Maurice Griffiths Good Hope

Full specification

Devon

Wooden Ships Comments on this Maurice Griffiths Good Hope Ketch

Designed by Maurice Griffiths and built by Purbrook-Rossitors of Christchurch in 1972.  Only 3 owners since she was launched.

In his book, Little Ships and Shoal Waters, Maurice Griffiths describes the evolution of the Good Hope design, produced immediately after his retirement as editor of Yachting Monthly to the very specific requirements of a sailing friend.

Maurice Griffiths was a great moving force in post war yachting. An East Coast man, as editor of Yachting Monthly for many years he was the inspiration to so many people who took up yachting at that time. Money was short, facilities were basic but the old yards were still there and transport to the coast was becoming easier.  In his designs, he took much of his inspiration from the East Coast working boats built for those shoal waters but was also influenced by some American designs, especially from the Chesapeake Bay area.  He is best known for his smaller shoal draft designs which appealed to the growing market of impecunious new yachtsmen at the time, but he also drew some larger and far more capable boats.

The Good Hope is one of his larger designs.  In his book, he talks of 3 being built in the late 1960’s followed by this one, built in 1971, launched in 1972.

The yachts were very well received and proved to be good sea boats so he went on to modify the design for ferro-cement construction which proved popular in South Africa and Australia.

This example of the Good Hope design was extended in build by 30” to give a slightly larger aft cabin and space for a second heads compartment, which arguably makes her a slightly more elegant yacht.

The design features a long straight keel which carries the external ballast keel right up to underneath the mast with a slightly cut-away fore foot up to the stem and an overhanging transom stern.

Full, round bilge gives plenty of hull stability without excessive draft as well as a good width of cabin sole.  The rudder is hung on the stern post under the counter over-hang.

On deck, she has a centre cock-pit which allows a separate aft cabin under its own aft coach-roof. The forward coach-roof reaches from the cock-pit to forward of the main mast leaving generous side decks and a clear foredeck.

A very comfortable, spacious and well maintained cruising yacht suitable for extended live aboard or long distance cruising.

Length on deck                                 42’

Lwl                                                         36’

Beam                                                    11’6”

Draft                                                      5’

Thames Tonnage                             16TM

Construction

Planked in Iroko all copper fastened to heavy laminated oak frames with 3 steam bent intermediate timbers.

Grown oak floors across the centreline fastened through with large copper rivets.

4 ton cast iron external ballast keel with iron bolts through the floors.  Several new bolts fitted in 2007.

Yacht laid teak deck over a marine plywood subdeck with varnished coverboard and king plank.

Heavy low bulwark all round on wooden stanchions and a varnished capping rail.  Guard wires on stanchions above.

Heavy duty deck fittings, fairleads and cleats give her the feel of a strong capable yacht.

Varnished Iroko coachroof and dog house coamings with bronze framed windows.

Deep self draining centre cockpit sheltered by the extended dog house roof.  Wheel steering on a Whitlock pedestal.

Rig

Bermudan ketch rig on deck stepped Sparlight alloy masts.  Selden alloy slab reefing main boom, varnished wooden roller reefing mizzen boom.

Roller furling staysail and twin forestays to the bowsprit end for twin hanked on jibs.

Galvanised wire standing rigging to galvanised rigging screws and heavy external chain plates.  Standing rigging on the main mast replaced 2018.

2 pairs of bronze sheet winches on the cockpit coamings.

Full set of sails including as new mainsail and recent staysail and jib.

Easily handled rig perfect for long distance or short handed sailing.

Machinery

Beta Marine 2203Bv 50hp 4cyl marine diesel installed new in 2006.

Single lever controls to a centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propeller gives 6 knots cruising speed at 2.5 litres/hr.

2 x 120 litre stainless fuel tanks either side of the engine with balancing pipes and water separator filters.

2 stainless steel water tanks, total of 42 gallons, located either side of the engine.

3 x 12 volt batteries for engine starting and domestic supply, charged from the engine alternator.

Accommodation

Very spacious accommodation with an aft sleeping cabin, main saloon and forward cabin.  6’4″ headroom through the saloon and 6′ in the aft cabin.  Very clean and comfortable interior space for extended live aboard.

Starboard side companion hatch into the aft cabin from the cockpit with a heads compartment on the port side.  New Jabsco manual sea toilet with pull out hand basin.

Double berth on the port side nearly 7′ long.  To starboard are a pair of hanging lockers and storage cupboards in nice varnished mahogany joinery.  Massive storage space aft under the deck.

Centreline hatch from the cockpit into the main saloon with a galley to port and large Admiralty chart desk to starboard.  Chart desk has customised drawers and storage below it for charts, implements and other gear.

Galley has a two burner gas stove with oven and grill on gimbals, single stainless sink with manually pumped fresh water and ample storage space in lockers and shelves.

Half height bulkheads with vertical grab rails separate off the main saloon with a single settee berth either side, dropleaf varnished saloon table and a very generous pilot berth to starboard under the side deck.

Cast iron solid fuel cabin heater at the forward end of the saloon.

Starboard side passageway going forward with hanging lockers outboard and a large heads compartment on the starboard side.  Jabsco manual sea toilet with fixed hand basin and storage lockers.

Forward cabin has previously been used for sail stowage however there are 2 single V-berths of a good size with storage below, ladder to the forehatch above and chain locker in the bows.

Full specification and details available upon request

Disclaimer:

These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.