R4
Owner
Michael O’Driscoll
Provenance
Following the first batch of three Rankin dinghies he built between 1960 / 1961, Eric streamlined the internal layout to simplify the construction process. The laminated curved ends to the thwarts were replaced with a knee. A narrow strip of the same laminated curve was secured to the inside edge of the gunnel and the top of the thwart. A trapezoidal shaped block was fitted below the inside of the gunnel to provide additional rigidity to the knee. This change made the build process more efficient enabling four to five knees to be made from each laminated curve.
The main design details are -
- Concave curve to the front edge of the aft seat;
- Main thwarts sitting on risers at each end which in turn are fixed to stringers which run three quarters the length of the boat;
- A centreline box;
- Three wide bottom boards either side of the hog;
- Side seats running from the stern to the main thwart;
- Bermudian rig.
The current owner bought her from Tom Crosbie in 2022. The boat has since had a new section spliced to the top of the mast replacing the dodgy sheave (Tom advised the main sail had to be lashed to the top of the mast on occasions). A new full sized rudder and tiller has been added to her arsenal. The boat is currently sailing and racing out of Whitepoint. A new gunter rig is being added to her arsenal for the 2025 season.
Tom Crosbie advised -
“I bought her to help teach the kids to sail back in the late 90s from Jim O’Mahony in Crosshaven; before Jim she was owned by Dick Gibson who made her the lovely creamy clothes, along with sparkling varnish work. Before Dick no idea, but he might remember…”
Dick in fact bought the boat from Michael Daly of Carrigaline who in turn had bought her from someone in Killaloe (owner unknown).
