Pond Yacht Restoration

I've put 1 full day's work (play) into her so far and that included sanding
everything down and epoxy gluing a few cracks here and there. I also
did some work on the keel to improve the righting moment/stability. I'm
having fun with this job and I might find it takes command of my
priorities and will be finished much quicker than I planned. The repairs
to the Magpies will have to wait. Luckily it's Cup day tomorrow and I
won't need them for the Scope program till next week.

I spent Cup-Day working on the Pondie. It's
addictive! The keel is all faired up ready for paint
and the deck is fitted and stained, the hull too.
My next job is paint the keel and varnish the hull
then start on the rig and sails etc.

I've applied the first coats of clear
and fitted a new steering ratchet to
control the tiller.

I've finished fairing and painting the keel and I've
fitted the chainplates for the shrouds. I'm now
setting up the rigging.

The cap shrouds are on and the boom
gooseneck etc.
I've re-sanded and varnished the hull
to fix some faults I found and am in the
process of doing the keel again to
make it look a bit better.

I've now fitted a jib boom and forestay +
fittings to suit and re-painted the keel
and a pin stripe boot topping.
She's now ready for sails and some
more detail work to complete her.

7 November 05
She's finished!!!
Just needs a sea trial to adjust the rig
etc.

8 Nov

Some tiny rig adjustments and new
fittings added.

9 Nov
Really finished this time.
I made another mainsail as I wasn't
happy with the first one.

Click photos to enlarge

Classic Pond Yacht Restoration

This page is dedicated to the restoration/refit of this
Classic Pond Yacht that was built in a German POW camp
during WW2 by it's current owner "Terry's" grand father .

I met this great bloke (Terry) at Cherry lake where
he parks in his truck for a rest from his interstate
driving and has a regular run around the pathway
for exercise. He saw us there with our Scope
(Spastic Society) clients , doing our weekly model
Boating program and asked if I knew anyone who
works on model boats as he has this old one that's
in need of restoration and rigging, sails etc. I (of
course) offered my help and was very happy to be
entrusted with the honor of fixing her up!
I will post photos and text to share the experience
as I go. I have a few other projects on at present so
it'll be done bit by bit as I get a chance. The hull
which is 450mm long by 95mm wide, was carved
out of a solid block of wood; probably some
furniture or something from the POW camp and the
deck is a thin layer of solid wood also. I plan to
avoid hiding it's originality in regard to the hand
carving etc, while making the finished product look
as nice as possible. The rig that came with it is a
simple tapered straight section of mast with iron
rod spreaders (hand made). The bits and pieces
are all hand made from whatever was available at
the time. It really is a 'Pondie' with character!

Jason Pilgrim

Hull carved from a block of wood

The 'Pondie' when
finished