Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 22 September 2009, 22:27   #1
Member
 
Nasher's Avatar
 
Country: Other
Town: Principalite d'Chaos
Boat name: The Nashers Revenge!
Make: Windsor Brothers
Length: 6m +
Engine: Optimax 225
MMSI: "Mmmmm SI" she said!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,821
Early Dive boats and Flatacraft Force 4's

Some of you will know from my old posts that every year we spend some time around Dartmouth with the RIBs camping and having fun.
Not may of you will know that this has been happening since I was very young. Those of us that were kids then now take our kids.

I dug out some old images and scanned them in, some of you may be interested to see the early Flatacrafts my Father owned and how primative the diving was then.

Enjoy.

1) Hope Cove @1976
Yes thats me with the hair and blue trunks
Plus thats Davybouy from on here with the daft hat.
2) Beesands a few years later with my Fathers very early flatacraft in the background.
3) As you can see the dive boat got bigger, slightly, and thats me with the stripped top aged about 14(1981) getting ready to boat handle for the divers.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	RNold1.jpg
Views:	362
Size:	91.2 KB
ID:	45965   Click image for larger version

Name:	RNold2.jpg
Views:	464
Size:	111.1 KB
ID:	45966   Click image for larger version

Name:	RNold3.jpg
Views:	418
Size:	67.9 KB
ID:	45967  
__________________
Nasher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 September 2009, 22:34   #2
Member
 
Nasher's Avatar
 
Country: Other
Town: Principalite d'Chaos
Boat name: The Nashers Revenge!
Make: Windsor Brothers
Length: 6m +
Engine: Optimax 225
MMSI: "Mmmmm SI" she said!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,821
1) Flatacraft No.2 on the slipway in Dartmouth @1985.
2) Again Flatacraft No.2 a couple of years later, me driving my late father.
3) Me in Flatacraft No 3 after it had passed to my hands. @10years ago
A stunning boat after I replaced the Suzuki 40HP twin cyl with a Suzuki 55HP triple cylinder - very quick and agile.
4) Beesands @1990, by this time Flatacraft No.2 (middle) had been sold to a family friend, No.3 is furthest away, and another family friend had brought another one.

Nasher
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	RNflat1.jpg
Views:	441
Size:	95.1 KB
ID:	45968   Click image for larger version

Name:	RNflat2.jpg
Views:	391
Size:	61.7 KB
ID:	45969   Click image for larger version

Name:	RNflat3.jpg
Views:	598
Size:	77.8 KB
ID:	45970   Click image for larger version

Name:	RNflat4.jpg
Views:	559
Size:	77.8 KB
ID:	45971  
__________________
Nasher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 September 2009, 10:38   #3
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
Those flatacrafts do look cool. Even in Sepia !
__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 September 2009, 11:37   #4
Member
 
Nasher's Avatar
 
Country: Other
Town: Principalite d'Chaos
Boat name: The Nashers Revenge!
Make: Windsor Brothers
Length: 6m +
Engine: Optimax 225
MMSI: "Mmmmm SI" she said!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,821
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSP View Post
Those flatacrafts do look cool. Even in Sepia !
Unfortunately the photos have degraded over the years.
However I've now managed to get my Photoshop(7.0) working on my new machine, so I'll be putting that right.

The Flatacraft Force4 is a great boat, and I'd have another to muck about in any day.

Nasher
__________________
Nasher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 September 2009, 18:47   #5
Member
 
m chappelow's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: yorkshire
Boat name: little vicky
Make: avon ex RNLI
Length: 3m +
Engine: tohatsu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,310
yes it wasent often that you ever saw a rib in those days even the large diving clubs were still using sibs even some at that time were using avon redcrests and redseals lol,and yes diving with a home made 4 mm wet suit made from a kit certainly gave a person charicter, even more so if you got the tape wonky , we seemed over equiped in those days if you carried a goody bag and a torch and a s.m.b . mart .
__________________
m chappelow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 September 2009, 23:08   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: West Wales
Make: Vipermax 5.8, SR4.7
Length: 5m +
Engine: 150 Opti, F50EFi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,299
Great bit of nostalgia there, Nasher

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nasher View Post
The Flatacraft Force4 is a great boat, and I'd have another to muck about in any day.
Here you go: £500, just add a redband merc 40

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F216674

__________________
Downhilldai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 06:55   #7
Member
 
Nasher's Avatar
 
Country: Other
Town: Principalite d'Chaos
Boat name: The Nashers Revenge!
Make: Windsor Brothers
Length: 6m +
Engine: Optimax 225
MMSI: "Mmmmm SI" she said!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,821
Dai

thanks for that.

I said I'd have another one, not that Mrs Nasher would let me have another one
We've 3 boats in the family already, and I think we've reached her limit at the moment.

Nasher
__________________
Nasher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 07:47   #8
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Bristol
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 4,299
what happened to it nasher?? do you still see it around?
__________________
matt h is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 08:27   #9
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
Hope you don't mind mate.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	RNflat1.jpg
Views:	572
Size:	88.3 KB
ID:	45989   Click image for larger version

Name:	RNflat2.jpg
Views:	291
Size:	62.0 KB
ID:	45990   Click image for larger version

Name:	RNflat4.jpg
Views:	490
Size:	70.4 KB
ID:	45991  
__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 10:57   #10
Member
 
Nasher's Avatar
 
Country: Other
Town: Principalite d'Chaos
Boat name: The Nashers Revenge!
Make: Windsor Brothers
Length: 6m +
Engine: Optimax 225
MMSI: "Mmmmm SI" she said!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,821
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt h View Post
what happened to it nasher?? do you still see it around?
The last Force4, Orange/White wth the 55HP Suzi, was brought by a guy that drove down from Hull and towed it away.
Given the chance, and Mrs Nashers blessing, I'd Buy it Back.
It would upset me to see it around I think, My Ocean is good for what we do with it, but the last Flatacraft was so much fun to just tear around in.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JSP View Post
Hope you don't mind mate.
Thanks John hopfully I'll do as good a job wth the full size files.

Nasher
__________________
Nasher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 11:00   #11
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nasher View Post
The last Force4, Orange/White wth the 55HP Suzi, was brought by a guy that drove down from Hull and towed it away.
Given the chance, and Mrs Nashers blessing, I'd Buy it Back.
It would upset me to see it around I think, My Ocean is good for what we do with it, but the last Flatacraft was so much fun to just tear around in.



Thanks John hopfully I'll do as good a job wth the full size files.

Nasher
I'm sure you will mate. If you need any help just ask. Or send me the full size files and I'll do them for you.
__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 11:17   #12
Member
 
HUMBER P4VWL's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: N Wales Chester
Boat name: Mr Smith
Make: Humber
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,238
memories of simple ribs

Quote "It would upset me to see it around I think, My Ocean is good for what we do with it, but the last Flatacraft was so much fun to just tear around in."

I completely agree, though i wouldnt be upset to see it, be happy to see it being used. Something to be said for simplicity. We sold our 5.4 SR with 3cyl 90 opti on (previously had a 75 mariner old two stroke) after 10 + yrs of fun. The new boat is just awesome in a sea and great for the larger family now, but from 19yrs old when the family bought the SR new, to the age of 31, the SR was awesome, so fast, agile, responsive and nimble to tear around in with groups of friends, skiing, fishing etc every summer in Anglesey. Sooooooo many memories.

We nearly kept it at the last minute but part exed it in the end. Perhaps wrongly so. For the money we should have kept it. Think we got 5k.
__________________
HUMBER P4VWL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 12:17   #13
Member
 
Simon B's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Leicester
Boat name: Vixen
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 6m +
Engine: Suzuki OB 175
MMSI: 235071839
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,624
More old diving...

Here's some from our club archive!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	boat near beach.jpg
Views:	294
Size:	48.8 KB
ID:	45998   Click image for larger version

Name:	boat on shore.jpg
Views:	221
Size:	59.5 KB
ID:	45999   Click image for larger version

Name:	boat preparation.jpg
Views:	204
Size:	46.2 KB
ID:	46000   Click image for larger version

Name:	boats on and near shore.jpg
Views:	206
Size:	58.0 KB
ID:	46001   Click image for larger version

Name:	boats underway.jpg
Views:	497
Size:	47.4 KB
ID:	46002  

__________________
New boat is here, very happy!
Simon
www.luec.org
Simon B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 12:19   #14
Member
 
Simon B's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Leicester
Boat name: Vixen
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 6m +
Engine: Suzuki OB 175
MMSI: 235071839
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,624
Now you've started me off...
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	loading boats on beach.jpg
Views:	444
Size:	65.8 KB
ID:	46003   Click image for larger version

Name:	unloading at steps.jpg
Views:	188
Size:	65.2 KB
ID:	46004   Click image for larger version

Name:	twinhose in open water.jpg
Views:	600
Size:	41.5 KB
ID:	46005  
__________________
New boat is here, very happy!
Simon
www.luec.org
Simon B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 12:29   #15
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
Is that a film cell from Jaws?
__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 12:33   #16
Member
 
Nasher's Avatar
 
Country: Other
Town: Principalite d'Chaos
Boat name: The Nashers Revenge!
Make: Windsor Brothers
Length: 6m +
Engine: Optimax 225
MMSI: "Mmmmm SI" she said!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,821
Simon B

That looks like Start Point Lighthouse in the background on the first image on your second post. You are probably on Beesands like some of my images.

Nasher
__________________
Nasher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 14:33   #17
Member
 
Pete7's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Gosport
Boat name: April Lass
Make: Moody 31
Length: 9m +
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,951
Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon B View Post
Now you've started me off...
You have given your age away with that twin hose regulator, most of them are now museum pieces.

Pete
__________________
.
Ribnet is best viewed on a computer of some sort
Pete7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 14:59   #18
Member
 
Simon B's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Leicester
Boat name: Vixen
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 6m +
Engine: Suzuki OB 175
MMSI: 235071839
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,624
Not me in any of the pics, when I started diving with an aqualung twin hoses had just been supplanted by single hose, but, to some these were the work of the devil.

A couple of years later the "stab jacket" came out mainstream i.e. a British company made something the italians had been banging out for a while. Again, this was the work of the devil - in fact most british diving appears dogged by this atitude reminiscent of the old boot in Croft ad who reckons "sherry is always dark, always will be"
__________________
New boat is here, very happy!
Simon
www.luec.org
Simon B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 September 2009, 15:21   #19
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: PORTSMOUTH
Make: Avon 5.4, Avon 3.4,
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha 90, Merc 30
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,976
you guys are the "original" ribbers cool pics love seeing old skool boats in there newness
__________________
ollyit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 September 2009, 19:46   #20
Member
 
Razorbill RIBs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: N. Pembrokeshire
Boat name: Various
Make: RIBs & Hovercraft
Length: 9m +
Engine: Outboards
MMSI: Various
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,358
RIBase
Flatacraft

Another Flata F4 on Ebay.........

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Flatacraft-For...d=p3286.c0.m14

I had a 45HP Chrysler of similar vintage to that in the ad on my first boat.....mine was an old pig of an engine......seized up in the end.
__________________
Dan Worth
www.razorbillribs.co.uk

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php...17306504953480
Razorbill RIBs is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 22:46.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.