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 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 have been added in 2024. The boat is currently sailing and racing out of Whitepoint. A new gunter rig was 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 very lovely creamy clothes, along with that sparkling varnish work. Before Dick no idea, but he might remember…”
In fact Dick advised he bought the boat from Michael Daly of Carrigaline who in turn had bought her from someone in Killaloe (owner unknown); a well travelled Rankin!
Her main construction / design features are:-
- Glue lap construction in 3/8in plywood, comprising a wide garboard and 6 planks either side.
- Aft seat consists of 3 battens with a concave curve to its front edge.
- The thwart knees are the classic Rankin design as detailed above.
- A single riser running near full length supports each end of the mast, main and aft thwarts.
- The main thwart is supported by an “hour glass” shaped strut from the hog as are the side and aft thwarts.
- The aft thwart follows the design in R1,2 and 3.
- Centreline box tied into the mast thwart.
- Three wide bottom boards either side of the hog.
- The gunnels are made up of 3 contrasting (dark light dark) lengths of timber 2 of which were bent to shape on a jig (the dinosaur) and formed the inwales.
- Side seats that ran from the stern to the mast thwart.
- A triangular raised floorboard in the bow consisting of a king plank and six tapered boards with tapered gaps between them.
- Bermudan rigged with a fixed foot on the main.
