14/US34

An International 14 sold at the 1938 New York Boat Show is berthed at Wanaksink Lake, NY and has been sailing almost continuously. The hull and the rigging were restored in 2002 and the fittings re-chromed. The design is from the Brit Uffa Fox in 1928 and famous as the first ultra-light planning hull dingy. Research indicates it was built in Rochester or Syracuse NY. The class raced for many years in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s with active participation from Great Britain, Canada, Bermuda, and the US with a great deal of activity on Lakes Erie and Ontario. The boat was designed to be fast with the crew as ballast. The mast top is 24.5 feet off the water. Over the years, great effort has gone into making newer boats even faster, e.g. full head rigs. This one is carvel built and has hand carved spruce ribs on 2-inch centers with double planked cedar hull strips (3/16th and 1/8th thick with silk cloth between, tarred to keep out the water) that are held with brass nails peened inside the ribs. The hull without centerboard weighs about 100 lbs. The 6 foot centerboard is solid bronze and is 130 pounds. The mast is single stock spruce with internal halyards, aluminum tube struts, and is Marconi rigged with airplane wire - easy to carry in one hand. The cotton sails in the photo are the “new” sails made in 1953 by Ratsey and Lapthorn in Cowes, England and not used before 2002. The 1937-38 sails still work and were made by the same Ratsey and Lapthorn then in City Island, NY. There is a new set of 2004 dacron sails. The original owner last sailed her in 1952, when he sold her for a Thistle, but then wished he hadn’t.

The boat is finished with Interlux stain followed by five coats of Interlux Schooner varnish. The brass fittings were re-chromed (stern traveler, bow sprit, block fasteners, centerboard winch). New shrouds and mast rigging were installed and modern light weight turning blocks and cleats have replaced original metal. New micarda halyard shives replaced the original brass. Class is still very active with full head spinnakers and two-man crew on hiking harnesses (see I-14 websites). Former I-14 class historian said in 2015 that 14/US34 may be the oldest still sailing I-14 in the US, if not North America and commented, “Gorgeous boat! Absolutely astonished to see the boat alive and sailing”.
Contact 925-980-5056.