I found myself engaged with Ash in conversation at the Bristol Drascombe Convention, discussing the pros and cons of my joinery display. Subsequently he stuffed one of my Mizen Mast steps in his bag. Deal done, off he went as happy as a sand boy.
Later in an email Ash was interested to know what finish I would recommend to finish this mast step.
From my own personal experience of using various finishes on my Greek Ionian fleet of 9 charter Luggers, my only one choice now is Rustins Danish Oil.
The following week an email came back from Ash who had gone out immediately and bought tge said preparation, this is what he had to say about it
‘By the way I bought Rustins Danish Oil, it was fantastic on my teak original gunwales, I wish I had used this years ago, thanks for the tip’
So good to hear that, it’s what I and my company Just Lugger Joinery are about, not just shifting stuff through the door but interacting with clients and Drascombe owners to give them some of my years of experience in being involved with Drascombe boats, their fittings and re building them, more importantly improving the design and materials to a higher standard
Yet another happy Drascombe owner
I’m now coming to the twist in the story of his Longboat Cruiser’s Mizen mast step that he purchased from me at the Bristol Convention
Just 5 days ago Ash emails me to say that the mizen Mast step doesn’t fit his boat!!
Hmm, I’ve probably supplied this year alone 8 or 9 of these for Cruiser owners, read John ‘s story and recommendations, best of all he then ordered another for a pal at his local sailing club.
So what’s going on here I ask myself!
Not an issue announced Ash, I’ll do a drawing and send it to you. That was yesterday, this morning the drawing came by email.
At 5.30 in the morning I’m not at my best to be rational, I looked at his drawing, had another sip of my tea and looked again, I was about to email Ash back to say he had missed the rudder slot on his drawing when his email came in to explain why there in fact was no rudder slot in his Mizen mast step.
He had inadvertently failed to tell me that some 20 years or so ago he had carried out a major re building project to the stern and transom of the boat, you can read his explanations and rationale behind this in his DAN published articles which I will mention later.
So efficiently he had moved the conventional rudder which forms the part of the mast step and moved it to an out rigged off the stern of the boat, the concept based on the Polynesian and James Wharram design of using ‘rope hinges and levered arm on the rudder for control…………..as you will see from his pic of the boat on Ullswater, it’s an amazing job h has done
The articles that have been written by Ashley Woods can be archived in the DAN magazine no’s 134, 135, 138,139, and 140, well worth a read. Drascombe Association.
So as promised for Ash, I made his new ‘one off’ Mizen mast step this afternoon and it will be posted in the morning, all at no cost to Ash, just pleased to help out.
After all, his own technical skills and the method of construction he has used to carry out this modification are just outstanding.
My very best to you Ash
