HISTORY OF THE BOSUN DINGHY
1. In 1959 the RNSA decided that there was a need to replace
the existing 14ft RNSA Dinghy, used for training and recreational
purposes.
2. The basic requirements were for a tough, stable craft, able
to operate easily from ship or shore, fast enough to be rewarding
to sail and to attract skilled dinghy helmsmen, sailor proof and
to require the minimum of maintenance, suitable for open water
sailing with built in buoyancy to support four persons, capable
of being righted and sailed away without outside assistance, and
to have stability suitable for training and encouraging learners.
3. The Admiralty invited some thirty firms to tender for a design,
and from this invitation five craft were ordered of four different
constructions, which consisted of a Prototype Bosun, two Albacores
(one extra heavily built), the Lazy 'E' by Jack Holt and one supplied
by Portsmouth Dockyard. All these were thoroughly tested out in
the Solent, and the Bosun was selected.
4. The 14ft Bosun was really developed from the original 12ft
Alfa (rather like a National 12) also a fibreglass boat, and both
were designed by Ian Proctor. The rights in it were secured by
Bossoms Boat Yard Limited, Medley, Oxford. The Prototype was moulded
by Bourne Plastics Limited of Nottingham and fitted out by Bossoms.
It was a condition that if the design was accepted, the Ministry
of Defence would have the right to the design for its own purposes,
because they were paying for the tools and the Prototypes, but
that the sole commercial rights would remain with the Company
offering the successful boat.
5. In this case it was a joint feature, as Messrs Bossoms Boat
Yard Limited has a half share with Bournes. Some twenty-one Mark
Is went into service during the year beginning September 1961.
Trials went on for about eight months, a number of minor points
arose from these trials and all suggested modifications were incorporated
in the Bosun Mark II, the first of which went into service with
the Portsmouth Command Sailing Centre in April 1963.
6. After the original order had been fulfilled, the contract
was given to Ferranti Limited of Anglesey, who built between 200-300
boats. The contract then passed to Messrs Moore and Sons of Wroxham.
This firm held sole commercial rights and has been responsible
for building the majority of Bosuns afloat today. Late in 1974
the contract passed to Thames Marine Limited of Canvey Island
Essex.
7. The particular features about the Bosun which appealed were
the rigidity of the hull; the excellent built-in buoyancy and
the ability for one person to drop the mast which stands on a
tabernacle and falls aft, the forestay having a terylene tail
reeved through the bow sheave. This is wonderful for travelling,
enabling a relatively inexperienced crew to rig and be away quicker
than most other Classes. It is not a light boat, average weight
being about 375lbs but it has a turn of speed and, from a novice
point of view, it is most stable and yet can give that degree
of interest expected in a lighter boat.
8. The inaugural General Meeting of the Bosun Association was
held at the 1965 International Boat Show at the instigation of
Lt Cdr J M A Fairbank RN, who had conducted the trials. At this
meeting it was decided that the Bosun Association would operate
under the auspices of the Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA)
due to the number of Service Boats compared with those in private
ownership.
9. The Constitution and Class rules were agreed and a Committee
formed to administer the Bosun as a strictly one design, RYA recognised,
Class. The Committee meets once a year to organise racing, review
the specification and maintain liaison between the owners, both
corporate and private, the builders and principal contractors
and Director General Ships who is responsible for all Bosuns built
under Ministry of Defence contracts.
10. An annual General Meeting is usually held at the time of
the National Championships. All Bosuns entered for Class events,
including the National Championships are registered with the Association.
The Bosun currently races off a Portsmouth Yardstick of 1198 (2001)
with about 2500 Bosuns having been built.
Thanks to Peter Stacey of the Crews Union for the information © crewsright@frontend.bosun
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