sailing club. Everything was just as we had left it. We complete with the halyard! walked back home and I made a phone call to the marina. I explained our arrival and departure times and a cheque was With sails raised we needed to turn to starboard to put the sent through the post. boat on a reach, but two large powerboats on our starboard side were keeping pace with us. In the end I gave a hand signal to let them know our intentions. They slowed down ARTICLES SUBMITTED and we sailed across their bows. As we headed out towards the shipping lanes we were greeted by a fine drizzle, and We are always very grateful for any material for poor visibility set in. Thankfully it soon cleared inclusion in the Newsletter. We already have material . for the next issue that we were unable to fit into this By the time the Sandettie lightship was to starboard the one, so a big thank you to everyone who has written to wind and seas had really built up. The waves were 6 to 8 us. We have not forgotten you. feet high, and Liberation surfed down their backs with the One of our biggest problems is actually retyping your log touching 8 knots. Stan stood in the companionway information, which can take a very long time. chain-smoking, the ash swilling around the cockpit. Every We have now expanded our computer system so that we wave was a challenge, and I hung on to the tiller for dear can scan in any articles typed on either a typewriter or life. Any gear failure at this point could be disastrous and I word processor. Unfortunately, being a moronic was thankful that I had prepared the boat well. computer and not human, it cannot recognise handwriting. As we approached the English coast the seas calmed, and I It would help immensely if you could gain access to a asked Stan to raise the Q flag. His reply made it quite clear typewriter for future articles, preferably using black ink that he was not leaving the security of the companionway to on white, non transparent, paper. Better still, if you have go up to the pointed end! Not wishing to incite a mutiny I a word processor, let us have a disk with the article on. reminded Stan that we had lost the halyard with the courtesy Naturally we still welcome all your articles and flag, and that he could raise the flag on the mizzen without experiences, including the hand-written ones. If you can leaving the companionway. keep them to about 1000 words in length we should be able to feature more members. As we motored into Ramsgate there was a beautiful red sunset and all was calm. We tied up alongside a substantial Photographs motor-sailer and got talking to the crew. They told us they had just done the same trip, and were very impressed that Please let us know if you want the photos returned after we had done it in such a small light boat. They were setting scanning. A brief description written on the back out next morning at 8.30 and it suited us to set off at the together with the boats name will also help us not lose same time. them!

On Monday the forecast was SW 4 to 5 again, but this time Names we were in the lee of the land. It was a long hard slog back to the Blackwater. I was very tired, and when I was looking Please write your name on everything - we lose pieces for the next mark on the horizon I had the impression I was of papaer! sailing uphill.

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 5 of 22 LIBERTY SINGLE LINE REEFING

Procedure: from top on the left hand side of the Hunter page is the one most similar to the 1. Release mainsheet and kicking Safari system, differing only in the strap. location of the turning block on the Liberty Single aft end of the . This uses a block 2. Let out halyard to appropriate attached to the end of the boom rather Line Reefing position (I have both this and the full than a slider on the boom as used on hoist positions marked on the halyard Safari. This is similar to the (in - this enables the exact positions to be boom) system used on many Sigma By set every time). 33’s - they have slits along the foot of the mainsail to allow the reefing line Michael J Hynes 3. Haul in the reefing line and cleat it. to be tied around the boom. I have never taken in a second reef on The Hunter Liberty would not of Yacht Safari the mainsail. In very heavy winds we course require this, as the sail is use a single-reefed mainsail with no loose-footed. I have used both mizzen. The boat is not perfectly systems on various boats, but I balanced, but it will still claw to believe that the Safari system allows Shown is a rough draft of the single windward. one to obtain a better sail shape. I was line reefing system used on Safari. never totally happy with the Sigma 33 The system works well, all the better There are also some suggestions in system. the better the quality of the blocks. It the January 1997 issue of Practical is imperative to release both the Boat Owner. Many seem more mainsheet and the kicking strap fully complicated than the Safari system. before attempting to take in the reef. The system second/third (1 and 2)

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 6 of 22 BITS AND PIECES

Ipswich, from April until mid-July. If you are up the Orwell at any time LYDIAS NEW pop in for a glass of something. BY INFORMATION PETER STUBBINGS WANTED

TOM HAYHURST would be popular use of Velcro. Because interested in any information on: Lydias coach roof is lined, our final 1. Plate up-haul - type of rope and solution was to use Super-Glue to attachment. stick on curtain rails designed for net 2. Span wire better method than curtains. The curtains themselves existing deck eye on gaff. were made out of a ready-made 3. Anyone fitted a table in a Minstrel? pelmet cut into four sections and strung up using conventional hooks JOHN CROWE would like details of and rings. We even managed to get cruising chute fitted to a Minstrel matching cushions! PETER STUBBINGS would like to In the last issue I explained how a hear from anyone who has fitted a template was made out of MDF for larger engine in a Liberty, and any Lydias new galley and chart table. problems encountered. The finished result in teak-faced ply is a great success. As you can see REG CHAPMAN would like to from the photograph, the cooker unit know if anyone has any idea of how works exceptionally well when at much reserve bouyancy the hollow anchor, and provides a compact chart areas of the hull give. If the boat was table when under way. holed would it still float?

The double berth with in-fill is still

We are hoping to get far more use out of Lydia during 1999 and have berthed her at our nearest port,

six foot six overall, with lots of space for two people to manoeuvre in and out. If anyone wants to borrow the templates I have saved them for future use. You can’t quite see the finished curtains in these pictures, but thanks to everyone who sent in suggestions, ranging from using the window fixing screw holes to the very

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 7 of 22 A VERY SPECIAL LIBERTY

to the Aegean. All the way to the Dardanelles, all Turkey, Cyprus, Israel. Last year we went from home GOLDEN WIND through the French canals around Italy, Malta to the Aegean and back up A VERY SPECIAL HUNTER LIBERTY the Adria to Venice, lowered the mast and had a self made boat trip under the BY Rialto and so on. Over the last years HANS SCHAEUBLE we always went on three months cruises but next week we will start for an intended 2 years cruise. We love Editors Note

It gave Lesley and I such pleasure reading Hans Schaeubles letter that we decided to reproduce it as near as possible, rather than try to re-write it. Sadly our german is nowhere near as good as Hans’ english.

Letter from Hans Schaeuble

Dear Mr. Stubbings

I was much pleased to read in PBO about your activities for a Liberty – Association. I feel it is a pity Hunter ceased building these. At least the mould should be rescued.

Do you know that D. Thomas has from Hunter and under D. Thomas’ the Liberty hull, I do not want another (long ago) completed the drawings for advice Scott Moody and Steven boat! a Liberty 26’. (or was it 28’?) Fawcett build at Swanwick our Liberty Nevertheless after we had sold our special, junk rigged. The former All the best for your Association. I original Liberty (to the Baltic) we did Liberty I had also changed to JR hope you succeded to preserve her. not build bigger but got an empty hull (shown). We have sailed her 10 times Excuse my poor english.

Sincerely yours,

Hans Schaeuble

Extract from Owner Details Form:

My first Liberty I bought from Hunter in 1986, I believe it was hull number 80, or 60? (1986 was most probably 80 – ed.) We sailed some 7 years in the Med, North and Baltic sea. First with original sails, later re-rigged to junk shown (fitting new masts to old deck clamps). Rig from Sunbird (Robin Blain)

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 8 of 22 A VERY SPECIAL LIBERTY

to a cleat which opens at adjustable Special Features: strain). Two self draining anchor lockers on We sailed our new Liberty the last 4 either side of mast slot. years about 7000 nm. And many rivers and canals in Germany & Outboard (Mercury 6hp) covered and France. We should be on extended completely sealed. cruise already, possibly next week. Mail will be forwarded to us (with Hull freeboard extended up by 10”. delay). Our new Fenix is Deck and coach-roof all wood. ideal for the Liberty. Sails set and shortened all from the cockpit when Coach-roof extended back to Sold the boat 1993 to Hans Jurgen steering at every wind angle. incorporate toilet in bridge-deck, self Brandt, George Singer Str. 8 39/28 draining locker and self draining wet Magde bwfr, Germany. He sails on Electricity provided by solar panel on locker. Extra locker in place of the Baltic and Med. Name still deck. Many watertight compartments quarter-berth. Huge chart table, Golden Wind. should make the boat unsinkable. paraffin stove, fridge, pansey heater. Saloon table also serves as bed infill. Our new Liberty special is original only the hull. He is extended some 10 inches, the rest wood, drawn by D. Thomas, build at Swanwick by Scott Moody and Steven Fawcett. Bilge runners lead. Only one foremast (from Carbospars).

Very clever stepping mechanism by DT (no more hole in front). Worked by a mast filler in seconds (perfect answer to Brian Poultneys problems). (Bob Banks rudder proposal still gives the blade not all free when grounding. On rudder downhold goes

Special feature: washboards fit into 2 positions, make toilet inside/outside. The centreboard, which is made of Hurricane cover from inside wood with lead inside on the bottom, completely seals companionway; to can be accessed from inside the boat. finish that is causing the delay in our The centre-plate lid can be opened start. Apart from unexpected things… from inside, and centreplate taken out. still, got 2 years time….

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 9 of 22 MODIFICATIONS TO MEGSTONE

Lazy Jacks Please see diagram. By having the MODIFICATIONS TO upper section which goes around the mast fixed to a short halyard this is MEGSTONE easily released to allow the lazy jacks to be tidied into the sail covers and also makes for easier setting up as the A 1988 HUNTER LIBERTY lazy jacks are fitted and adjusted after 23 the masts are raised. Galley I did not like the original galley tucked away at the head of the port berth and in any case the paraffin stoves were Tiller against the drain hole. marking the head lining. I constructed I had found that when single handed, a new galley to starboard with a s/s reaching the sheet jammers while Trailer Wheels removable bowl that is supplied with helming was a stretch but it was a When I first got the boat I was alarmed water by a hand whale pump fed from different matter when healing well at how overloaded the tyres looked. a Plastimo 70 litre flexible tank sited over in a blow of force 6+ and she On checking I found that the tyres on under the quarter berth. wouldn’t go through the wind without the 13-inch wheels were rated at 1150 releasing the mizzen shee lbs. The margin of safety seemed to be There are spaces for mug storage and much too small considering the boat, two drawers accessed from forward. The modified tiller consists of a trailer; launching trolley and gear The cooker is a twin burner alcohol stainless steel tube that allows must be approaching a ton and a half. I stove mounted aft of the sink unit adjustment from the original length to obtained three Peugeot 504 wheels below bunk level. (I have an inherent either an extra 6 or 12 inches. I cut the from a scrap yard, which have the dislike of gas in a boat having had a tiller and had the end turned on a lathe same stud spacing but take 185-14C gas cylinder explode on me when to size of the s/s tube. This tube was tyres. attached to a blowlamp). It was also then bonded to the tiller. A new hand designed to be easily moved to bunk piece is held in its various positions by These tyres have a load rating of 1794 level but I find it most useful in the a clevis pin. Now I can comfortably lbs. and take standard commercial van lower position with the cook sitting reach the controls. tyres that are cheaper and easier to comfortably on the heads entrance

A further advantage is the facility to sit further forward when motoring and benefiting from the weight forward. I had tried the conventional type hinged extension which is fine for sitting out but no good when moving forward in line with the tiller.

Flap Mick Wells mentioned the problem of waters entering the cockpit when motoring hard. I fitted a simple flap on the well side of the drain hole that cured most of this back flow. It was easy to make out of a piece of old car inner tube. obtain. I was lucky and managed to get step. This arrangement retains use of It does not impede drainage but as away without the need to alter the the quarter berth but obviously not soon as there is a back wash it seals mudguards. while the stove is in use. As I would

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 10 of 22 MODIFICATIONS TO MEGSTONE

This is a very simple operation.

Fuel tank and fuel locker I cruise off the West Coast of Scotland and petrol is at times not easy to come by even with a long hike. I have therefore fitted a fixed tank (43 litres) in the bottom of the port locker that is vented outside.

I have also made a designated fuel locker under the rear end of the starboard cockpit seat.

not expect to have use for the quarter Engine cover berth other than as a tight berth for an While an engine well has a lot of off duty night shift crew and I do not advantages, mine tended, under normally undertake night sailing this certain circumstances, to allow fumes is not a problem. to collect and also the engine (Yamaha

The cushion in fill for the main berth is so excellent that I am sure three friendly souls in bags could be By fitting two bulkheads in the quarter accommodated if necessary. I always berth and a proprietary locker lid in the look upon a boat of this size as a seat. This gives space for 4 five-litre two-berth boat anyway. cans and the funnel. This quantity of fuel may seem excessive but it gives The area at the head of the port berth is peace of mind to have fuel in hand if now the navigation/GPS/VHF area. A unexpected motoring sessions are chart table extension that fits on the needed on a two-week cruise. The cabin table and stores conveniently at quarter berth is still long enough for the front of the starboard bunk. myself at 5ft 9inches but that unusable space far down the quarter berth is I have tried doing without a flat chart now utilised. table area but when cruising there is no substitute when working out routes Boot rack. etc. Probably not worth mentioning but simply constructed from an old piece The main table doubles as the bunk in of plastic square section gutter fixed fill but when used as a table is on the ledge behind the loo. Boots are supported on the forward bulkhead kept in place with a length of elastic and a fold down leg at the front of the 8) seemed noisy. [I had a Honda 4 shock cord. gangway. It is held in place by a wing stroke on my last boat so that might nut at the front and two small draw have something to do with it.] Canopy / hood bolts on the leg, thereby not impeding Made from a MARTEX kit and while into the floor space. I built an engine cover and would not the frame only comes aft to the now be without it. I also fitted engine mizzenmast it still gives excellent There can be few boats of the size of controls and repositioned the ‘dead protection in inclement weather and at the Liberty with such lounging space. man’ cut-out. This is now outside the anchor. cover so it is immediately to hand.

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 11 of 22 MEMBERSHIP NEWS

analysis of the engine details supplied so far: Honda 5HP 15 Yamaha 5 HP 5 MEMBERSHIP Mariner 5 HP 5 Yamaha 6 HP 2 NEWS Yamaha 8 HP es 2 Mariner 4 HP 2 Mercury 5 HP 2 Tohatsu 8 HP es 1 PETER STUBBINGSBY Honda 9.9HP 1 Evinrude 4/5 HP 1 Johnson 4 HP 1 Johnson 5 HP 1 Membership Mercury 8HP 1 Suzuki 8 HP 1 So far we have located 49 of the 114 boats that were built. Mercury 6 HP 1 In a postcard to the Association Peter Poland told us that Honda 6 HP 1 Liberty 22,s were built from1980 to 1986, Liberty 23’s and Mercury 7.5 HP 1 Minstrels to 1993. In total there were 65 liberty 22’s, of Mercury 4 HP 1 which we have now located 22, 29 Liberty 23’s of which Mariner 6HP 1 we have found 12, and about 30 Minstrels. We have 15 of Only two engines so far with electric start, and we have no these on the books. So far we know of one Liberty 23, listing for remote controls being installed, although we Adlib, that was destroyed by fire in Margate harbour. know this has been done. This means that there are lots more out there! Where are they sailed? It is interesting that quite a few of our members have come to the Liberty and Minstrel later on in life, very often Being shoal draft the most popular sailing area would seem ‘down-sizing’. There has been a lot of conjecture in the to be the East and South East Coast, with fourteen boats. boating press lately about ‘starter’ and ‘retirement’ boats. It The next most popular area is the South Coast with seven, seems that our boats fit both of these categories extremely followed by the South west with five. The West of well. Safe and forgiving for people new to sailing, but Scotland and Bristol to North Wales are equal with four capable of giving experienced life-time sailors the ability boats each. We have two in Ireland, one in the North West, to get out there single-handed, and still get a few thrills. and five in Europe. Not a bad spread. Thirty of our members are in the fifty plus category, with a wealth of sailing experience. But it’s not all Good News!

It is also interesting to read in the correspondence about the We received the following poignant letter from Craig number of members who have kept their boats from new. Is Fairclough, ex. Alouette, Pwlleli: it any wonder since Shackletons whaler, featured recently in one of the sailing magazines, was 23’ long, 7’6” in the Dear Peter, beam, canoe stern with unstayed masts; - sound familiar? Now where did David Thomas get the idea? Is it a Hunter Liberty Association coincidence that David Thomas, in his Merchant Navy days, was once Southern Pacific Whaler champion? That’s It is with mixed emotions that I am having to advise you why she sails so well! that I have sold my Liberty in the summer of this year

Mixed, due mainly to the fact that I have now moved up the Engines Hunter range and now sail a Hunter 27’. The new boat has We are fortunate that the hull has been designed to an all the qualities and robustness that I experienced whilst outboard onboard, and designed to minimise prop drag sailing the Liberty each weekend, (we never missed a when left in place. The limitation on engine size would weekend whilst the boat was on the water in the 18 months seem to be the size of the well, and we would love to hear of ownership) but offers the much sort after head room that from members who have fitted larger engines. This is the my wife desires

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 12 of 22 MEMBERSHIP NEWS However, here in lies the catch. This time of year the Liberty would be tucked up alongside the house with all the fittings warm and snug in either the garage or house and the jobs almost complete and ready for the next season. Now, the haul out, shore based storage, travel and differential FOR SALE expenses which I am discovering are not a result of some linear factor, that I was expecting with a boat only 6’ longer. Members have the following articles for sale. At this moment I miss the Liberty and the arrival of the Please contact them direct. Association newsletter has reawakened my consciousness of so many enjoyable experiences. However, once over the Hunter Liberty 22 Trailer £350 Christmas break and jobs complete the enthusiasm to get Contact Peter Stubbings afloat again will be unstoppable.

As a gesture of continued support I passed on all the Association material to the new owner (at the time it was Network Yacht Brokers - Conwy, with the hope that the next owner at sometime will contact you and join the Association. Will you please amend your mailing list accordingly.

Regards and best wishes to the Association

Craig Fairclough, Ex. Alouette, Pwllheli, now Lindy Lou.

Hunter Liberty 23 Bilge keels. Upgrade your Money Matters Liberty 22 with extra ballast. Centre plate also available. Buyer collects. Offers to Peter Thanks to the generosity of our members we are in a Stubbings comfortable financial position. Mercury 4HP Standard Sh aft outboard £250 Received in Year: Hardly used. Contact Peter Stubbings

Cheques £240.00 Hunter Liberty Staysail £180 Cash £10.00 Contact Eric Dawson at 2, Abbey Court, Cerne Interest £2.11 Abbas, Dorchester, Dorset.DT2 7JH ------TOTAL £252.11 Hunter Liberty 23 Price Negotiable ======Full details on request from Raymond Ryan, 12 Seacrest, Skerries, Co.Dublin, Ireland. Represented by: Tel 01 8494171

Cash at Bank £208.25 Mercury 7.5 LS £250 Dood Condition Cash in Hand £10.00 Expenses PGS Newsletter 1 £33.86 Mercury 7.5 SS £75 For Spares and postage ------TOTAL £252.11 Bombard AX3 Inflatable £250 ======All from Tony Hancher It has been suggested that we make an annual charge of £5.00 for membership due on 1st April each year. I would welcome any input on this from existing members. The alternative is to keep to the existing arrangements and request additional fees as and when necessary.

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 13 of 22 MINSTRELS WIN THE DAY Shrimpers, Crabbers, and Oystermen among the veterans who mustered in Southampton over the Bank Holiday for MINSTRELS CLEAN the “Old” Gaffers Association Solent area rally. Three that shone were from another growing class sporting UP AT O.G.A. , from Hunter Boats, a marque usually associated with thoroughly modern bermuda rigged designs.

The three were Minstrel 23’s, sailing in class 2B for modern Among the material that we received from Hunter’s when gaffers. we sent them a copy of the first Newsletter was the following extract from The Old Gaffers Association The OGA rates the Minstrel as a high peaked gaffer. Her Newsletter. Unfortunately it was not dated, so we have no gaff comes closer to vertical than the traditional spar, and idea when it was written. approaches the near vertical yard of the .

The Minstrels hull lines were originally drawn by David Old Gaffers Take The Honours. Thomas as a modern variation on the . A nice example of how designers can be inspired long Not all gaffers have to be old. And to show the rig sits afterwards by boats they have enjoyed sailing. In this case happily atop modern hulls there was a strong entry of David Thomas, in his Merchant Navy days, was once Southern Pacific Whaler champion.

In the Solent race at the weekend the class 2B winner was Peter Anstey, who confesses to being nearer 70 than 60, in his Hunter Minstrel ‘Blondelle.’

Mr Anstey, recently retired as a director of the Laurent Giles yacht design firm at Lymington, won the Anchor Trophy and the Jim Rawlings Shield. His boat was the tenth Minstrel to be built.

Another well preserved skipper (Derek Cunningham is nearly 60) sailed the Minstrel ‘The Flying Ferret’ into second place crewed by his son Andy. The other Minstrel in the fleet was Russell Goods Little Wonder. Russell is over 70.

Comment.

With such a fine hull it’s rather surprising that it was not developed further. Perhaps the cabin could have been brought back further into the cockpit, as with Golden Wind, to improve the accommodation even further. There would seem to be so much potential for the Liberty/Minstrel at a time when there is a great push to get more people into boating.

The design for the perfect starter boat already exists. It could be supplied as a Liberty with cat- or junk rig, or as a Minstrel with gunter or bemudan rig. How many other 23’ trailer-able boats can offer the potential?

Peter Stubbings

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 14 of 22 AUGUST 1998 MEETING THREE LIBERTYS PLUS THREE MINSTRELS EQUALS ONE MEETING BY MICK WELLS

Those attending were:

Peter and Lesley StubbingsLYDIA Liberty 23 Brian and Jean Orrin FERRET Minstrel Bob and Rita Ager ORLANDO Liberty 22 John and Sue Crowe MISS TERRY Minstrel Bob Banks LIBERATION Liberty 22 thoughtful having encountered winds of Force 6 or more. Mick and Dee Wells MUSKRAT Minstrel However, a meal and a few pints in the Green Man just Ian and Pat Beard (regular crew of above) along the seawall did much to restore equilibrium.

Although the wind moderated overnight, Saturday provided a somewhat gusty force 4 and a reef, certainly for MUSKRAT, seemed prudent, Peter managed to injure his back and was unable to sail, so round about 1100 am FERRET and MUSKRAT with Simon and Colleen on board left to tackle the eight miles up to Maldon for lunch

Once clear of the Creek we were joined by ORLANDO from West Mersea, a little further up MISS TERRY popped out of Lawling Creek to join the convoy and when we arrived at Maldon LIBERATION had secured prime spot against the Hythe for us all to raft up. Introductions all round and a pub lunch and It was time to leave for Bradwell on the ebb. A southwesterly and some sun at last made for an exhilarating sail. In addition Simon and Colleen Stell, Victor Manton and his wife, and John Crowe drove from various parts of the country to be with us for various parts of the weekend.

It would be rice to write that the first meeting of the HLMOA at Bradwell-on-Sea on the Essex Blackwater was blessed with fine weather - sadly it wasn’t! But it seemed to make no difference to the pleasure of meeting nice people who sail super boats.

The weekend of 22-23 August was dominated by strong winds and mainly overcast skies, and those hardy souls Peter and Lesley Stubbings in LYDIA and Brian and Jean Orrin in FERRET who elected to join Dee and I in MUSKRAT at Bradwell Marina on Friday arrived wet and

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 15 of 22 WATER UP FRONT

With a couple of hours to spare before diner at the Green Man there was time to look at other boats. LYDIAS WATER UP FRONT internal rebuild was very practical and beautifully BYBYBY executed, LIBERATION sported a solar panel, a washbasin plumbed in the heads, and a number of other individual BOB AGEAGERR - ORLANDO touches. MISS TERRY came with remotes for the Honda outboard, and running backstays: indeed all the boats had been customised by their owners to the extent that it made my box step for stowing flares and harnesses look very mundane. Peter formerly welcomed everyone to dinner in the function room of the Green Man where Sue provided us with an excellent three course meal. The evening forecast was not particularly favourable so it was decided to re-asses the situation in the morning before deciding what to do. Sunday produced a lowering sky and a forecast Force 6 so it was decided in the interests of safety that boats would head for home immediately after breakfast. A wise move as by midday, on top of the tide, near gale conditions prevailed.

A most enjoyable weekend; perhaps you’ll let us know if you’d like a similar event this year. Some interest was expressed for a two or three day cruise up the East Coast -again, let us know. How about someone organising an event for south coast members? I purchased my Liberty, Orlando, from Mistley in Essex when it had been out of the water for approx. 18 months. I transported it by road to West Mersea. Before putting it in the water I attempted to put steering castor wheels on to the front of the launching trolley to enable me to tow it down to the local launching hard. Upon completion of fitting the castors, the launching trolley with boat were moved from side to side to evaluate the steering ability, to find to my surprise that a large quantity of water was splashing about from within the hull. Further investigation revealed that it was within the front compartment below the anchor chain and mast well.

To obtain a visual inspection into the compartment without weakening the mast bulkhead I cut two 3 inch discs in the top of the compartment, one either side of the well. On lowering a light into the compartment I found a quantity of water up to the level of the drain pipe which was split open, hence any rain would run straight into the forward compartment and also when the drain pipe was below water level.

To overcome this problem, bearing in mind the accessibility of the drain pipe and not wanting to weaken the forward bulkhead in the event of a collision, I pushed another piece of tubing up through the bottom of the compartment, after which I filled the forward All photographs by Simon and Colleen Stell compartment with expanding foam via the previously mentioned inspection holes. When the foam had

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 16 of 22 FIVE YEARS WITH A MINSTREL expanded and cured, the piece of tubing was removed because the drain pipe is now encapsulated in foam, which also reinforces the forward compartment.

I would never have known of this water ingress problem if I had not moved the boat from side to side freely out of the water, hence I wonder how many other boats have this problem and do not know it.

FIVE YEARS

WITH A What’s gone wrong? Very little simple: a 1.25” skin fitting inserted MINSTREL really. Perhaps the most serious was a from the cockpit and sawn off flush BY fairly bad leak around the cockpit with the backing nut has completely drain when the moulding for the cured the problem and MUSKRAT We’ve just started our fifth season cockpit separated from that for the now stays completely dry throughout with our Minstrel, Muskrat, a outboard well. This is hard to spot and the season. purchase which, although expensive could be serious in anything of a sea at the time, we have not regretted for a when water backs up through the moment. She continues to surprise us drain. In our case we did not notice it with her versatility and ability to until water started to flow into the handle adverse conditions. Creeping cabin area, by which time there was a down Bradwell Creak in half a metre, very considerable amount in the stern

I suppose our major expense has been a new outboard, a Honda 5 longshaft, still being run in. The old one, also a Honda 5 supplied new with the boat, was now seven years old. During its four years with us it had proved completely reliable, but during the winter service there was some evidence of corrosion in the sump and or bashing down the Wallet in a force under the cockpit floor, which could around the bottom bearing: Service five; both are performed without only be got rid of with the pump. prices started mounting so we came to undue drama and we haven’t used the However, as mentioned in the first an arrangement with our Chandler. second reef yet. Issue of HLMOA, the cure was Although somewhat heavier than an

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 17 of 22 FIVE YEARS WITH A MINSTREL equivalent 2-stroke, they are lot of work into the Association. His right thickness and fit when I am wonderfully economical at about four boat Muskrat is featured on the raising the mast. Make the washer as hours to the gallon, do not require a Sailing Now Website shown to enable it to be held easily messy oil mix, and seem to have a (Sailingnow.com). Our sincere when inserting the pin. wider usable power band. I’ve thanks to Mick for all of his efforts. occasionally thought that a little more Their Boat power would be nice, but suspect any gain would not merit the very GULLIVERS Gulliver is a 1988 Liberty 23, hull considerable additional outlay. number 100, finished from a kit by David and Pam. They spend their By the same token, I’m sure for some TRAVELS summers living on their boat and of us an outboard is something of BY cruising the French coast, Italy, Elba “second best. Has anyone ever looked DAVID & PAM etc. No problems at all with Gulliver at the possibility of fitting an inboard? I seem to recall a “Shrimp” or a “Mini Pam and I have cruised and lived on 6” made by Lister or Petter, and the Gulliver for several months each RCA “Dolphin”. I suppose the main summer for the last 5 years and have MAKE HASTE problem would be alignment. The experienced a wide range of weather SLOWLY OR centre-case would force the engine to conditions, harbours, anchorage’s etc starboard. so maybe we could contribute something of interest. DON’T STAND Another problem lurking at the back UP IN THE of my mind is access to the foredeck You probably already have answers to fittings. The pulpit, mooring cleat and some of the queries mentioned in the DINGHY forestay fitting all appear to have been newsletter but I have the following installed before the deck was fitted. comments- Mine seems OK at the moment, but I by would like to look at the mooring 1. Curtain Rails - I removed 3 or 4 Victor Manton cleat bolts. In my mind I can hear the window securing screws from the top edge of the windows and replaced dull rattle as the nuts fall away into the I’m sure many of us know both these bow section! Has anyone tried? them with well sealed bolts through the cabin sides and through a strip of pieces of advice - from where we know not -perhaps an old salt in the I can recommend the Origo 3000 teak inside the cabin to which I fixed the curtain rail. first and our mothers in the second. 2-burner cooker. The original Epigas However let’s start at the beginning. supplied by Hunter was pretty naff, 2. The Leaking Mast Bolt - I made up The highlight of our family’s move to but I did not like the idea of trying to Leigh-on-Sea in 1948 was soon the fit a gas proof locker. Running on an alloy plate covered in wet suit material (any soft rubber would do) annual Burnham Week racing on meths, or denatured alcohol, it seems E-ards (the Essex Yacht Club’s half to generate as much heat as an which I use inside the hull and a rubber washer on the outside. decked One Designs. I began to equivalent gas cooker, and has an appreciate and enjoy river sailing, as added advantage if the gin runs out! opposed to the wide-open Thames 3. Knocking Noise when rolling at estuary, where the Club was situated Lost your original sink? Not to worry. and normal racing was carried out. If yours was the same as that in Anchor - on Gulliver this was caused by the main mast collar moving Hunter’s original interior publicity Thus when I was able to leave dinghy shot, just pop along to your local slightly along the pin and knocking against the shoulders of the mast sailing (Otters) and move up to the hardware shop and ask for a LUCY relative comfort of a sheltered cabin, I bread bin - its exactly the same even bracket on the cabin. It used to drive me mad. I solved this by taking up the looked for swinging moorings on down to the moulding marks – and most of the East Coast rivers. Situated you’ll have a lid as well! slight slack by pulling string in to the gap but this didn’t last long as the as we are almost in the middle of England it mattered not too much Editors Note : string crushed. Now I make up a simple washer out of paper gasket or which river we chose. However, plastic cut from any packaging of the although Maldon is nearest to us as Since its inception Mick has put a the crow flies, I was in a job that

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 18 of 22 MAKE HASTE SLOWLEY required attendance seven days a week - on a rota system. and safely installed that into her cockpit. Nothing daunted I Thus it was more important to acquire moorings afloat at all motored back from the club’s pontoon with my new Honda, stages of the tide, than to have to find the nearest or most tied the dinghy by it’s painter to the new craft and prepared to convenient. Brandy Hole, on the Crouch, was our best lift the motor over into the cockpit. compromise, allowing us to get ‘on the water’ within an hour and a half from leaving home yet still able to return home the As most owners know that is quite a lift - especially bearing same day for the morrows’ troubles! in mind the weight of the 0/B - some 60 plus lbs. I have often delivered calves weighing more than this but that was on dry My first ‘comfort boat’ was an 18ft Seahawk which I used to land! The reader will now have guessed what happened next. trail and launch on my own. However when I moved up to a Having stood up with the motor, as I reached over to transfer Liberty 23 I felt it too big for our small car and asked Hunter’s it to the cockpit the dinghy ‘skidded’ from under me, and to deliver the boat direct to Brandy Hole. I arranged to take a outboard and I were in the river (tidal range some 20 odd week’s leave to coincide with this delivery. I should have feet!). Unfortunately I was unable to attach a rope to the known better! Shades of Racundra’s First Cruise! When do carrying handle before she sank down some 12 feet leaving a sad trail of bubbles behind! What also happened was that the dinghy, with my 2hp Johnson on her, also capsized, so I was left clinging to the side of the Liberty with no dry motor in sight.

To cut a long story short I was very fortunate in that it was a spring tide, so as we prepared to leave the craft and return home early that evening, we were nearly on low water springs. I noticed a series of bubbles surfacing from the river’s bottom, and I jumped to the conclusion that they would be from the Honda. Returning in shorts in the dinghy on my own I poled with an oar and hit metal! With delight I slipped into the muddy Crouch, felt first with my toes and then to confirm with my hands, and found a motor. It was not difficult to lift it onto the transom of the dinghy and carefully row back to the pontoon.

By now it was about 10.30 p.m. and my wife had, understandably, completely gone off the joys of sailing! However we took both motors to our agent next morning and it was amusing to see the looks on the faces of the staff boat builders ever deliver ‘as promised’? when they found that I had lost two motors to the river at the same time. Fortunately they were returned to working order Having ordered her on 18th March, and paid for her on 31st and, although there is some earlier than usual rust on both of May, my planned introductory week’s holiday came and went them, they are still supplying reserve power to our craft today, without sight of the new craft. Repeated phone calls to some 12 years later. Good sailing, friends, for 1999. Hunters eventually elicited a response, but I was unable to rearrange my diary to coincide with the delivery of the craft. Thus when I did take a day off in June I found a helpful boatyard had not only launched her but erected both masts.

The excitement of seeing my new craft on the water made me forget what I had originally planned to do - namely to deposit the new Honda 0/B in the cockpit before launching the new craft. Thus I had a craft which was, to me, untried and no motor in sight. Never mind, so I said, I would motor over from the mooring in the dinghy, collect the Honda from the car, and return with it. ‘How will you lift it into the boat?’ said my careful wife. With usual overconfidence I felt it could be done. I had previously returned a repaired Suzuki 5hp to my old craft when she was moored some cables downstream,

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 19 of 22 LAKELAND LIBERTY

LIBERTY I am a bit concerned about work well in light winds. the mast well drain, two ‘BLUE BOTTLE’ plastic skin fittings connected I have had a new trailer built for this by a couple of inches if boat. It is a four-wheel trailer, with BY plastic pipe - if it fails the immersible bearings (in freshwater). NIGEL VEAR tank will fill up. There are two long metal channels, approximately one foot wide, going 2. Freshwater getting in through the full length of the trailer for the a crack around the back of the bilge keels. A vertical post with a We have a factory fitted, and I think outboard well. This problem ladder and bow catcher at the front, the luxury version, of the Liberty. We showed up over winter again and a forward facing winch. The bought it a couple of years ago, and as the boat was sitting on a winch is used for moving the trailer, have had two good seasons sailing on slope with the stern down not dragging the boat on to it. On each Windermere in the Lake District. Out hill. There is a join line of the corners there is a post clamp, previous boat was rather larger steel between the hull and the deck which hold a long alcathene water pipe Robert Tucker which being on the sea moulding here, which has a hoop which goes from one end to the around here we could not get to sail it. small crack. During normal other. This system gives us berthing use this is just above the arms that flex out of the way as you The boat has had some modifications outboard well and the water slide on to the trailer. The whole part done by the previous owner, now does not get in, but with it on trailer, complete with spare wheel etc being finished off. Primarily this has the slope there was just a tiny was built by a local company for a included: trickle getting in. When we total price of £1800. put the boat back on the water 1. Sink unit and simple water in the spring we thought we We seem to have a few Liberty’s in system in the heads - well must have sprung a leak this area, with two moored on worth doing somewhere. Windermere, one on Coniston Water, 2. The original sea loo has been This problem needs checking one Minstrel on Derwent Water, and replaced with a PortaPotti, on all boats as due to the two to three Libertys at Glasson essential on the lake position it was never properly Sailing Club Lancaster. I know one of 3. Foot locker between the sealed in the first place. the other owners, who very kindly lent quarter berth and main berth - me his trailer before mine was built, worth doing and I have spoken to the people in 4. Additional locker installed These problems aside, this boat has Glasson one of whom has a most across the front of the cabin - given us more sailing over the last two amazing rig with a multitude of lines would not do it myself seasons than either of our previous all coming back to the cockpit. boats. I chose it because it was Is this the youngest Liberty sailor? We have had some problems with the trailerable, and because one person boat due to water leaks in two places: could handle it. Essential with a baby on board - she started sailing at 6 1. Freshwater getting into the months, and now climbs all over the front buoyancy tank through boat. the mast bolt. This problem was unfortunately unnoticed Recently I have been experimenting over winter, and caused the with a cruising chute that came with front bulkhead to delaminate. the boat. It is an original sail, with I cut out the old bulkhead and maker’s marks etc, but obviously replaced it with a new one, never used. It sets from a masthead and included a tell tale halyard on the main mast, with a tack (dinghy drain plug). to the bow-mooring cleat. The sheets Congratulations to Hunter, go straight on to the stern mooring the original bulkhead was cleats. Its a horrible colour very strong and even in its combination, blue hull - white tops delaminated state took a lot -orangy red sails - electric green and of getting out! light blue cruising chute, but it does

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 20 of 22 BLOCK THE HOLE LIBERTYS HOLE IN THE HUNTER LIBERTY FRONT BY MELODY II

BY

REG CHAPMAN

I enclose photos of my dagger plate type rudder but a proper article could follow if there is some interest.

CURTAIN RAILS. We puzzled over this for some time as if you are to avoid drilling holes in the cabin sides it is not easy. Our windows have the aluminum frames so our final solution was to use two double sided sticky pads to fix a thin strip of wood, about the same width as the frame metal along the top edge the frame. The pads are located about an inch in from each end. The curtains have elastic top edges and short pockets Bob sent in this diagram showing exactly how the mast to fit the wooden strip at each end so that the curtain is held hole in Libertys should be set up and sealed. in place by the elastic tension. If you use thick curtain material you may need two pads to space the wood The heel of the mast should sit on a teak chock (I wondered sufficiently away from the frame at each end. To our what that was for! Ed.). The bolt passes through the mast, surprise our pads (from Woolworth’s) are still firm after and then there should be a large steel washer, then the two years of heat and damp. Of course the curtains have to rubber gasket. The bolt passes through the bulkhead, goes be completely removed in daytime and so are not there to through another steel washer, and then the nut. If the rubber decorate the cabin, but also there are no sharp metal bits to gasket is missing it could be made from 6mm rubber cut to catch your head on if you happen to fall against the side in the shape of the steel washers. rough weather. COCKPIT DRAIN PLUG. (I also sealed the hole with sealer. Despite being nose down A tennis ball serves very well, but don’t forget to remove it with guests on board I have had no leaks – Ed) when leaving! I once came aboard one sunny day and stepped straight into 4 inches of clear rainwater.

LEAK AT MAIN MAST BOLT. Although I did not have a serious leak the design does seem a bit crude. To be able to have a proper gasket there I built a flat face on the mast around the hole using car body filler (the kind with aluminum powder in it) and a thin neoprene foam rubber gasket. To make the face I had the bolt with a large (about 3 inch) heavy washer, well greased on one side, ready to hand. Having made sure the mast was well cleaned I put plenty of filler around the hole and before it set inserted the bolt with washer and tightened it up so that there was little or no filler along the axis but it was well squeezed at the sides. A little trimming with a tile later , careful not to remove the anodizing from the mast, leaves an accurately positioned and flat pad for the gasket. O.K., if

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 21 of 22 LIFT YOUR RUDDER your a purist and object to the thickness of the gasket putting the head of the mast an inch or two rearwards then you can always put some packing under the mast pivot bracket. I have a query please. How much reserve buoyancy do the tanks give? In other words, if the hull is holed say through the cabin floor, will she stay afloat assuming a normal amount of gear on board? Also, exactly where are they? The one in the bow is obvious, there appears to be another under the portapotti and possibly another right aft on the starboard side, but it would be nice to know more detail of position and construction and is there any way of checking that they are dry.

Lastly, if I may return to my rudder for a moment, it was done to improve the shallow water handling especially under power and this it certainly has done simply because the blade stays behind the prop when raised and it stays balanced without causing heavy tiller loads. Providing a top grade mahogany is used for the blade it is very strong. Incidentally, after I had embarked on the modification I found one side of the original stock to be rotten even though the paint showed no sign of it. THE END

Thanks to everyone who made this publication possible, we still have material from Simon Stell, Tony Hancher, Geofrey Webb, David Thornton, and others, plus Liberty Sailing Hints and Tips - no name on the document so please contact me (it became detached from the letter!)

Peter & Lesley Stubbings can be contacted at East House, East Street, Kimbolton. Cambs. PE18 0HJ. Telephone 01480 860922, email: [email protected].

Hunter Liberty & Minstrel- Page 22 of 22