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January 25, 2005
Contrast
Yesterday, a sail for a 76 footer. Today, a 9 footer. Patience fits battens for a Turnabout mainsail. They actually call these boats National 10's now (thus the "N-10"), but 10 feet is stretching it a little.
Posted by Win at 09:30 AM in Projects | Permalink
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I'm interested to know if there are many Turn Abouts still in service. I am now restoring one for the first time hull #1809 made by Turner Boat Co. in Newbery Mass. I salvaged it from the transfer station in Falmouth,Me.
Any information would be helpfull. I talk with a lot of people in Falmouth and the all smile and say that is what they learn in when they were a kid. Makes me feel good that I did not let this hull die. Thanks for any help you could give.
Dave
Posted by: Dave | May 24, 2005 11:03:54 PM
Hi Dave,
I, too, started sailing in a Turnabout. I know they built at least 4134 of them because we have built sails for that particular hull number. There are still plenty of them acticvely sailed, although the class website seems to have disappeared. It may help you to know that they are now more commonly known as National 10's than Turnabouts.
Posted by: win | May 26, 2005 2:03:12 PM
It's great to see MSP making N-10 sails. I sailed N-10s growing up and taught in them for the past 5 years. The association is very active in Boston Harbor as well as a small group in NJ as far as a one-design class, but can be found all over the East Coast Boston Harbor hosts the New Englands, Midgets, and Junior championships every year. The fiberglass models are actually back in production again, and go all the way up to #4236. Every sail number below 3000 was called a turnabout, from 3000-3999 is a Parker River, from 4000-4199 is a Duplin, made by long time Tufts sailing coach, and world champion star sailor Joe Duplin, and beginning about 6 years ago, Jack Gannon began making them again out of Burlington, MA. The N-10 web site is back up and functioning at www.n10association.com. But as a person who sailed 420s, FJs, and lasers up through college, I found the N-10 to be a great beginner boat to transition in to the relatively speaking higher performance boats. At Cottage Park Yacht Club in Winthrop, MA it is the only beginnner boat we use, and the kids sail and race it until age 14. I had my N-10 sails made by MSP, and my sister who was sailing the boat last year got first in every race she sailed. (really!)
Posted by: Dan V. | Jul 3, 2005 1:09:30 PM
I picked up a turnabout two years ago. Parker river version. It sails great! We had three adults in it, and it had plenty buoyancy left, though not much room. they are pretty beamy, and can be very stable but I've seen some heeling quite a bit.
Posted by: jim | Aug 8, 2005 3:12:57 PM
We have sailed Turnabouts at the Northern Lake George Yacht Club for over 50 years. Now called a "National 10" or N-10, the boat is a terrific boat for juniors. It flies a small spinaker, so it keeps a crew busy, and puts emphasis on teamwork. These boats are large and stable enough to have an adult jump in and coach the kids.
My daughter has been racing #4225 built by Jack Gannon several years ago. We enjoyed sailing at Cottage Park YC in Boston Harbor this summer as well. Check out our N-10 page at www.nlgyc.com.
Posted by: Stu | Sep 1, 2005 10:26:04 PM
Back in the 50s and 60s, we learned to sail and race in Turnabouts at Eastern Point Yacht Club in Gloucester, MA. We owned a wooden hull version #198. I still have the rudder. Gayle Turner, Harold Turner's daughter lived in Gloucester raced #2000. I don't know when they started making fiberglass hulls, but I thought Gayle's was one of the first. Fifteen years ago we sold our fiberglass turnabout to a work associate. His kids are now in college and I'm about to buy it back for my grandchildren. My husband grew up in Falmouth, ME and remembers a Turnabout fleet at the yacht club here. A great boat for kids and obviously one that waxes nostalgic for me.
Posted by: Mary Ann | Sep 2, 2005 12:13:19 PM
Monmouth Boat Club in Red Bank has a thriving N-10 fleet racing Frostbite in November - December and Spring Frostbite in March.
Great competition and fun for all. Sailors generally alternate races, so that more skippers can participate. This fall 38 skippers raced with 17 qualifying by sailing 1/3 of all races held.
see: http://www.monmouthboatclub.com
Posted by: Bruce Cattanach | Dec 13, 2005 2:39:45 PM
Hello
I have my original Christmas present given to me by my parents in 1954. That present was turnabout number 416, built on the corner of Route 1A and 133 in Ipswich, MA. It has had some rebuilding, however it is in dire need of tender loving care at this time. I am taking a boat building course this summer and hope to restore it to its original state. Do you know where I may obtain a set of plans for a plywood version?
Thanks very much. George
Posted by: George Grimes | Jan 18, 2006 9:19:54 PM
Somehow found this website ..my dad was Harold Turner,who started this whole Turnabout history in Ipswich,Ma. I love to hear your stories as it reminds me of the great fun of my youth. My dad would be so happy to hear how they continue on..
Posted by: Gayle Taylor | Oct 6, 2006 9:32:51 PM
Thanks to all who have posted on Turnabouts. In addition to making sails for these boats, I have my own history with them.
My first boat was a Turnabout (forget the hull number) which I called Swallow after the boat of the same name in "Swallows and Amazons", the great children's book(s) by Arthur Ransome. She was destroyed just a few weeks after my parents bought her in 1954 by hurricane Carol. My second boat was also a Turnabout, number 584 named Swallow II, which I owned from 1955 to 1960 or 1961.
Had many great battles in the Portland Junior Yacht Club Turnabout fleet. One thing I learned sailing these boats was a high tolerance for frustration. Being almost as wide as they are long, they are stopped by the smallest ripple. For the same reason, one thing I didn't learn from these boats is how to steer through waves. That had to wait for my Finn and Laser sailing days...
Posted by: win | Oct 10, 2006 12:00:13 PM
I grew up with turnabouts in my dads boatshop in Ipswich and later in Newbury Ma. Like many others I learned how to sail in them at various location including Gloucester and Nantucket on vacations with my parents in the 50`s. If anyone can locate one for sale I would be interested.
Posted by: Bob Turner | Oct 19, 2006 6:15:59 PM
Are there any books on sailing N-10's, or Turnabouts?
Posted by: phil | Jan 1, 2007 8:23:52 AM
I am interested in building a Turnabout. Does anyone know where I might get a set of plans?
Rem
Posted by: Rem Briggs | Feb 27, 2007 5:50:07 PM
I had the last wooden hull Turnabout #2320. I won the Junior Nationals twice and the New England Championship once as a kid in the 70's. Lots of memories. I remember meeting Joe Duplin and his N-10. My home club was the Winchester Boat Club in Winchester, MA. Good old Winsome! Thanks for the memories.
Tom Girard
Posted by: Tom Girard | Nov 23, 2007 10:01:35 PM
I picked up my Parker River turnabout 5 years ago in Brunswick, maine. came with a nice little trailer. It sails wonderfully and is Very forgiving. Looking at putting a spinaker on it. Are any of you folks out there interested in forming a N-10 / turnabout club here in Maine? It could be informal and a great way of keeping in touch and helping each other out with resources. plus can be kinda fun getting together once in awhile with folks who share the same interests.
Posted by: jim | Jan 9, 2009 10:40:39 AM
we sailed turnabouts at Squantum Yacht Club in Quincy Ma.Every club in quincy Bay,Winthrop,Hingham Bay, Town River, Hull all had a fleet and we rotated weekly for interclub races. what wonderful, simple times. those boats were a great boat to start saling.
I still occasionally play #1529 on the lottery. I still meet people that spent their summers sailing Turnabouts.
Posted by: Rich | Mar 14, 2009 12:03:46 PM
Southport yacht Club in Southport, maine has a fleet of over 20 Turnabouts. a great beginner boat for kids who are scared of tipping over. One advantage in terms of racing, is that the turnabout sails a little similar to a big boat. It takes some time to get moving and requires you to sail a little fatter out of a tack than a 420 or fj. Gives you patience in getting up to speed and doesn't reward those who go for point too early out of a tack. Also stalls easily in waves and really responds a lot to a little extra sail twist and 3 degrees off of close hauled.
Posted by: ben | Apr 16, 2009 11:20:46 PM
i am 13 years old and race n10s very competitivly,my sail # is 4224 but my close friends boat is new last year and is sail #4253.i love sailing and sad as it is n10s are a dieing fleet but its easy to find boats on the market my crew is selling her boat which is #3172 she says its too old but m sure many of you would be happy with it it has a wooden mast and is blue.my friend who goes 2 hull has sail#957 and every1 makes fun of his boat cuz its ssoooo old.=] i go to the infamous cottage park yacht club in winthrop ma. im the 4th place over all for n10s right now.ne1 wanna know who to go to for a new 1 thats jack gannon but hes slowed down alot .if ne of u get a hold of an n10 keep it safe and iin good condition some people may pay a fortune in a couple years wen theyr gone
Posted by: tina duval | Aug 2, 2009 11:39:40 PM
Interesting in reading the comments about Turnabouts. I had one in the 60s on Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA. It was plywood hulled with a cotton sail. I noticed some questions about getting building plans... No one provided any responses! Possibly the plans are copy right protected or such... That would be a shame as the wooden boat and mast would make a relatively simple and fun project for amateur builders.
I'm hoping to start a small fleet for kids in my community on the Chesapeake Bay Ideally, kids and parents would build their own wooden boat. Sails would be purchased. Now if we only had plans... Maybe someone daring and wanting to help could draw up some plans for us based on their own wooden boat Turnabout?
Bob
Posted by: Bob Goodenow | Dec 31, 2009 2:08:58 PM
I am reconditioning our Turnabout now for 2010 summer season our boat # is 2280. We would really like to have a fiberglas turnabout if anyones interested.
Posted by: Rusty | Jan 30, 2010 12:48:01 PM
