Cheverton Crusader Bermudan sloop

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments on this Cheverton Crusader Bermudan sloop

The Cheverton Crusader class was designed by David Cheverton in response to a request by a local Cowes dentist, David Ramsden who wanted a family cruising yacht that was larger than the little Caravel class.  He wanted two separate cabin areas of the boat and an enclosed heads compartment in order to give his family a comfortable cruising yacht.  The Crusader is exactly that, a comfortable boat capable of good passage times with a decent amount of internal space for extended periods aboard.  The high coachroof gives good headroom throughout and all 4 berths are 6’ or more and a decent width.

The construction methods employed by David Cheverton meant his boats could be built on a small production line arrangement, reducing costs and speeding the time from order to delivery.  Strip plank construction is a quick and easy way of building a boat and the advent of epoxy glues meant it was strong and reliable as well.  Rather than sheathing the hulls as we do now, they were simply painted with a thin epoxy resin which soaked into the timber in order to protect it.  The other bonus of this construction is the lack of frames required so there is more internal space for any given dimensions compared to a conventionally built boat, so although the beam of the Crusader is not huge, every inch of it used so the saloon feels very spacious and comfortable.

There were about 50 Crusaders built in total which makes her a very successful design and they have been proven over the years as super little cruising yachts.  This yacht has had a major refit in present ownership with virtually no expense spared, but unfortunately ill health has forced the owner to move away from sailing all together.  Every inch of this boat has been inspected with all major works carried out as necessary.  She is very clean, smart and tidy and has to be one of the best examples around of this nice little yachts.

Length on Deck                                 27’6”

Beam                                                    8’2”

Draft                                                      4’3”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_RiBGImK3U

Construction

 

Hull

7/8” mahogany planking, glued and edge nailed.  Copper screw fastened to sawn mahogany frames 2.5” x 1.5” at approx. 18” centres.

 

2” mahogany grown floors.  Oak back bone with galvanised mild steel keel bolts.   3 bolts replaced in 1996, 2 replaced 2006.

 

Decks and cockpit

Marine plywood deck on mahogany deckbeams, sheathed in epoxy glass cloth and coated with non-slip paint.  Mahogany cockpit coamings.

 

Hydraulic wheel steering with an emergency tiller.  New Vetus pump and ram seals Aug 2014.  The crusader was usually tiller steering but this was converted in recent years and the wheel works extremely well with the cockpit layout.

 

SS and bronze deck fittings.   SS stemhead fitting.

 

Superstructure

Varnished mahogany coachroof coamings with a sheathed plywood coachroof deck.  Slightly raised doghouse aft to increase headroom around the galley area.

 

Chrome air vents on the coachroof deck with varnished handrails and a varnished forehatch.

 

Oval chrome plated portholes in the coamings forward with larger windows in the doghouse with chrome plated window bezels.

 

 

Rig 

Masthead Bermudan sloop rig on a varnished spruce deck-stepped mast.  Slab reefing varnished boom and a varnished spinnaker pole.

 

Stainless steel rigging new in 2003 with s/s terminals and rigging screws to galvanised internal chainplates.

 

Single standing backstay, twin lower shrouds and a single cap shroud over single spreaders.  Roller furling headsail.

 

Winches

Single mast halyard winch.

2 x Lewmar 16 primary cockpit winches

2 x Tufnol secondary cockpit winches.

 

Cockpit winches are mounted on stainless steel brackets outboard of the coamings

 

Sails

Fully battened mainsail and genoa by Dolphin Sails, both in good condition.   Laundered and proofed 2013.

Spinnaker is old but unused.

 

 

Machinery

 

Engine

Yanmar 2GMF15 18hp, 2 cyl diesel.   Approx 1985.   Yanmar gearbox, rebuilt 2011.

Centreline 3 blade bronze propeller .   Cruising speed 5 kts, max 6 kts.   Fuel consumption 1.3 LPH.

 

Batteries

2 x 12v Bosch batteries.  Charged from engine alternator and through charger on shore power connection. Boat completely rewired 2013.

 

Tanks

8 gal stainless steel fuel tank.

 

 

Accommodation

 

Berths   4

 

Saloon

Lots of headroom throughout the spacious saloon which is a key feature of these cleverly designed yachts.

 

Entrance to the main cabin through a sliding hatch with tall double hatch doors.  Galley area split between port and starboard at the aft end of saloon.  Electronics, VHF and switchboard is to starboard.

 

Full length settee berths each side with deep shelves and lockers behind and lockers underneath.

 

Heads 

Heads compartment to starboard forward of the saloon.

Jabsco sea toilet pumps directly overboard, all new installation.  Hand basin pulls out from under the deckhead and drains into the heads.

 

Galley  

Plastimo gimballed 2 burner stove.  S/S sink to starboard with hand pumped fresh water.

 

 

Equipment

 

Navigation

Danform Corsair compass, chrome binnacle

Bidata autohelm sounder/log

ICOM ICM503 VHF.   New aerial and cable ’13.

New masthead windex vane.

 

Safety

3 Lifejackets

Horseshoe lifebuoy

4 Fire Extinguishers

Manual bilge pump

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.