Hedley Nicol 42'

Discussion in 'Multihulls' started by B. Arson, Jan 18, 2011.

  1. bearfoil
    Joined: Jan 2013
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    Location: Loch Lomond

    bearfoil Junior Member

    She had an original length of 39'. She had a plumb transom and Charlie built a custom pickle fork stern that is nothing short of amazing, it quiets her wake, adding three knots to her velocity. Her length is 42'. Charlie clocked 27 knots.... Yes, faster than Marples. I want to see this boat go to an appropriate owner, who can appreciate her history, and honor the promise I made to Chuck, to keep her sailing. She is a project, and needs some skill and alot of work.
     
  2. cavalier mk2
    Joined: Mar 2010
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    Thanks Bearfoil. 39' 6" was the design length of the Buccaneer, it would be interesting to hear what Charlie started with for the design. They all could use a few more feet at the stern for the wake but at high speeds break free from the wave train, a sharp edge at the transom helps.

    You have an interesting boat, I'm sure somebody will want to take her on. Can you talk Charlie into signing up to the forum so we can hear his build story or recount it yourself? We like all the information we can get on these boats on the Nicol plan thread. Many of them have survived but the information needs preserving too. Plus some of their stories are fascinating indeed.
     
  3. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    Just checked my files, the Buccaneer Length was 39' 3" which sounds closer to where Charlie started from.
     
  4. bearfoil
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    Location: Loch Lomond

    bearfoil Junior Member

    Make no mistake, the termination of Charlie's mod is a crisp and abrupt edge. The loss of boundary layer is quick, and low energy. The lack of an appreciable and turbulent wake at speed is impressive. The lateral is profiled, and reduces any induced vortex. Much lke a winglet on an aircraft wing. Very economical, energy wise.....
     
  5. sailorbob3000
    Joined: Aug 2015
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    Location: california

    sailorbob3000 New Member

    Hi everyone, I am the proud new owner of Oceania, the custom Nicol Hedley 42, built by Chuck McCall in Tamalpias Valley back in '69. She was in pretty bad shape when I arrived on the scene five months ago, but I'm beginning a full restoration (and design update). I'm interested in informing anyone who would care to know, because a promise was made to Chuck "to find an owner who would keep the boat sailing". I'll be redesigning a few things including the keel, cockpit, and rudder assembly...as well as replacing alot of the deck ply and laying new fiberglass overall, so she may be in project mode for awhile, but I'm experienced, determined, and I very much look forward to hearing from anyone who knew (or sailed on) this boat, or knew Chuck McCall and has additional information about the history of this boat. Thank you!
     
  6. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    My advice would be to look at the Nicol Bucc 40 drawings posted in the Nicol plans tthread and keep the lateral center of effort and rig center of effort in the stock location no matter how you modify the keel etc... The drawings of the various Cavalier rigs give an idea of what is possible. All of Hedley's tris over 35 feet used the same sort of hull lines with the main difference in hull beams and scantlings. The Bucc 40 was designed around a inboard so its keel is slightly different. As mentioned there was no 42 design by Hedley. Those boats have turned out to be the Bucc 40 with a stern addition. Since the plans weren't finished they have been built with a wide variety of beam overall and cabins, wings etc... Have fun, they are great cruisers.
     
  7. bearfoil
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    Location: Loch Lomond

    bearfoil Junior Member

    You may have noticed the tri was rigged for single handed. Also that she was originally a ketch rig, which Charley ended up not liking. Charley's centerboard chase never got properly finished off, but seems like a good idea; she draws so little, and is very lightweight. The Huey main and tail rotor fins were a brilliant solution to a construction challenge. The chase was not finished well, Charley got ill and left the area. Somewhere in Long Beach. I have his tel. but he does not answer.

    I'll PM with my contact info...
     
  8. sailorbob3000
    Joined: Aug 2015
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    Location: california

    sailorbob3000 New Member

    Thank you for the responses regarding my "new" McCall 42.
    Work is progressing, and I've decided that the foil modifications to the floats will not appear in my finished design. The centerboard trunk is well built and I'll be making a centerboard to fill it. I still have to remove the old inboard engine and saildrive, and intend on designing a transom hung rudder that will utilize blade rudder inserts, giving multiple rudder options and giving the boat a very smooth bottom when finished. If anyone is able to get ahold of Chuck, please let me know, or give him my contact info; ( sailorbob3000@yahoo.com ), as I would really like to let him know I intend on taking good care of his boat. I'm also open to any info, ideas, or advice to help my project come along. Thanks again.
     
  9. cavalier mk2
    Joined: Mar 2010
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    If you are going with a transom rudder a cassette/dagger style blade will let you vary depth using one blade and have kick up protection. Take a look at Farriers for some ideas.

    For cruising keeping some shallow keel on the main hull and amas will let you dry out more level and protect the hulls bottoms in a grounding situation. The originals were long 2 " plank skegs, pretty easy to give them some foil contours but not as important on shallow ones. Going with the centerboard will be nice upwind.

    If you are pulling the engine you might think about a outboard in a sled. A folding prop should be used with a inboard.

    Going through the Nicol plan thread will give you an idea of what others have done with the various models, they all have similar hulls.
     
  10. sean harding
    Joined: Jan 2018
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    Location: Queensland

    sean harding New Member

    IMG_3005.JPG IMG_3006.JPG IMG_3014.JPG
    Hi, new to the forum and only just found this thread, we own what we believe is a Healey Nicol but believe that the floats were Piver floats and nor the Nicol design, were told at some stage that three were made by a shipwright in Gosford in the early 70s, just wounding if anyone has seen one or knows more about how they came about
    Sorry to drag up an old thread
    S
     
  11. cavalier mk2
    Joined: Mar 2010
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    Location: Pacific NW North America

    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    Show the stern of the amas for a better answer. Why do you think they are Piver amas? What is the length of the boat? It looks like a 35' Wanderer with some cabin changes. Are the hulls round hulled or chined? We've had a fair number of Nicol pictures from angles that don't show defining characteristics. Read the Nicol plan thread for lots of information on the various models and remember unmodified tris are the exception.
     
  12. sean harding
    Joined: Jan 2018
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    Location: Queensland

    sean harding New Member

    Thanks so much for the reply
    38 ft and were told by the second owner that they were piver
    main hull is round and amas are chined image:591.jpg image:591.jpg
     
  13. gypsy28
    Joined: Mar 2010
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    Location: NSW Australia

    gypsy28 Senior Member

    Amas definately look like a Piver design to me and the stern of the main hull definately looks Nicol ish to my eye. Wonder why they put Piver ama's on it?

    Wouldn't be Sean from Russel Is would it? Liam's old man?
     
  14. sean harding
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    Location: Queensland

    sean harding New Member

    Yep yep that me
    Liam says "hey" and wants to know why you went at jolly bod
     

  15. gypsy28
    Joined: Mar 2010
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    Location: NSW Australia

    gypsy28 Senior Member

    Wanted to come over but my crew had to pull out the night before and the forecast of 0-3 knots until lunch didn't seem all that exciting for the crossing to Straddy. Ill get to a Jollybod one day!

    Thats a nice looking tri you've got there. My Aunt has a 37ft Nicol Cavalier she has lived and cruised on for over 15 years. Currently somewhere in Nth QLD. They are great boats. Sails really well and loves a good breeze. Ive cruised on it from the Goldy to Whitsundays. I will never forget blasting across from Huybers to Tangalooma at 15 knots in the big girl.
     
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