Spencer 7 1494

The Way We Were

Tom Gatehouse's Spencer 7 is an astonishing survival from the late 1960s. Here we see the classic design from before the "flattie" revolution fuelled by Bowler, Beashel, Bethwaite, Marten etc at the start of the 70s. Its complete with the short batten rig favoured in the UK (but nowhere else) at that time, and an original style asymettric spinnaker.

		Typical layout of the period. The boat seems to have been built from a kit, and is very much in line with Spencer's plans. Note how the side decks are contiguous with the foredeck.
		The alloy poles to support the daggerboard case were a typical feature of the period.
		As can be seen this is a more veed and very much more rockered shape than has been seen since in Cherubs (some other classes though!).
		Under the foredeck. The carpentry is the arrangements for the forward sliding daggerboard. This makes me think that the boat must be a Barton/Spencer 7. Note the bulkhead where the tank goes full height at the bow and the block for the tackle to pull the board up.
		Hull from aft again. The traveller was typical again. Note self bailers (remember them!). Locating these in Cherubs of that era was always tricky - difficult to find a place where they would drain and not be destroyed by being jumped on.
		The entry was really quite fine for a boat of the period - especially if you compare it with contemporaries like the Scorpion.
		Transom. The boat is moderately deep Veed right through to the transom. Sterns went flat as they are now in the early to mid 70s.
		The rig. These are original sails, and predate the larger jib that was adopted in 1970. The sail area is probably around 100sq ft - 9.3m2, and spinnaker 60sqft - 5.6m2. Its all a bit different now!
		Asymettric Spinnaker 1968 style! One of these days I must blag a ride in this boat to appreciate what a horror gybing this must have been. Thank goodness for bowsprits!
		And on the water. This is the oldest active Cherub I know of in the world right now.

all Photos are (c) Tom Gatehouse, 2000/2001. Many thanks to Tom for the material.