Posted by Jonathan Labaree on May 20, 2003 at 13:47:08 from 207.5.234.19 user JLabaree.
In Reply to: Re: Dulcibella and lifeboat conversions generally (was: Death & Glory DESIGN) posted by Adam Quinan on May 20, 2003 at 07:32:18:
Thank you very much, Andrew, for your typically informative and thoughtful response. I had no idea that the Dulcibella in the movie had much in common with the original (I assume you are speaking of the 1979 York/McCorkindale version?). It’s a lovely boat to be sure, but I thought it looked a bit more yachty than the one in the book. Plus, I assumed that all lifeboats were double-ended - doesn’t the boat in the movie have that graceful counter? Although, come to think of it, that could have been built up over a sternpost. She also seemed to have a bit more draft than the one in the book - I am thinking particularly of the scene where she's perched up on the sand.
I had realized that Dulcibella was based on a real boat, but hadn’t appreciated the popularity of converting lifeboats to yachts. That lends a new dimension to Davies, for it places him even more firmly in a group of resourceful, practical chaps, bent on enjoying the sea, and more or less scraping the necessary things together. I already “knew” that about him, but it hadn’t sunk in that there might have been more like him out there, although he talks about that a lot when advancing his “theory” (gosh, what a great book!). It makes him less of a loner. Thank you for that insight.
As Adam mentioned, I have always been intrigued by the fact that the Walkers never seemed to own a boat, but it made sense since they didn’t appear to have any permanent access to water where they could keep a vessel. Were boats, dinghies I’m thinking of mostly, all that expensive in those days? It doesn’t appear to be finances that keep the Walkers from owning their own dinghy, or even cruising boat, for that matter. When I was growing up, we owned a number of small boats (wooden), none of which cost very much, and all built by local fishermen in their spare time (winter).
That the Death and Glories own such a beast despite their father being a boatbuilder has always struck me as odd, too. Surely, they would have been able to piece something a little more practical together? Despite all, they love their craft, a trait I greatly admire.
I have to disagree, however, with Andrew — I think the Dreadnought is a fine vessel, well suited to its purpose, and proudly built by her owner.