TOM THUMB 24

Tony Fountain, ( former owner of Spray 33 and founder of Australian Spray Society ) recently purchased a Roberts Tom Thumb steel cutter called "Striking Viking"

Now re-named “Seerauber” Tony writes about his Tom Thumb She is fantastic sea boat- we certainly tried her out she handled like a dream and at one stage we were thumping along at 8.5 knots under reefed main and headsail. 5 knots came up easily and consistently-not bad for a little ship eh?

TOM THUMB 24
Some history about Tony's Tom Thumb

She was built in Lakes Entrance (Victoria) in 1996 and the gentleman I purchased her from, Mr Don Modra, sailed her back from there to Adelaide with his son. He was telling me that on the passage home, they had up to 25' waves (the coastline from Geelong to Warrnambool is not called "the wreck coast for nothing!) and she took them all in her stride. As I said earlier, a great little sea boat and correspondence I have had recently with Tom Thumb owners in Europe and America bear this out time and time again.

On the 6th May 2005, she had her sails run up in Sydney waters for the first time and she is now moored contentedly in Burraneer Bay, in the beautiful Port Hacking region of southern Sydney.

Tony is now setting off on some offshore voyaging in his Tom Thumb and we will keep you posted on his travels.

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COVER ALL VERSIONS TT24, TT26, TT28, TT305 & TT 330 & GIVE ACCESS TO MANY step by step BOAT  CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS + PHOTOS OF COMPLETED BOATS ETC.

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Here we see the interior of the Tom Thumb 26 built by Hakan GOKMEN

TOM THUMB 26

Several other sail & accommodation boat plans included with study boat plans and boat plans and patterns.

The TT 24, TT 26, TT 28, TT305 & TT330 are all included in the STUDY boat plans on DOWNLOAD or on CD - YOU CHOOSE DOWNLOAD OR CD. . ..

Tom Thumb 26 interior layout.

Tom Thumb 28 interior layout.

Tom Thumb 305 interior layout.

Tom Thumb 330 interior layout.

Hi Bruce,

Attached is a picture of "Margarita" crewed by my nephews, headed south again ...This shot is on Indian River in Cocoa Fla...They are headed for Bahamas and Turks...I launched this boat in 1990 and she looks like a newborn 20 yrs. later...and even better...Someday I might get her back  but in the meantime she is turning heads....Please use the pictures and script as you wish...Regards. John Larkum

Here is a picture of my Tom Thumb.
She is a delightful boat! Thanks again, John Larkum

Hi Bruce,
I just wanted to write a quick note regarding my Margarita, a Tom Thumb design built by my uncle; John Larkum.  I sailed her for over 5000 miles last year including Mexico, the Bay Islands of Honduras, the Rio Dulce in Guatemala (where the attached picture was taken), as well as Belize and the east coast of the states from virginia to the Florida Keys.  What a trip!!  I was gone for a little over 8 months.  I am currently in the eastern Caribbean on another boat, but have definite boat plans to get back to Virginia, where Margarita is hauled out awaiting my attention.  You have two pictures of her already on your website, so I thought maybe we could add one more.  Cheers from St. Barths. Richard Larkum
 

Another Tom Thumb hull almost ready for launching.

Tom Thumb 26   September 2009

Hi Bruce, I am the proud owner of a Tom Thumb built by Mike Hornsey in the UK.   It’s a fantastic little boat and has already got me safely and without fuss through some serious weather and all the mistakes a learner can make. I am now ready to move to something bigger and I think the Voyager Ds 440 in steel is the one for me. Is the anywhere I can get some idea of cost without labour to complete the build. I realise it’s a pretty dumb question and will depend on the quality of the fit  out and standard of equipment but any help you can give with this would be greatly appreciated.  Regards, Barry Murphy
 

Tom Thumb "ARION"

Tom Thumb "Sisu" sailing on Lake Champlain

Dear Bruce, A friend took the photo in October 1996 sailing in Queensland waters just south of Gladstone.  The hull and deck were professionally built there for a friend who could not finish it so I bought it and fitted it out myself with the very best of everything.  It is a fantastic little sea-boat.  I sail alone most of the time and never steer. The fully battened main and other sails from a top racing loft helps performance too. 

However, I like alternative rigs - I have a friend with a junk rigged Tom Thumb, \"Minke\", and have sailed in company for hundreds of miles, comparing the rigs.  I walk away from \"Minke\" in light head-winds and smooth seas.  In boisterous open sea conditions to windward I always fall off onto a very close reach (45 degrees apparent) and then there is very little in it. 

Downwind we are evenly matched.  I can creep away at times because I have no inboard engine and do not drag a propeller, but if we have to throw in a gybe or two to clear a reef etc, "Minke" gets ahead while I am running around changing headsail poles from one side to the other and resetting guys etc. 

If you want to direct Australian clients to have a look at "Arion" you would be welcome, I keep the boat at the Breakwater Marina, Townsville, and won't be off cruising again for a couple of years or so.  Graham Cox  Townsville QLD 4810 Australia,  Cheers  Graham Cox