Insect kits

Whats next I hear you ask,watch this space! this is one of a few we have,its light and small enough to post any place at all?

Vanity Screen kits

We have a number of designs on file but given your own design we can cut to that too,panels are CNC machined in 6mm MDF,we supply the frames and hinges too,as a flat pack its easy to ship.

Roy@ckdboats.com

CNC cut ready to build plywood Wheel Barrow kit

This is an idea we have,certainally nothing new but is it available? sizes can vary from a small planter size right up to a fully made one with an inflatable tyre on a steel rim,its the kind of thing you can knock up in a day and be using it as soon as the paint is dry.Ours will be a little more simple to assemble,as it will have the now prooven 'Finger Joints' we use on the Didi Mini Transat and Toylander kits also. I found the design at the site below,all credit is due to them.

http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/resources/index.php?search=wheelbarrow%20planter

Mini Garden Cart
Your garden helpers will love this wheelbarrow that's just their size. Or if you don't have a little helper, this project makes a great decorative planter.

Didi mini transat Radius Chine pictures

David is pre fitting both of the two ply skins dry,you can see the lay up,just look how smooth and fair the hull is becoming,with this method of build there is virtually no fairing required at all.




A view of the Drop Keel Box that David has pre fitted,we made the drop keel foil here in our factory,we also supplied the lead ballast castings,its 400kgs.



David in Freemantle,Australia, has taken my advice and fitted the 4mm thick plys to close the radius of in a dry fashion,it speeds things up later when your at the glue stage,which works best with a second pair of hands to apply the glue as you screw them into position. Numbered,you remove five or six pieces at a time and move from side to side,so as not to introduce any tension into the build.

Mary Travers,r.i.p

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

This will have been writen on the 17th of September 2009.

Mary Travers, the golden girl of the early 1960′ s folk movement died yesterday after a long battle with leukemia. Albert Grossman recruited Travers along with Noel “Paul” Stookey and Peter Yarrow to form a folk band from the disperate pool of talent floating around the Greenwich Village folk scene in 1961. Together they popularized Dylans’ “Blowin In The Wind”(he shared Grossman as a manager), John Denvers “Leaving On A Jet plane” and laid a path for other mixed gender folk bands such as The Mama’s and The Papas. Travers had a singing career both before and after Peter, Paul, and Mary but she is best known for her role as the soulful blond harmonizing alongside Peter and Paul. She had started a family before fame came knocking on her door in the early ’60s. Her two children and third husband survive her. Take a look at this stunner songstress’ life in pictures here


I have just read on the Hebburn web site www.hebburn.org that Mary Travers of the folk group Peter Paul & Mary passed away in September of this year,she will have been seventy two.My message as posted on the Hebburn web site is below.

Re: Puff the Magic Dragon
Posted by Roy McBride on 2/11/2009, 10:50 am, in reply to "Puff the Magic Dragon"

I am very sad to hear that Mary has passed away,I had the very good fortune to see the group perform in Blackpool,this may have been in 1968? where I suggested to friends that Mary was pregnant,the group were on at the Palladium the next weekend,there Mary announced to the audience that she was indeed prenant.I still have very many of their records.

I found this nice story about one of the groups first song hits:

The song and words to Puff the Magic Dragon.

Peter Yarrow wrote this in 1958 before he joined the group. He wrote it after coming home and seeing a poem on his typewriter with words about the dragon. He based his song on this poem, which was written by Lenny Lipton. A few years later when this became a hit, Yarrow found Lipton and gave him half the songwriting credit. Lipton, who was a camp counselor when Yarrow found him, gets extensive royalties from the song.

For his book Behind The Hits John Javna spoke with Lenny Lipton about his poem. Lipton was feeling homesick when he wrote it. One day, he was on his way to dinner at a friend's house, and was a little early, so he stopped at the library and happened to read some Ogden Nash poems. The title of the poem that grabbed him was The Tale Of Custard The Dragon, which is about a "Really-o Truly-o Dragon." Lipton was friends with Peter Yarrow's housemate when they were all students at Cornell University. On the walk from Cornell's library to the friend's house (where he was to eat dinner), he wrote the poem, which was about the loss of childhood. But no one was home when he arrived - there was some sort of mix-up about dinner. So he just went in and used Yarrow's typewriter to get the poem out of his head. Then, he forgot about it. Years later, a friend called and told him Yarrow was looking for him, to give him credit for the lyrics. Lipton had actually forgotten about the poem. (Thanks to John for sharing this story. Click the "View Lyrics" link above to see the Ogden Nash poem along with the song's lyrics.)

Puff the Magic Dragon lyrics.

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff,and brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff. oh Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail Jackie kept a lookout perched on puff’s gigantic tail,Noble kings and princes would bow whene’er they came,Pirate ships would lower their flag when puff roared out his name. oh!Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,Puff, the magic dragon lived by the seaAnd frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.A dragon lives forever but not so little boys painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
and Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain,Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane.Without his life-long friend, Puff could not be brave,So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave. oh!Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee

Rowing Oars kit

New for November,a client has taken a Dixi Dinghy as a kit,he needs some oars,a not uncommon ask,lets make a set I said,so we did! We have made these six feet long,thats 1860mm but we can size to suit your needs,they will be able to mail via the post office too I think,the blades are quality marine ply and the shafts are clear oregon pine,so as a set quite light weight,just 1.6kgs each oar,so only 3.2 kgs a set.We can also supply BG plastic rowlocks,bronze too if your feeling posh.

The Queens Corsair

I have read this book at least twice,its well worth the bother,its an eye opener on just how hard life was and how hard men worked as they sailed the worlds oceans in search of treasure.


We used to hear about Sir Francis Drake at school,he was the good guy who threw down his cape for the queen to walk on you may remember,he was also a licenced pirate who was not shy to steal or anything else that took his fancy.He was also a magnificent and capable sailor,just check his track around the world,then consider the dates that he did that trip,amazing.He was given 10,000 pounds by Queen Elizabeth on his return with a ship full of stolen treasure,what was 10,000 pounds worth back in the year 1580?

Sadler 32,a new build begins

In words by Andre 'And so it begins' looks very good to me.

Inside a bare Sadler 32 hull.

A new Sadler 32 hull and deck unit

On the road again,I say again as some many years ago it must have traveled from the Fortuna Boats factory along the same road but in the other direction.

We are ready to supply materials and advise to builders of our kits but also to those who are doing their own projects and just requiring materials,this Sadler 32 in GRP belongs to Andre and falls into this group.Andre found a bare hull and deck unit in Langebaan on the west coast,he moved it from there to his home closer to Cape Town by road.We are supplying plys and epoxies as required as the project moves along.

Promoting Cape Towns CTICC

We had a shock when the Cape Town International Conference Center opened in 2003,from day one it had bookings to around 2014 I seem to remember?such is its success that it is set to expand to twice its size in the next year.

A news clipping,a little dated and the expansion was put on hold but its back on track now.

Sep 11, 2007: The further expansion of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is good news for the city, and its benefits may even extend into the property market.

So says Mick Joyce, Pam Golding Properties' (PGP) managing director for the Western Cape metro region, who was responding to the recent news that the provincial government has given the go-ahead for an R800m plan, which will see the CTICC extended on to the site of the old Customs House on the foreshore. Demolition of the existing building is expected to begin soon.

"We have already seen what a major impact the CTICC has had on the Cape Town tourism industry since it opened its doors in June 2003," says Joyce.

"It has hosted over 750 events including more than 300 international conferences, some with over 10,000 delegates. It has attracted thousands of business tourists in the crucial Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) market."

"As a result, Cape Town is now ranked 29th in the world as a convention destination by the International Congress and Convention Association and attracts 60% of all convention business in Africa.

"More major conventions are booked into the future, with gatherings of over 10,000 delegates confirmed for 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014. In short, it has ensured that we are now firmly established on the global business tourism map."

How does this relate to the property market? Joyce points out that the business tourism sector currently contributes some R20bn per year to our gross domestic product (GDP), and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs. The result is more investment in infrastructure, which has positive spin-offs for all other sectors including property.

"What's more, these thousands of visitors who come to Cape Town to attend conferences – many of them bringing their partners with them – are also exposed to the city's scenic beauty pleasant climate. Not only does this convince many of the delegates to return as leisure tourists at a later date, but some may also opt to go a step further and invest in local property."

The Cape Town Stadium

The new Cape Town Stadium as viewed from the sea.

South Africa world cup 2010 stadium for Greenpoint Cape Town
70 000 seater design stadium for Cape Town in Greenpoint for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa
Cape Town is to get a new 70 000 seat domed Greenpoint soccer stadium in time for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup on the site of the old Green Point track near the existing stadium.

Note,the old Green Point stadium had bench seating for 23,000 only,a packed house with standing as well,would see a max capacity close on 40,000,I know this as I was there one very special football derby match night between the Hellenic FC and Cape Town City FC!




The new Cape Town Stadium built on Green Point Common,Cape Town.


with FIFA 2010 World Cup Soccer now only months away the entire country of South Africa is bracing itself for what I hear will be three million visitors (3,000,0000) thats a heck of a lot of people to handle but looking at the new infrastructure in Cape Town alone I am sure we can mangage.The new stadium is on track,the grass has been laid and lights switched on recently,it replaces what was named Green Point Stadium,some wanted the same name for the new one but I think Cape Town Stadium is right,the world knows where Cape Town is,or very soon will do!

Gardener 8L3 Diesel engine driven

Well it will be if they can find one,this train is in New Zealand,the same engine that is used in Venture and the British Navys HDML class (two engines) is to be used in this train!

The 1958 Bagnall 0-6-0 diesel locomotive was originally purchased by Wilson's Portland Cement Ltd. for use at their Portland Works south of Whangarei. Portland sold the locomotive to Avon Industries Ltd. when they shut down their industrial railway. The club purchased the locomotive from Avon Industries Ltd. with a generous grant from Pub Charities, Inc. It was unloaded on to the club's siding at Heritage Park on 7 October 2005. Work is underway to stabilize rust and to prepare the locomotive for a paint job. It's a bit rough, cosmetically, but is complete, just missing the diesel engine. The search has begun for a replacement engine, preferably a Gardner 8L3 or similar low-revving diesel engine of 100 to 150 horsepower. If anyone knows of a suitable engine, please contact us

Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML class)

Class overview.

Name: Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML)
Completed: 486
Active: none
General characteristics
Displacement: 54 tons (loaded)
Length: 72 ft (22 m)
Beam: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Draught: 5 ft (1.5 m) (loaded)
Propulsion: twin Gardner 8L3 engines, each 204 bhp (152 KW)
Speed: 12 knots
Range: 2,000 miles at 10 kts (1,650 gal)
Complement: two officers, two petty officers and eight ratings
Armament: typically twin 20mm Oerlikons, twin Vickers K machine guns and six depth charges.

HDML 1301 in Padstow with extra fuel tanks and stores for voyage to Malta.

We have found that a company in Durban,South Africa named,Spadbrow and another named Africa Marine in Mombassa,Kenya, built this class of boat in wood,it is probably the same class as Venture,now moored in Hout Bays harbour and privatly owned.

Design and construction.

HDMLs had a displacement hull of 72 feet (22 m) long with a beam of 16 feet (4.9 m) and a loaded draught of 5 feet (1.5 m). The loaded displacement was 54 tons. The hull had a pronounced flare forward to throw the bow wave clear, and providing considerable lift to prevent all but the heaviest seas from coming aboard. Although sea-kindly, there is a considerable tendency to roll, especially when taking seas at anything other than right angles. The cause, surprisingly, was their considerable reserve of stability, the effect of which was to impart a powerful righting moment if the ship was pushed over in a seaway. This, coupled with the round bilged hull and lack of bilge keels, would set up a rapid and violent rolling.

One of the design criteria, was that it had to be capable of turning within the turning circle of a submerged submarine. To achieve this, HDMLs were fitted with two very large rudders and, to reduce the resistance to turning, the keel ended 13 feet from the stern. A side effect of this was that the hull lacked directional stability, and was extremely difficult to hold on a straight course.

The hull was of round bilge wooden construction, planked with two diagonally opposed skins with a layer of oiled calico between them – known as “double-diagonal” construction. The hull is completed with frames or “timbers” riveted perpendicularly from the keel to the gunwale on the inside of the planking, forming a very strong hull. The hull is further strengthened by the addition of longitudinal stringers riveted inside the timbers together with further timbers, known as "web frames" fastened inside the stringers opposite every third main timber. HDMLs were fitted with a deeper section rubbing strake aft. Its purpose was to roll depth charges (kept and delivered from racks on the side decks) clear of the hull and propellers.

Most HDML hulls were planked in mahogany, but later in the war when this became scarce, larch was used although this tended to lead to leaky hulls. The decks were also of double-diagonal construction, and generally made of softwood. Ships operating in tropical waters (including the Mediterranean) were sheathed in copper below the waterline to prevent attack by marine borers.

In order to lessen the chances of ships sinking in the event of damage to the hull, they were divided into six watertight compartments. Provided that the bulkheads were not damaged, the ship could remain afloat with any one compartment flooded.

Popular Mechanics,the November issue is Toylander friendly

Left click either page to read full size.


This will be something of a first,Toylanders in South Africa and Popular Mechanics magazine,the phone was really busy with people phoning for information,please note the web site shown is incorrect,please use www.ckdboats.com not .co.za We have a full price list available,please email me at kits@comlumber.com and I will send you a copy.

Note,posted prices are lower now,plans are R427 and a kit starts at R3882 for the base car body and its materials.

Andrews epoxy progress

Since a year back when we supplied Andrew with marine plys and epoxies for his Hartley 37 yacht hull,we have taken a keen interest in his progress,as you can see the finish is great,we will soon see the International Paint we also supplied being applied next.

Another good wooden boat

Control Target Boats
Between 1942 & 1945 there were 50 C/T Boats all of which were converted from
other military fast boats, Naval MTBs, MGBs and RAF HSLs. These were numbered C/T 1 - 49 (there were 2 CT 26's), in fact our own HSL 102 was converted to C/T 12 in 1943.

On top of this Thornycroft built a number of boats between 1938 - 1944 numbered DCMB 01, DCTB 1 - 6 and Queen Swan 5 - 10 (DCTB 1,3,5 & 6 became Queen Swan 1 - 4.

The War Department Army also had 131 12ft Queen Gull remote control target boats built by the British Power Boats Company at Marchwood Park. We have Queen Gull 78 in our collection at Marchwood


This is an earlier build than Venture in the blog below,she is still carrying her original superstructure which Charles Bates removed on Venture,the stem has less rake too.