Posted by Peter Hyland on August 10, 1998 at 10:50:01:
In Reply to: Re: folding boats (as in Great Northern) posted by Bill Janes on August 04, 1998 at 20:15:52:
Although AR may have based his illustrations on a commercially available f.b., remember that the one carried by the 'Sea Bear' was home-made: "There are perfectly good folding boats to be bought, but he [Mac] must go and make his own" - Captain Flint. Mac's must have been more coracle-like than the one illustrated, as Dick found it "like a saucer". Mac should have lashed out on a 'Stowaway' model as advertised in the 1929 Harrods Catalogue. This apparently could be made 'ready for use in 30 seconds'. Price complete with paddle: £10.10s, or in 'Dinghy style' £17.17s. The latter had a transom stern and was illustrated in the Catalogue with 2 inappropriately-dressed gents aboard (this is reproduced in the Midland pages of the Spring 'Signals'). I have never set foot in such a craft but I am told that ballast (e.g. a passenger) is a great help - it is noticeable that Dick appears to have no trouble in the final chapter of GN? putting out to the island with Titty aboard.