Iluka's Bass Strait Trip February 2017

[Iluka82]

Hi Phillip,
Yep that was our video from the trip i did in 2015. I was told when i bought the yacht that it was from around 1975, however i think its a bit older than that, there is no plate or hull identification on the hull, it does seem a bit different from other MK1s as it doesn't have the enclosed head (head is under the V-birth and there is chart table where the head is on most tophats.) Also there is no mast bridge, just a metal plate as pointed out by some others on the site, there is reinforcement for the mast under the forward bulkhead.

Cheers
Nick

[Phillip]

Nick,
Illingworth's original sail plan called for two spreaders which you have, meaning an early build.

I suspect that they reverted to one spreader very early on.

You don't have a mast girder, but is there a raised area under the mast on the cabin deck?

The fit out is strange for a Top Hat, as you say, which given the hulls age may have been a refit later in her life. Any signs that maybe so?

Unfortunately all of Bakers Top Hats were built under the owners name, so no numbers.
Formits are much the same, but Formits first Mk 1's [only 6 or 7 in number] and some early Mk 2's came with a makers plate with no build number.

[Iluka82]

Nick,
Illingworth's original sail plan called for two spreaders which you have, meaning an early build.

I suspect that they reverted to one spreader very early on.

You don't have a mast girder, but is there a raised area under the mast on the cabin deck?

The fit out is strange for a Top Hat, as you say, which given the hulls age may have been a refit later in her life. Any signs that maybe so?

Unfortunately all of Bakers Top Hats were built under the owners name, so no numbers.
Formits are much the same, but Formits first Mk 1's [only 6 or 7 in number] and some early Mk 2's came with a makers plate with no build number.

I don't think there is any raised section on the deck for the mast. There may be a ply board that the metal plate sits on. When I bought the boat I was told it had an extra 200kg of ballast to counterattack the heavy weight of the double spreader rig and furler. However I'm not sure if that is true.

[Phillip]

I don't think there is any raised section on the deck for the mast. There may be a ply board that the metal plate sits on. When I bought the boat I was told it had an extra 200kg of ballast to counterattack the heavy weight of the double spreader rig and furler. However I'm not sure if that is true.

No that's not true, unless you are hiding some in the bow bilge.

I had 80kg extra onboard when I brought SEAKA which was there I think to increase the water line and compensate for the weight of the inboard.

I removed it.

Top Hats sail really fast when ALL gear/water/fuel/extra crew is removed!!

You may have to look at installing a girder bridge for the mast. Other Top Hats with double spreaders have the bridge.