Hutchinson Mapa - Impulse buy

[Fenlander]

Now and again in the past Max has linked to an old classic SIB for sale and said here's one for Fenlander.... Max knows I'm drawn to varnished floors and transom.

So when I tripped over this Hutchinson Mapa in my travels and found it could be mine for beer money couldn't resist.

It's around late 1970s, just over 3m and Hypalon. It's a river SIB really as its design is with a very shallow wooden keel which fixes to the floorboards with big turnbuckles which ties the floors together so no stringers needed. This makes it a doddle to assemble.

Packed it's tiny (as pic shows compared to my bagged Aerotec) and you can carry it under one arm.

I'd seen it hold air for 3 days and there is just one small floor patch, none on tubes. Came with pump, trad wooden oars, spare cheap oars, original repair kit, a tin of International "Schooner" varnish, extending boat hook and a tank/line for its long gone outboard.

Needs a damn good clean and I will varnish the timber but otherwise ready to use and has that indestructible Hypalon feel . Just thought it would be fun for mucking about and going to the pub on the local river using our old Mariner 4hp.

[Max...]

Hypalon and varnished ply: Fab.

[Fenlander]

Always satisfying to see how well the material will clean...

[duggie12]

Looks absolutely immaculate now fenlander!

[Fenlander]

Yes not bad for perhaps 35-40yrs old!

[Seaflyer02]

Reminds me of the Campari super mermaid I had with a small Archimedes (Volvo Penta) I had in the early seventies.


Looks fantastic!
How long do they say hypalon lasts!

[Seaflyer02]

Another blast from the past: -http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Campari-tender-2-Dinghy-/272694707286?hash=item3f7ddf0456:g:zJcAAOSw32lYxwB M
Must be late 60s or early 70s

[jeffstevens763@g]

That's in unbelievable condition David

[Max...]

Nice clean up.

[Pikey Dave]

Looks a treat[emoji106]

[Fenlander]

Think I'll detail all the jobs I do to get it sorted in this one thread, might help someone in the future that buys one and looks for info...


It's now held air here for a week but I had cursed the valves a bit when pumping up as air whooshed out until the final caps were on which made pumping it a fiddle.

They look like the makers own valve (unless anyone knows different).

Had a quick look today thinking I hope the valve spares aren't unobtainable but it was so simple. The non-return diaphragms are held on by a small self tapper and over the decades they had adopted a bowed shape so they didn't seat. Two minute job to take out the screw, reverse the diaphragms and now they seat perfectly.

I like a free repair.

Varnishing the floor, oars and transom next when there's time.

[Fenlander]

>>>adopted a bowed shape


Actually an even dished shape would be more accurate.

[jeffstevens763@g]

funny i was just sorting some bits and i got some spare mushroom valves from work for my boat drain looking at them you could soon sort them to fit your valves david if ever you needed to

[Fenlander]

The wood was all in decent condition but as it came with a tin of varnish I rubbed down with 400 grade and gave it all a coat. Pics attached of the floor. Shallow wood keel with... to me... an unusual turnbuckle attachment and no stringers... not missing this design never had them.

[Fenlander]

So this is it 99% complete. Just a couple of roll pin rowlock retainers to replace as they were rusted away... and the bow canopy stiffening rod is missing so I'll find something flexy like plastic 1/2" pipe to do the job.

[Yabadabadoo]

Such a great looking boat, lovely colour wood, great job. [emoji106]

[Seaflyer02]

Lovely job, are you putting a windscreen on it?

[jeffstevens763@g]

Through the turnbuckles should there be a metal strip as a stringer I might be talking twaddle but seem to have seen something in the past?

[Fenlander]

If the screen had been there I'd have kept it but not going to have one made as it's a budget price river plodder or yacht tender and the screen would be prone to damage.

The plan for me to keep it as a river boat using our 4hp is out of the window now as I'd thought that size of craft & OB was cheap to register. But it's going to be £125/yr to insure/register so as a second craft to the Aerotec not worth it... it will probably be on Ebay before the summer's out.

Not a lot of room to add any thickness Jeff and still be able to twist the turnbuckle. When researching these Hutchinsons I noticed there were several differences in the ones intended for larger outboards so perhaps you've see the next model up??

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Always satisfying to see how well the material will clean...

Love it!
Some good service still left in the Ol girl yet!
Brings back a lot of Happy memories too!
Sounds a lot for insurance!!!