One day, whilst boating at Canonteign Falls, a fellow club member, Mike Gaye arrived with a very exciting model. I recognised it as a version of James Pottinger's steam yacht Greta- the first model I ever built, started in 1974. This model was about 1.5 times the original size, coming out at 60'', and weighing about 30lb. The yacht was equipped with a Cheddar Gemini engine and boiler, automatic boiler control and had hand pumped water tanks. It looked absolutely fabulous on the water and I jokingly said to Mike, 'If you ever want to sell her, give me first refusal.' And thought no more of it!
A month or two later the gentleman in question rang me up and asked if I still wanted to buy the yacht as he had decided it was too large for him to handle. I said that it was really too expensive and that I would have to pass it up. On discussing the matter with my wife later, she said I should have it, as it was a once in a lifetime chance, and a vessel that had great significance for me- plus I loved it! Luckily I had come into a bit of money, as it was far more than I would ever contemplate spending on a boat. I rang back and went and collected it. It was only as I was putting it in the car that I began to realise what I had taken on- it's huge and would only fit in the back of the car with the seats down.
Mike had purchased the boat from a member of Cheddar Steam Club and one day, whilst attending the water there I tracked down the gent who had built it and had a chat with him. Apparently the boat was started by the late Chris West, who I met on a couple of occasions at Cheddar years ago. Chris's modelling skills were much admired far and wide, so I feel very privileged to own a boat started by him. The man who finished the model made a fine job of it too, and I just need to make a few repairs to the rigging and hull. I have steamed the model on the bench and look forward to getting her on the water once she has an up-to- date boiler test certificate.
The photos below were taken on my drive one evening on getting the boat home.
A month or two later the gentleman in question rang me up and asked if I still wanted to buy the yacht as he had decided it was too large for him to handle. I said that it was really too expensive and that I would have to pass it up. On discussing the matter with my wife later, she said I should have it, as it was a once in a lifetime chance, and a vessel that had great significance for me- plus I loved it! Luckily I had come into a bit of money, as it was far more than I would ever contemplate spending on a boat. I rang back and went and collected it. It was only as I was putting it in the car that I began to realise what I had taken on- it's huge and would only fit in the back of the car with the seats down.
Mike had purchased the boat from a member of Cheddar Steam Club and one day, whilst attending the water there I tracked down the gent who had built it and had a chat with him. Apparently the boat was started by the late Chris West, who I met on a couple of occasions at Cheddar years ago. Chris's modelling skills were much admired far and wide, so I feel very privileged to own a boat started by him. The man who finished the model made a fine job of it too, and I just need to make a few repairs to the rigging and hull. I have steamed the model on the bench and look forward to getting her on the water once she has an up-to- date boiler test certificate.
The photos below were taken on my drive one evening on getting the boat home.