Victoria 18 Cutter Project
(Part 1)
Updated 02/20/99
Mail Comments/ Data/ Pictures/Suggestions to: The Victoria 18 Forum

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Randi Ernst has taken on quite a project this winter. He has purchased a 1979 Sloop, and is in the process of converting it to a cutter version of the Victoria 18. With input from the folks at the Victoria 18 Forum, and help from one of the only known owners of an original Victoria 18 Cutter, Mike Fillimon in Long Island, Randi is well on his way to creating the dream Victoria 18!. We will get specific technical information posted as Randi makes it available.

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February 1999

On the following pages are some of the first shots of his work, and as can be seen, many challenges are ahead of him. Good Luck Randi! (Notice the still lit after burners at the bottom of the picture, on the dual propeller drive G.E. Turbine Jet engines Randi is testing for his cutter retrofit!)

Randi is painting the Hull, and the deck. He is using an ivory tone paint, with a slightly darker ivory slip resistant surface for the traffic areas on deck.

Here is a view from above the cabin. Points where the Bow pulpit, grab rails, cabin access cover, and misc. hardware were attached have been removed. (You can see he has relocated the sliding hatch to the fore deck, for easy access to the paper towels on the starboard side)

The ports have been glassed over, and are being prepared for the round bronze ports that were original on the Victoria 18 Cutter. The appearance of the boat will definitely be striking as compared to these shots. Notice the repair to the coaming.( Again, look how convenient the new hatch location is to the Paper towels)

Another of the Bow, notice the teak nose in this shot.

The '79 had the long narrow windows, same as Jerry Wrenn's. This is quite a large area to patch, but it will add quite a bit of strength to the cabin area.

These 3 shots are very interesting indeed. These are actually shots of Randi's scale version of his sloop. He wanted to be able to re-create the entire retrofit process in detail. These models are a mere 1/50 th scale. Note the detail, down to the paper towels, and the baling wire in the cockpit. He actually used a shred of a stainless steel Chore Boy pots and pans scrubber painted black to duplicate the baling wire tossed in the cockpit. Notice the miniature Jack stands, and the finishing nail used for the tiller shaft in the aft view. You can just see Randi's arm holding the model in the picture above, aft of the model, toward the top (the flesh colored area). Pretty smart, notice how Randi never gets a full shot of the model. Either the bow, or the stern. (If he were to shoot the whole model, you would definitely see his hand holding it up).

Another shot of the shipshowing the unfinished inside of the '79, and the more square hatch/Companionway.

We will have more information, technical data, and misc. info soon. If you have any questions or comments please join in on our Forum, The Victoria 18 Forum.