Flatacraft Force 4

Hendo · 07 July 2006, 15:29

HELP! I've just rescued a Flatacraft Force 4 from a garden near Southampton, and there are some bits missing! Does anyone know where I might be able to get a set of plans, and try to put together the missing links? Despite being pretty dirty the tubes still hold air, and the hull has the odd scrape and repair but seems pretty much intact. There are some boards and seats, but the board that makes up the bow, and the skirt type thing that holds it all together at the front is missing. Does anyone else own one, or have any detailed photos that they could send me to try and see what I need to do to get her back on the water? All help appreciated!

Christopher · 07 July 2006, 16:17

I don't know if these will help, but they were taken some time ago in our factory whilst re-tubing a Flatatraft Force 4

Hendo · 07 July 2006, 16:23

Thanks Chris. Do you know how the tubes were attached to the front wooden(?) part? And can you remember how that wooden part was attached to the hull?

Nos4r2 · 07 July 2006, 16:29

Nasher would be the guy to ask-he used to own one and did a fair bit of work on it.

His website is http://www.nashersworld.com

There might be some useful pics on there too.

Nasher · 07 July 2006, 17:26

Hendo

Have sent an email.

The force 4 in the images above has been modified with a serious flaw in my opinion.

The solid front panel should have a 'Hinge' across the bottom so it can fold back when stuffed into a wave(This will happen a lot with a Flatty Force 4) The panel is normally held forward by the tubes which act as a shock absorber. Without the hinge, the front panel is very likely to split along the bottom unless some serious knees and extra thickness of material have been added behind it.

Nasher.

Hendo · 08 July 2006, 10:30

I thought I would post some photos of the Force 4. Ignoring the fact that it's balanced on top of a Morris Minor, we gave it a clean and the seals and joins on the tubes look pretty good all round. Also the hull looks quite clean (the odd lump/bump) but nothing major. The floor boards and seat cushions were also there, and apart from one small rip, and a bit of paint peeling / warping are in good nick. It looks like there is a bit of work to do, but assuming I can get a front panel and bow dodger, I think we might be able to resurrect it! Any comments / suggestions would be welcome.