Paul’s Kensington
This International “A” Class pond sailor was built around 1935 from plans by George Baron that appeared in the March and April 1935 editions of Popular Mechanics. The boat was beautifully built in a plank on frame construction with a meticulously detailed king plank and pine deck.
Kensington is equipped with steering gear which was invented by George Braine (of Kensington, England) in 1906. A pair of crossed lines is attached to the main sail and each of these runs to a quadrant on the deck which is connected to the rudder. When increased wind pressure on the sail pulled a line in one direction, compensating rudder angle is applied through the quadrant mechanism. Less pressure results in less compensation due to the pin rack setting on an adjustable rubber tensioning line.
While built in 1935 it is felt that the boat was never sailed and for some 87 years it languished and deteriorated in several basements and garages.
In 2011 it was given to Paul as a project “you might enjoy”. By April, 2011 Kensington was ready for the water and was finally launched at Humber bay in Toronto.
Kensington’s sails, and much of her hardware, are original. Additional parts were provided through “Appreciating Antiques” in California.
It will be clear from the description that this is a “sail and forget” model. It does not have radio control It goes where the wind takes it.
Specifications:
- Overall length: 73 inches
- Beam: 14 inches
- Weight: 38 pounds
- Mast height: 82 inches
- Sail area: 1,792 square inches
