Percy Blandford

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Percy Blandford

This topic has 10 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 26 October 2023 at 14:20 by Bill Dawes.

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2 October 2023 at 20:43 #37374
Jim Young 2
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@jimyoung2
Kayak find
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2 October 2023 at 20:43 #662519
Jim Young 2
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@jimyoung2
I know this isn’t ‘model engineering, but you are all so well read in many subjects I thought you might be able to add some information to my investigations!
I recently had the opportunity to recover this two seater from a woodshed, it was most likely destined for the skip or the bonfire. After several hours of research I think it may be to a design by Percy Blandford, I had never heard of him but he seems to have been quite a prolific writer on many subjects in his time.

It has remnants of it’s canvas cover, most likely sealed with lead paint. The frame is all very loose. I suspect originally all glued with Cascamite which has gone very brittle.

I had considered dismantling and making drawings, ….just because I could. Making one from drawings would cost very little. I did wonder if such a process would make an article for a woodworking magazine….but it may run into all sorts of copyright issues.

His books have been out of print for years, I have ordered a copy of his canoe book from my local library, but it may take months to arrive as it is in the ‘central book store’.

Any information very welcome!

Edited By Jim Young 2 on 02/10/2023 20:53:37

Edited By Jim Young 2 on 02/10/2023 20:55:17
2 October 2023 at 20:51 #662524
Jim Young 2
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@jimyoung2
Edited By Jim Young 2 on 02/10/2023 21:17:38
2 October 2023 at 20:52 #662525
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
A picture would be interesting, Jim

… I presume you intended to post one.

MichaelG.
2 October 2023 at 20:53 #662526
Grindstone Cowboy
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@grindstonecowboy
Don't know anything abut canoes (?), but you may find these instructions on posting photos useful.

Links to https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=103028&p=1

Rob
2 October 2023 at 20:56 #662529
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
It appears that these people have the original plans: **LINK**

https://www.clarkcraft.com/cgi-local/shop_responsive.pl?cart_id=21cfd5803494442c08eef0a0c2348277&type=item&item=934915913&categ=014

MichaelG.
2 October 2023 at 21:02 #662532
Jim Young 2
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@jimyoung2
Having slight issues posting the picture. I can see it but can others?

Yes – I had found Clarkcraft but not enough detail for a positive id.
2 October 2023 at 21:50 #662537
Martyn Duncumb
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@martynduncumb88863
Not sure whether this will be much help but I used to have a set of Percy W Blandford plans for a two seater canoe covered with canvas that looked very much like yours. It also had plans for a small mast , sail and lee boards.

The design of the canoe was called a PBK 17 and was, I think, coincidentally, 17 feet long. I have his book "Canoes and Canoeing" and the plans in there are all called "PBK' with a number. Not sure what the 'K' stood for.

I later regretted giving the plans away to a Sea Scout troop for them to build. You may be able to get more information from the Scouts Association archives as his designs were popular with them.

Martyn
3 October 2023 at 05:10 #662553
pgk pgk
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@pgkpgk17461
I'd guess the K in PBK would be kayak?

I built two similar construction canoes in the early 60's but no memory of whose design. The first 14 footer single was from plans bought on a whim at the Boat Show in Olympia and assembled in the attic of the family bungalow – the timbers passed through a small window in the gable end. The challenge was getting the finished boat out through the loft hatch though Dad was supportive enough to consider removing tiles and taking it out the roof.

That boat was skinned with lorry canvas de-waxed with petrol and painted with Woolies gloss paint. I subsequently sold it with enough profit to buy supplies for a much more sensible designed 2 seater covered in reinforced PVC . That was also challenging to removed from my bedroom having been built on the diagonal of the room.

The plans for the first called for the stringers to be twisted for attachment to the end posts with the torque required being enough to splinter (and replace) some of the stringers, The second boat used a more sensible approach of planing the stringer ends for a torque free join.

pgk
3 October 2023 at 06:50 #662556
Speedy Builder5
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@speedybuilder5
I also made a PBK (16 ?) double seater in the early 60's , but looking at the frames in Jims photo, I remember that the PBK frames were scalloped out between the stringers and that there were inch and a quarter holes in the top of the rearward marine ply frames to allow for the foot controlled rudder strings to pass through. The removable floor boards were longitudinal thin pine laths sitting on top of the frames. She looked just like Pkg's photo

I used a 3 ply PVC canvas covering for the hull and 2 ply for the deck covering (with cockpit splash covering. The glue was Aerolite 306 ?? which was a powder, mixed with water and the hardener was acetic acid. Aerolite Glue

I never made them, but there were secondary plans to make mast, lee boards and sail. We cheated and big brother bought the paddles from Ottersports.

I was 14 at the time and made the canoe over the summer school holiday, we coerced Dad in buying a roof rack for the car and transported the canoe on top. A year later, a friend and I paddled the Thames from its source down to Richmond, camping for free along the way. I remember a poignent poster at one of the locks – "Use shore based shitters wherever possible" – sticks in ones mind 62 years later!

How times have changed, several nights we were invited to camp at the bottom of peoples gardens along the banks of the river even being treated to hot soup and breakfast at one stop.

Oh, Happy days

Bob
26 October 2023 at 14:20 #682494
Bill Dawes
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@billdawes
Percy Blandford. that name caught my eye. Many years ago, maybe 1970s?, I bought a set of plans for his wooden cabin cruiser, about 16 footer I think, never did build it but I still have plans somewhere if someone would like them for a modest sum.

Bill D.
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