The Restoration of "Poppy"

Another bump of an article from the old site. This boat is just too beautiful to not be admired once again...

by Simon Harison

Simon Harison's "Poppy" is the best documented wooden Alacrity I have ever seen pictures of. As can clearly be seen the means of construction make for big differences between this and the later fiberglas versions of the boat. Most prominently the differences can be seen in the keels. However, the fact that this Alacrity also has a skeg is due to her once having been fitted with an inboard engine and not the plywood design. And once in the water the differences almost disappears.

In March 2001 we took Poppy out of the water for a repaint. The topsides in the
starboard cockpit area were found to be damaged by rainwater running off the seat
and being trapped behind an epoxy fillet on the locker bulkhead. This was a poor
quality ‘repair’ carried out by a previous owner. This was rectified using Khaya
mahogany laminated into the hull and progressively overlapped onto the sound hull to
form a strong bond. The job turned into a full repaint of the boat including epoxy
coating the entire surface of the hull inside and out to fully protect the boat against
future water damage. All major equipment was either replaced or refurbished at this
time-see inventory. Below is a series of pictures showing the progress of the work.






















When we re-launched we took a swinging mooring at Davis’s boat yard in Poole from
which we have enjoyed three seasons sailing around Poole, Swanage and
Christchurch. We have also been on two summer holiday cruises around the Solent,
staying on board for 12 days each time, visiting Christchurch, Yarmouth, Keyhaven,
Cowes, Bembridge and Port Solent."







Poppy’s trailer is custom made from a German Al-Ko caravan chassis and separate
launching/recovery dolly. This means that the trailer with its delicate brakes and
wheel bearings never has to enter the water. There are ramps on the trailer and a
winch, which allow the boat to be rolled into the water and pulled out under full
control.

An Alacrity with a lifting keel?

This is one of the posts I am transferring from the old site. However, as I find it quite interesting, I thought I'd bump this post up a little instead of hiding it in the archive. Maybe someone has any ideas about this boat now...

I got an email from Nick Bamer from the UK telling me about the boat he bought. He thinks it is an Alacrity, but it does not have twin keels but a lifting keel. A further examination showed that the boat also has a well for an outboard engine in the cockpit. The mast has been moved aft by some two feet or so and is now located at the same spot where the original configuration has the cabin roof vent.



Now, this surely does look like an Alacrity, does it not? Except for the keel of course.



This is the outboard well.



The centerboard or liftting keel case. Now, this pic also shows that the bunks are made of fiberglass and not wood. This does, in my opinion, indicate that it could in fact be a Vivacity and not an Alacrity. Still the former owner did state the boat's length at less than 19 feet, which is Alacrity size. The Viv is to be 20 feet long.



The forward part of the cabin. A double berth, again, making a point for the Vivacity case.



Finally the liftting keel. This of course does not help to indentify the boat. It could still be a Vivacity (remeber that the Viv did come in a fin keel version as well, while the Alacrity did not). However, the boat could also be some totally different prototype by Russel Marine, that never got into production.

Now, if anybody has any idea or more information about this particular boat, or any knowledge about any other Alacrities or Vivacites having been made in a lifting keel configuration, please do tell us!

Discovery scrap album

Here are a bunch of unused pics from the old site and other surplus pictures of my own boat.

Photobucket link.

Archived articles and cruise reports from the old site

• Inside a pair of keels
• Midsummer Cruise 2005
• A simple boat stand
• 2006 Summer cruise
• Archive: Summer Cruise 2007
• Sailing through the Rainbow (2005 summer cruise)
• Alacrity Mk2 Test Report in German Yacht Magazine
• Alacrity test report
• Father and Son Cruise (Curtailed)
• Frosty Spring Cruise 2006
• 2003 Summer cruise
• 2004 Summer Cruise
• Alacrity to the Bahamas - Out and Back again
• The Restauration of "Poppy"
• Alacrity history
• The famous voyage of Alacrity "Hotfly" - Part v
• The famous voyage of Alacrity "Hotfly" - Part IV
• The famous voyage of Alacrity "Hotfly" - Part III
• The famous voyage of Alacrity "Hotfly" - Part II
• The famous voyage of Alacrity "Hotfly" from the UK...
• A short cruise midsummer 2004
• Mariefred cruise 2002
• The Restauration of At Last
  
• 
  

The old reader's boats picture archive

• Alacrity pics: Patricia
• Alacrity pics: The Rose
• Alacrity pics: Retrograde
• Alacrity pics: Greyhound
• Alacrity pics: At last
• Alacrity pics: Britina
• Alacrity pics: Smurfen
• Alacrity pics: Midnight Special
• Alacrity pics: Naiad
• Alacrity pics: Kindly Light
• Alacrity pics: Sabre
• Alacrity pics: Scaramouche
• Alacrity pics: Mistral
• Alacrity pics: Mistral II
• Alacrity pics: Travis Treat
• Alacrity pics: Cloe
• Alacrity pics: Demone
• Alacrity pics: Minimo
• Alacrity pics: Kama'aina
• Alacrity pics: Jorica
• Alacrity pics: Teal
• Alacrity pics: Crwydryn
• Alacrity pics: At C
• Alacrity pics: Broadway Blew
• Alacrity pics: Cee-J
• Alacrity pics: Sasparilla
• Alacrity pics: Harry Rowe
• Alacrity pics: Appledore
• Alacrity pics: Bellissimo
• Alacrity pics: Cecilia
• Alacrity pics: Butzel
• Alacrity pics: Morannedd
• Alacrity pics: Sweet Pea
• Alacrity pics: Rick Scott
• Alacrity pics: Bow Bells
• Alacrity pics: See-Hund
• Alacrity pics: Xena
• Alacrity pics: Serenity
• Alacrity pics: Jaconte
• Alacrity pics: Celtic Roamer
• Alacrity pics: Under Foot
• Alacrity pics: Heron
• Alacrity pics: Elsie Too
• Alacrity pics: Kate

Alacrity pics: Patricia

This is Dan McEachern's Alacrity "Patricia". Dan lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. He bought the boat in June 2003. It has not been in the water since 1995. He is now restoring the boat to be launched next spring. Here is what he told me about his boat so far:
"Our problem out here in the great southwestern desert of course is heat and sun so good UV protection in any products you are using is vital. The sun is deadly on fiberglass and wood. Both must be either covered or cared for constantly. I have been re-oiling the teak for weeks and it still wants more! So far, I have replaced the front hatch and the companionway hatch, re-fiberglassed the entire cockpit area, and removed the pulpit for clean up, straightening and painting. The tabernacle was rusted and I am having a new one built. I have restored the rudder. I also have an original 3hp British Seagull outboard that the previous owner says runs perfectly. It came with the boat. My next big project is to build a cradle and get the boat off the trailer. The keels need to be re-glassed, then the bottom paint. Then its on to rigging and the interior, electrical, I am tired just writing this!"

Dan has promised some more pictures and comments on his project's further development as it goes along.
As a start, here are some more "before pictures" and some tips on fiberglass repais.

Alacrity pics: The Rose

When Graham Bell bought this Alacrity it had been going up and down with the tide for five years and was covered in green mould. Now he has cleaned the bottom and sanded the hull which he intends to paint pale blue.

Graham has also cleaned the deck and has already purchased a 4hp outboard.

This is how "The Rose" looks in spring 2004. Graham has applied two under coats and two gloss coats to the hull. He also has painted the bottom, sanded the woodwork and put two coats of stainer on it. The boat looks really great.

Alacrity pics: Retrograde

This is Mark Stipetic's Alacrity "Retrograde" which he has been fixing up after some Hurricane damage. Mark lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.

His story:
"The guy I got it from - his dad bought it about 1973. He sailed it as a boy in the Pamlico Sound, North Carolina.
It had not moved or been sailed for 10-12 years (in salt water the whole time).
The boat was hit by many hurricanes -"Floyd" and "Fran" were direct hits on it. "Cape Fear" is right here. Lightning finally sunk the boat. It came down the shrouds and put two holes in port side and one in the starboard side. After much thought, I decided to salvage it. It was free. I estimate I put $750 and 2 years work into it to get it looking and sailing good.
There is no electrical system in it though. So no running lights yet. I'm working on that."

Alacrity pics: Greyhound

This is George Bollenbacher's Alacrity "Greyhound". George sails on the Hudson River north of New York. The boat is named "Greyhound" because he also owns two "retired racing hounds".
The smaller picture shows co-owner Jacob preparing "Greyhound" for a sail at the Tarrytown Marina.
Edit: this boat now as a new owner.

Alacrity pics: At last

Tom Meara's father bought this Alacrity in 1975. Tom learned to sail in her and she
safely got him through some heavy weather during a few "ill-planned voyages of his youth".
After 30 years in salt water, he totally restored the boat and fitted a completely new interior.

Alacrity pics: Britina

This "Britina", sail no AY-65. The boat is now owned by Ulf Lange from Bremen, Germany.
The pics here have been taken by the previous owner, Dierk Thomsen. It seems to be an Alacrity Mk1 despite the double windows. Dierk also has a wooden Mast.
Dierk lives in Hamburg, Germany and sailed his boat in the Elbe Estuary.

Alacrity pics: Smurfen

This is Leif Eklund's Alacrity. "Smurfen". Leif lives in Skelleftehamn in Northern Sweden and this makes it the third Alacrity in Swedish waters that I am aware of.
Update: the boat has now been sold. I do not have the names of the new owners yet.

Smurfen was built in 1966 and has only had three owners since.

Alacrity pics: Midnight Special

Brian Bartlett send me this email about an Alacrity he bought in order to be restored by his children.
"A couple of months ago my family and I were driving around a local boatyard looking at boats. We already have an O’day 25 weekend cruiser. Sitting amongst the weeds was a small blue hulled bilge keeled boat, in pretty rough shape. My kids (16, 14 and 9) asked me to stop and promptly jumped aboard to check it out. They fell in love with the boat and asked if we could buy it. They wanted to restore it and bring it back to sailing condition. I agreed that I would check on it. I told them I wouldn’t pay more the $200 for the whole thing. I also made a pact with them that it would be their job to restore it, they would do all the work. In addition if I were to buy it for them they had to agree to:
· Do all the work.
· Keep logs of all time spent.
· Keep a journal explaining the steps and projects undertaken.
· Keep records and receipts of all Dad’s money spent.
· Keep a photo journal of the project.
· Create a web page from all the documentation.
In return Dad & Mom would:

· Foot the bills.
· Supply tools and materials.
· Act as project consultants and teachers.
· Find a way to get it home.
· Find a trailer for the finished boat .
· Transport or moor it with our other boat.
It turns out that they’ll let me have it for $100. I am going to pick it up this weekend and get it back to our farm to commence the project. It has no sails or rudder but those can be fabricated. After searching the web to see what it is I finally found your site and sure enough it looks like the boat in your pictures. I am sure it is an Alacrity 19. So any help you can send our way would be appreciated. We’ll keep you up to date on the progress too."

Alacrity pics: Naiad

This is Leo Bingley's "Naiad", hull no 288. Leo and his wife live in Michigan, USA. The boat is currently moored in front of their place.
Najad under sail on Grand Traverse Bay.