Among other administrative duties around the first of each month, a report is made to a long list of prospective and current hull builders based on the most recent information. This information is from the fabricator and those monitoring the progress toward producing the hull standard molds. A report is made to the class, through this media, when there is good information toward progress. Unfortunately, over the last two months there has been little progress till a few days ago. During the week this report is published, RMD Marine will begin an approved production of the master mold for the hull standard. We still have a ways to go before hull production will begin by the manufacturers.

Why has it taken so long? There are many reasons besides the scope and standards this project had from the beginning. None involved had followed a path of such importance with care and documentation. One of the first requirements was that all fabrications would be rigid and heavy in lay up. This requires time to control the heat in the layering process and with curing times to preserve the specifications. This involved two daughter plug hulls and the development of the master plug. During the final stages some liberties were taken with the best intentions to make the hull a better fabrication. Unfortunately, this created changes to the hull standard. Changes and any alterations of specifications were not part of this project. Over the last month and a half, including summer vacation time, RMD Marine has produced a fabrication approved by the class for the production of the master mold that meets the preservation of the hull standard and as the project was perceived.

While it was hoped there would have been a master mold in April, there were other factors we seldom think about. This is a hobby and people have lives with higher priorities than our toy boats. We also have a need to communicate clearly and with understanding where physical meetings are not possible. We also have materials that need to be moved, reviewed and discussed for quality assurance and the scope of intentions. The project was being conducted not only across state lines but regions as well.

The class will need five identical mold sets built from the master mold. Following the curing regime mentioned above, it is reasonable to expect that shipment of production molds could begin in six to eight weeks. While this is not what everyone would like to hear, it is not in the interest of this effort to change the disciplines to speed up the process.

A review from previous reports to the class is a reminder that this project was not wanted. The class began the year 2004 without a master plug or a daughter plug suitable for a hull manufacturer to build a mold set. All daughter plugs but one had been lost. The class no longer had the check devices for new manufacturers in stock. The class has never had a master mold of the hull standard that is known to be available. One manufacturer had made a mold set from the check hull of another. The class was on a path where generations of fabrications were leading to the loss of the original hull standard begun in the mid 90’s. We were at a crossroads needing the correct path to saving our one design. When this project is completed the class will have a true one design hull with the physical assets to preserve the hull standard.

It is normal to want the newest things to come along. However, the reminder again is that no changes to the design or specifications are part of this project. None of the hulls built from the standard in place today will be disadvantaged or noticed on the water. This was part of the designs of the project. Those waiting for hull production to begin will need patience in the process of having.

An article was written in June and posted on the class website with the electronic boat registration form about the properties, process and responsibilities of boat registration in this class. The class was notified of the document here on EC12 Net. Without covering the same information again, here are two important facts in the process for review:

1. Boat registrations are documented in the electronic class registry the day they are received.
2. Boat registrations sent with the annual AMYA membership renewal form to the AMYA Membership Secretary will be delayed and possibly abandoned.

About 90% of the registrations and transfers are sent electronically, 3% mailed with a non-electronic form and 7% are sent to the AMYA Membership Secretary included in the annual membership renewal process. From this last group not one registration has been completed this year without some communications with the applicant needed. Two applicants could not be reached by email or phone and USPS mail was not answered. Some or all of the information was incorrect and there is a limit to the effort.

One difficulty is that some do not use computers and/or may not be connected to the Internet. Hence, they do not receive these reports, EC12 Net and cannot use the resources available on related websites. Reports like this are not thought to be reasonable communications with the class through Model Yachting. The lead times are too long during an era of fast and reliable communications to the vast majority of the class that utilizes the media. If your club still has a printed newsletter mailing, a short overview to this registration notice could be of some help to the very few.