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Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 1:11 pm
by Fishy23
Hi is this site now about defunct what has happened to all the Swifts or have everyone move on to other boats? Just curious as there does not seem to be any responses etc

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 9:43 am
by Fishy23
Funny how spam “weight loss before and after women” gets most current hits 146 sad! yet there doesn’t seem to be any current swifty boatie comments, oh well I’m off back to my Bmw bike forum, happy sailing if anyone does it on here.

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 8:24 pm
by bob clarkson
Hi.
New Swift 18 owner here!

I took ownership late last year the autumn and winter period has seen work on recommisioning the boat. Main areas found needing work are leaks from deck and windows causing staining to upholstery. All fittings were straightforward to remove clean and re fix. With the fabric removed we took the opportunity to wash the covers re fit to back boards, almost like new ready to re fitted in time for Easter time possible launch.

My Brother has also been busy as the boat is sited on his front lawn under covers. The interior woodwork renovation is also underway but working outside in the cold weather is slowing down progress

The next big job is to repair the boat support cross members on the SBS trailer due to corrosion.
I hope this somehow shows the Swift 18 boats still have followers and enthusisasts.

Have a look at the Flickre Swift 18 site you tube is also good to view Swift 18 sailing.

Regards.
Bob.

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 9:54 pm
by Fishy23
Thanks Bob glad to know it’s not all deserted. I’m halfway through refurbishing old swifty I’ve installed new head linings keel mech has all been renewed, I’ve even found an old spinnaker made by a company in Wigan of all places.

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 7:31 am
by bob clarkson
Hi Fishy.
Keep going , I will post progress as it happens, we will attract one or two more like minded owners eventually.
All the best from sunny the Midlands!
Bob.

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 9:34 am
by DCordner
Good morning

I still have a Swift 18 which I sail on Grafham Water and a great little boat.
Glad to see that there is still some interest out there as regards the Swift 18. Mine is currently at home getting her ready for the season. Pity there doesn’t seem to be rallies anymore though.

Hope you have a good sailing season when your boats are ready.

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 9:34 am
by Fishy23
Thanks for your reply yes I’m looking forward to getting her in this Easter. I’ve replaced keel mech I’ve sealed all the through deck fittings replaced new headlining and used megavanmat carpeting for the rest of the internals. Well replacing the keel mech etc was easy compared to the headlining and lining carpet ( but I did it😤). I’ve been sailing last year in a friend’s Hunter 27 and what a numb thing she is/was. So looking forward to a boatie that sails were you expect it to/want it to go.

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 7:22 pm
by bob clarkson
||Hi All.
Progress report on 407.

Boat was lifted off trailer as corrosion had taken hold of the cross members and side supports.
A new frame has been made to original spec and now fitted so now to paint and re fit all rollers etc.
While boat is on supprts we have removed keel for painting with epoxy and replacing the lifting gear ( not cheap).
Hopefuly the works done will allow us to reunite boat and trailer soon!

Keep in touch

Bob and Mike

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 9:42 pm
by Cinders
Hi Bob,

Good luck with the renovations, where do you plan to sail?

I have a Swift which is currently on the River Severn

Mark

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 5:06 pm
by bob clarkson
Hi Mark.
Boat was test launched only with kind permission of Telford Sailing Club.
It was on the water for approximately 10 minutes and then put back on the trailer (not sailed).
Contact details on TSC website.
We plan to sail over a weekend at Carrington or Bala.
How are you getting on with your boat?
Bob and Mike

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 7:48 am
by Brio
Hi All
Pleased to see some activity on the site. I think a few very active members left at the same time several years ago!
I've had my Swift for 9 years now and still love sailing/overnighting on her.
Over that time she's had a new mast, rigging, headlining and cushion foam, a new Yamaha last year and some work on the trailer.
My next project is a bit smaller! Two of my stand up deck blocks, almost certainly original, have started to break up from UV exposure. Has anyone replaced these, and if so what make did you use? I'm loathe to disturb the bases as they don't leak (yet!)
Keep sailing, and sharing knowledge. I wouldn't have bought the boat without the information that is on here!
Dave

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:56 am
by Fishy23
Brio hi I was lucky or maybe not as I had to replace all the headlining and I carpeted the interior as everything was down to bare fibreglass I replaced my blocks with short alloy tracks and small blocks from Barton. But I did solve all the small through deck leaks by doing this work and in the scheme of things it wasn’t to big a job, just fiddly.

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:37 am
by DCordner
Good morning current Swift owners,

Just returned from having a great week on the River Orwell and took Bebop around to the Walton Back Waters.

All was going well until we took the boat off the water on Thursday. When raising the keel had this horrible noise. I think the thread has gone. So I have left with Suffolk Yacht Harbour guys to look at as I have no facilities to look at home. Also had a Mr Bean moment and left my A frame at the slip and didn’t realise until I got home, 3 hours away. Hoping that the yard will find it, if I will make another one.

Hope you are having a good sailing season.

Fair winds, David

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:41 am
by bob clarkson
Hi fellow owners and Swift sailors.
Last September I purchased boat 407 and with great help and support from my brother have completed many jobs on her. Order of completion as follows.
SBS trailer had rectangle support replaced as rotten.
New tyres including spare.
Keel removed de rusted and painted in two pack.
New keel lifting gear (as original).
Interior removed, cushions cleaned/ washed.
Windows removed replaced and through bolts fitted.
Carpets dried out and re fitted.
Interior woodwork refurbished and re fitted.
Wiring checked over excess cable removed.
Deck fittings cleaned and refurbished as required.
Tiller varnished.
Rudder blade rebuilt as core had rotted out.
Boat refitted to trailer.
Decks and Hull cleaned several times to remove years of grime etc.
Decks inspected and through fittings removed as signs of stress to gelcoat. Worst case at rear of starboard pulpit as water had rotted the balsa core. Core rebuilt
and gelcoat replaced
All ropes and rigging cleaned and checked.
Mast and boom cleaned and checked.
Mast raised (with new a frame as per diagram on Swift site).
Sails raised (on day with no wind ).
Finally
Hull cleaned and excess antifoul removed and gelcoat polished.
Outboard checked and tested.

It's been be a labour of love as both brother Mike and self Bob have enjoyed working on 407 and has been reunited with her original name Tarragon (later called Little'n

In mid September we are off for our first sail (Saundersfoot Pembrokeshire).
Wish us luck.

Bob and Mike.

Old photos Little'n can be seen on page 5 of
Flickr Swift 18.

Re: Curious about Swifties demise

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:12 am
by robvega
Well done Bob & Mike, it sounds like a lot of work but it will all be worth it when you get her on the water, shame the seasons almost over!
Good luck.
Rob