A discussion has started on another thread (Bobs, A Super Rapier) and this is going to continue so thought it best to start one of its own. I say started on another thread but it in fact it started almost 6 years ago when Will (Madwelshman) asked the question if anyone had ever built one on the Mahem forum?

The discussion took place mainly between Will (Madwelshman), Bob (Zooma), Harry (Canabus) and myself all having an interest in Fairey Marine boats, but mainly the early timber ones. Bit of background first though. Fairey Marine ceased in its original form around the end of the late 1970s with the final boats being in fibreglass rather than their renowned hot moulded timber. Alan Burnard, the Fairey designer, stayed involved with building boats and a number of revivals were manufactured with him as designer and so still contained some of the Fairey look to them. One of these was the Solent Spear which was built in 2004, in Hamble, where Faireys were originally built. This was in fact Alan Burnard's last boat design.

Whilst in fibreglass we agreed that some of these later boats were attractive designs (see also the Swordsman Marine 37 thread) and worthy of consideration for building. One thing that is good about the Solent Spear is that it is 34 foot long with an 11 foot beam which at a scale of 1:12 very closely matches the 34" fibreglass hull of the Fairey Huntsman 31 kits! The stern is different though and incorporates a swim platform but we are sure it's doable by chopping off the rear end and fabricating a new one.

Only 4 or 5 boats were ever built with only one being the open topped version.

I suppose I'd better fire up the PC!

Apart from adding a few notes the drawings are finished.

This is going to be a very interesting build to follow due in part to it using a modified glass-fibre hull but also a lot of the build is going to have to be done on the fly. I can only draw so much of this build and Bob is going to have to decide how he tackles various things as he goes along - how to build the cockpit and roofs for example including how to provide access for the motor and rudder etc. I haven't drawn the motor, prop shaft and rudder as these will be based on those for the donor Huntsman 31 hull installations. Fortunately there are plenty of good photographs etc. to refer to.

Bob likes to portray himself as a bodger but we know he is a skilled builder and overcoming the various challenges will be no problem as illustrated by his extensive refurbishments of old classic boats that many of us wouldn't tackle.

Now back to working on the Swordsman 37! Bob, you are going to be very busy with these projects and the others you have mentioned on here!

Chris