Metal Keel Series & Endeavour
First introduced in 1933 as the MK Series (MK stands for Metal Keel), as a range of four different sizes,
numbered MK/1, MK/2, Mk/3 & MK/4 to be a more affordable option to the
larger SB & BR series and to run alongside the successful solid yachts.
Being hollowed hulls and with a metal keel meant they handled better on the
water. The earliest hulls were painted white with a red pinstripe at water
level, plank lined and a varnished deck with a
rounded stern. The mast and booms were fitted with brass ferrules, the sails
were white cotton with no Star emblem as the early versions had the brass deck
badge to identify the yacht as a Star, this was later replaced with the early
version of the transfer deck logo. The yachts name "Endeavour Series" was added in 1939 in recognition
of the 12 metre yacht sailed by Lipton in the Americas Cup yacht race although
the bowname transfer appeared much later. Post war models had the later
transfer deck logo. Rigging was fitted to the deck by brass screw eyes with a
brass washer underneath, a bit
more upmarket than the solid yacht staples. The sterns were squared off sometime
in the later 1940s, the more familiar Star sail emblems with the prefix MK appeared after
this time, first years in black ink then changed to red but didn't show in the catalogues until 1971 as the catalogue
photos were not updated often.
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Early versions of MK/1 & MK/2 had just a
bowsprit which was later added to with an optional jib boom. In 1967 the brass ferrules
and bowsies were replaced by white plastic items. The MK/3 had a semi-circle
shaped mast mount and the MK/4 had both the bowsprit and mast mounts
semi-circle shaped.
The lining on the later hulls identified the model number;
Red - 12" Endeavour I,
Blue - 14" Endeavour II,
Yellow - 16" Endeavour III,
Green - 18" Endeavour IV.
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Bow names were added in gold block letters outlined in black, 4.0mm for
early models and 4.5mm for later ones.
From 1960, there was the option of, manual
steering & rudders to the
range, this became a standard fitting in 1962.
The very last ones made will have been fitted with either yellow, blue or red
sails and the plastic ferrules were red, blue, yellow or green in colour to
match the hull lining.
