Information is still coming in,  and we are arranging a detailed inspection,  but we have been contacted by a gentleman whose firm has been tasked with clearing the property of a gentleman who I gather has died.     Sitting in his garage was what appears to be a highly original GP14,   no. 1514,  which appears to have been untouched for many years and to have had comparatively little use in total.

She bears a nicely recessed Bell Woodworking builder’s plate;    at this stage,  and particularly from the fact that this plate is recessed and from the manner in which it has been done,  I think she was probably built by Bells themselves rather than being supplied as a kit for home build.   We await confirmation,  or otherwise,  and any further details,  from our archivist.

Ultimately we will be seeking a good and sympathetic home for her,   with a new owner who will cherish such a fine example of a very original vintage boat as such and will keep her historically authentic.

She dates from around 1957,  and the one and only suit of sails are cottons,  in a condition which suggests that they have had little use.   If those are indeed the only sails she has ever had then that implies that the boat herself has had little use.

A very comprehensive set of photos suggests that she is in sound and largely unmarked condition,  although with any boat of that age there is some degree of question as to the state of the glue used in her construction.    However if she was built by Bells rather than by a home builder from a Bell kit my understanding is that the glue will be Aerolite,  not Cascamite,   and although we probably have no hard data on the longevity of Aerolite over that sort of timescale I am not aware of there being currently any particular concern about it.

She has been temporarily moved to safe storage,  and further investigations are ongoing.

Watch this space.

Oliver