January 1997 (Data from 1996 and 2008 added later)

Some years ago Uffa Fox, the famous designer stated ‘weight is only of advantage in steam rollers’. When I was first elected as your class Secretary I sought to find out what our boats actually weighed. It seemed to me that boats many built from kits by unskilled hands might vary considerably from the 44kg (now of course increased to 48kg) which we were trying to attain for our one design image. This noble ideal proved impossible to attain as no database existed, boats being weighed on bathroom scales, public weighbridges and frequently not weighed at all!! However, I prevailed upon our noble Treasurer to allow me to purchase a set of accurate scales and over the past 5 years we have accumulated the official weights published below. Before I finally leave you I felt that some comment might be of interest to you. The boats included in the table below are those which have turned up to sail in the annual National Championships, plus those poor soles from the Northern Area open meetings who I have bullied, bribed and threatened into allowing me to record their details. They make an interesting study.

Sail #	Weight (kg)	Weight of Corrector (kg)	Builder	Type
102	56		Holt	Wood
196	70		Holt	Wood
976	65		Holt	Wood
1021	61		Holt	Wood
1044	53		Holt	Wood
1052	53		Holt	Wood
1103	56		Holt	Wood
1104	64		Holt	Wood
1107	57		Holt	Wood
1129	55		Holt	Wood
1130	59		Holt	Wood
1164	55.5		Holt	Wood
1207	55		Holt	Wood
1213	51		Holt	Wood
1245	59		Holt	Wood
1283	55		Holt	Wood
1294	55		Holt	Wood
1295	50		Pearson	Wood
1298	53		Holt	Wood
1309	46	2	Cory	Wood
1310	50.5		Pearson	Wood
1311	43.5	4.5	Cory	Wood
1313	58		Holt	Wood
1314	55		Holt	Wood
1315	48		Cory	Wood
1321	52		Cory	Wood
1325	49		Cory	Wood
1332	49		Pearson	Wood
1334	65		Cory	GRP
1351	49		Gillard	Wood
1354	44	4	Pearson	Wood
1360	48.5		Cory	Wood
1378	55		Cory	Wood
1380	50		Cory	Wood
1385	60		Cory	GRP
1392	55		Cory	Wood
1394	54		Holt	Wood
1395	55		Gillard	Wood
1400	48		Cory	Wood
1402	55		Holt	Wood
1404	48		Cory	Wood
1406	49		Cory	Composite
1407	46.5	1.5	Cory	Wood
1412	50		Cory	Composite
1418	49		Butler	Wood
1420	49		Cory	Composite
1424	50		Gillard	Wood
1426	57		Cory	GRP
1428	54		Holt	Wood
1429	60		Cory	GRP
1432	52		Holt	Wood
1433	57		Cory	GRP
1439	71		Cory	GRP
1442	49		Gillard	Wood
1446	50		Holt	Wood
1448	46.5	1.5	Cory	GRP
1449	49		Cory	Wood
1450	53		Cory	Composite
1451	49		Cory	Wood
1458	51		Cory	GRP
1459	49		Gillard	Wood
1460	55		Holt	Wood
1461	48		Cory	GRP
1463	52		Cory	GRP
1464	48		Butler	Wood
1469	49		Holt	Wood
1473	48		Gillard	Wood
1478	50		Cory	GRP
1479	48		Butler	Wood
1480	46	2	Butler	Wood
2030	59		Holt	Wood

The old Holt kits vary in weight by considerable amounts. Some remain a creditable 53kg’s (like Steve Hamblin’s 1052) while some like Chris Hill’s much repaired 196 have escalated to 70kg. Most are still in the range 53 – 60kg; not at all bad considering the extreme age of these boats. In fact Dave Tarbot’s 102 is one of the three original production boats.

Some of the best and lightest Streaker’s built were made by Tom Pearson. The ones which have crossed my path are all still light in spite of the years. You will note you’re your new Secretary has got his paws on one of these; his boat was one of Chris Cottrill’s old boats. These remain outstanding value for those lucky enough to own one. The old Cory wooden boats were so beautifully made and extremely light; I cannot understand an owner wishing to dispose of these superb craft, Steve Lynch has proved that they can still go a bit by winning the Southern Area Championships.

In contrast the Holt kit boats in the range 1200 – 1400 tend to weigh 52 – 55kg’s. Notable exceptions are the kits built by Pete Gillard (yes its Alan’s Dad!!). He has built 8-9 boats from kits and all seem to be around 48 – 49kg’s. I guess he knows which bit of the kit to consign to the not needed bucket!!

Many of the later boats are now GRP jobs. Surprisingly few of the older Cory GRP Streaker’s have been submitted for weighing, although many are seen at club level. The two on record are 60 and 65kg’s respectively. Have these boats gained weight over the years? – The answer must be yes. GRP may be lower maintenance material but it takes up weight over the years if not carefully looked after. My own 16 year old Squib keelboat is a case in point as it is currently undergoing a major rebuild of its floor and buoyancy tanks in order to shed some 24kg; and you think you have a weight problem? After sail number 1400 the Cory boats weighed show a surprising variation in weight. The rather pretty but rare composite versions are down to the lower limit while the GRP version extend from 46.5kg (built under the threat of death for Paul Hobson the sail maker!) to a boat which weighed 71kg. I honestly thought that some clown had his foot on the scales when we weighed this boat but it proved to be a genuine weight. How it ever picked up so much weight remains a mystery. I think you have to be careful not to abuse your GRP boats as they must be treated as carefully as the wooden versions if you wish to remain competitive. Dave Butler has now started to produce beautiful wooden Streaker’s and his first four offerings are all down to weight.

I hope you have found my comments to be of interest. It is nice to know that so many of our older boats are still within acceptable sailing weight; however new owners beware what is on offer as it must be reiterated that this analysis only refers to the boats which have presented themselves for the National Championships. They are by definition the very best boats owned by the most keen and careful of owners. To be honest we still have no clue about the true weights of many Streakers’ to be found sailing at club level throughout the country. Many of these boats do not even hold Measurement Certificates so have clearly never seen a set of scales. The most encouraging facet of my tenure as your Secretary is that I only know of one single boat which does not measure. Perhaps this says much for the simplicity of design which allows boats to be thrown together by so many owners of such varying technical capability and yet come out so equal in performance.

May equality continue to reign!!

Vernon Penkith – Class Secretary.