| Response Nov 2009:-
Have seen the picture of Driftwood back on
the water. Congratulations on a superb restoration.
Best wishes |
| Response Jan 2008:-
I was employed at the Tratman & Lowther
showroom at Clifton and remember this Embassy dinghy. i was there for a
couple of years 1970-1971 as i remember decimalisation day very well. I
started off in the showroom and later moved to the workshops on the
outboard motors. It was all connected with the powerboat racing at bristol
docks sponsored by embassy .you could enter a competition and this was the
prize. the kit itself was produced by a joinery company in Avonmouth
called Crissions joinery which was part of the C.J.KINGS group which also
owned Tratman & Lowther,Ships stores Avonmouth &
C.J. Kings tugs. Crissions as i remember
also produced the plywood floor sections for the 'c' craft range of
inflatable boats and other parts. As i understand it the holding company
[c j kings] ceased trading some years ago. Also maybe try and contact W.D.
& H.O WILLS. these things were delt with by the special events division I
am sure they would have kept the records.[they once gave away a complete
Fletcher speedboat,engine & trailer as a prize]to promote the powerboat
racing in the city docks. A coupld of the embassy dinghies found their way
to chew valley lake sailing club.
|
Response:Aug 2007-
I have an Embassy Dinghy which we bought
years ago from a gentleman who had built it from a kit. The boat has
been used by us as a family dinghy for many years, mainly on holidays
in and around Abersoch, either sailing or fishing using an outboard. Its
been an absolutely super family dinghy - currently needing a new mast as
the original one snapped while in action last year - which was a bit of
a shock at the time ! The dinghy is otherwise in ok condition
|
| Response:Jul 2007-
It's nice to see you restoring the boat; My dad
built one in the 70's I have fond memory's and maybe a pic's will see what
mum has left. my first solo sailing experience was in the "hobble" our
Embassy. I learned to sail, row and use outboards in ours, ours served had
15 years hard use as a tender/ sailing dinghy in the NW of England before
she sadly became unfit. She made a good work horse and is fondly
remembered. It's nice to see at least one might remain. |
| Response Jun 2007:-
Hi , i read on the net that some time ago you were
restoring an embassy dinghy.I also have an embassy dinghy in very good
condition and ready to sail. My father now a retired joiner built it from
a kit. The boat no. is 140 and i have all the parts for the boat including
original oars,racing and crusing sails with two burgees and the build
plans 1 to 110. I have a snipe trailer and launching trolly. |
Response Aug 2006:-
I have two
Embassy Dinghies (both in need of some TLC) here in County Mayo in the
west of Ireland. I purchased one secondhand but the other I built from
the 16 hour kit as supplied by Tratman & Lowther. This kit had been
purchased by my father many many many years ago and stored in an attic.
|
| Response Feb 2005:-
I have recently acquired an old pronto
combi trailer, an Embassy Mast and Boom, plus a sail (014) and a rudder,
but no boat. I saw the name Tratman Lowther on the sail and searched for
it on the internet, and found your website. |
Response Feb 2004:-
Hi, I appreciate it was some time ago when
you produced your web:page but I have only just spotted it. I acquired a
wooden dinghy some six months ago and have been trying to identify same.
It turns out to be an "Embassy"- thanks to your information I was able
to confirm this. Did you get any luck with your request for information
regarding Thatman and Lowther. I know of the company which were around
in the 40's having a showroom in Bristol Centre and later a larger one
near Bristol University. I am going to use my " Embassy" for a charity
row across France in May and would appreciate any general information
you may have.
|
| Response :-
The Embassy Dinghy, an 11-foot gunter-rigged boat, available
ready-made or in kit form, was produced by Bristol boat builder, Tratman
and Lowther. It was unveiled at the London International Boat show at
Earls Court in Jan 1976. |
| Response :-
I actually have an Embassy that has been over-converted to a flush
deck. Sails like a bucket and gets tranced by the Mirror. I believe that
the boat came in kit form via Tratman & Lowther who used to be a
Bristol based chandlery. |
| Response :-
The Embassy Dinghy is a restricted class dinghy designed by
R.Reynolds and produced by Tratman and Lowther Ltd. of Bristol in Kit
form or ready to sail. The boat was described to me as a Mirror with a
pointed bow. I have some information on required measurements for the
class right down to the thickness of rudder blade but this info is to
long to list here. Good sailing.
Note:- The information kindly passed on here can be seen on the
'Rules' in this website. |
| Response :-
I believe that Embassy Dinghies were originally sponsored by Embassy
cigarettes. They would have been around in the mid-seventies. |
| Posted :-
Thanks for the information so far. The Sail does have a red logo
(like signal flag B), with two narrow gold coloured stripes, both
horizontal, 3/8" wide and set 5/8" in from the top and bottom
of the logo. |
| Response :-
Sponsored by Embassy cigarettes, the sail logo was a red swallowtail
shape (like signal flag A) and they were made in the mid '70s - I
remember seeing one at the '76 boat show. |
| Response :-
I repair wooden sailing dinghies and in my time I have had an Embassy
Dinghy in for work. Apart from knowing that it was sponsored by Embassy
to compete with the Mirror in its day I cannot help further. Best of
luck with your enquires. |
| Message posted on the Internet, on the
message board of two Boating Magazines. 18th September 1999.
Has anyone heard of,or seen, an "Embassy" Class Dinghy. I
have aquired a dinghy said to be an "Embassy". The rigging is
said to be like a "Mirror" Dinghy. However my searches for
information about the "Embassy" ,in magazines and on the
Internet, have so far been fruitless. The Dinghy is of Plywood
construction, 4'8" beam, 11' length, Gunter Rig, pivoted
centreboard. The mast is 10'4" length, the Gunter spar is 10'
length, the Boom is 86" length. It used to have rowlocks fitted,
and had oars. The combi trailer it sits on was manufactered in 1979 by
Pronto Trailers,Poole. I would appreciate any information about the
history, manufacture, rigging, plans, type/model etc. Many Thanks. |
