Day cruiser motor launch

Full specification

Wooden ships comments on this Day Cruiser motor launch

Length                        26’

Beam                          8’

Draft                          3’

 

Designed by Fred Shepherd.

Built by Lukes on the Hamble in 1939.

 

A fascinating and most unusual boat built to a very high standard, all varnished teak with a cabin, a separate heads compartment, a galley and a large cock-pit aft.

The general configuration is of a long keeled boat, slightly raked stem, beautifully flared bow sections, transom stern, single engine with a centre-line prop. Originally fitted with an auxiliary wing engine as well, now removed.

Helm position well forward with a 3-pane windscreen, the small middle section opens with chromed stays.

The midships cabin area is covered with a fixed roof with nicely radiused corners.

A unique sliding roof section covers the forward area over the helm, closing up to the windscreen forward and sliding aft on bronze runners outside the fixed section.

Cabin top sheathed and painted, varnished teak cabin sides fitted with attractive oval windows. Varnished steam bent deck beams in the sliding section, heavier varnished beams in the fixed section.

The fore deck is laid in teak.

The side decks are formed by wide varnished teak cover-boards to create a substantial gunnel.

 

Large cock-pit aft. The fixed cabin top coamings sweep exquisitely down aft to form the cock-pit comaings, edged in bronze D-section. Varnished teak aft deck.

Seat boxes either side with a loose thwart across the stern and access to a stern locker. Small box lockers in each forward corner.

Varnished T&G boards form the bulkhead to the cabin with the fixed roof overhanging the cock-pit to give some shelter. Full height double doors to the cabin.

The engine is sensibly placed aft under a varnished box in the middle of the cock-pit thus reducing engine noise etc in the cabin and affording total all round access.

 

The boat had a major refit in 2008 after sale to the present owner by Wooden Ships.

 

Construction

Carvel planked in ¾” teak all copper fastened to steam bent Canadian rock elm timbers on an oak back-bone.

The planking is tight-seamed with no caulking, a construction method requiring the highest skills.

Examination on purchased revealed that water penetration under the canvas sheathing had rotted part of the yellow pine roof structure, the cock-pit sole bearers were soft and there was some deterioration of some of the rock elm steam bent timbers wqhere the sole boards were in contact.

 

2008 refit;      12 steam bent oak timbers replaced

                       New cock-pit sole bearers

                       New galvanised keel band.

                       Aft deck lifted, one deck beam replaced and the deck relaid.

                       Bilges scraped and repainted.

                       Complete rewire, new batteries and switchgear

                       Cabin tops rebuilt in T&G southern yellow pine, epoxy glass sheathed externally                             to replace the original canvas, painted inside.

                       New laminated glass in the windows.

                       New polished stainless steel window frames

 

                       All seacocks replaced with new skin fittings and Hattersley bronze valves.

 

 

The hull is finished varnished inside and out.

Substantial bronze rudder hangings on the transom, the rudder heel sitting in a bronze skeg fitting.

Short bronze tiller with cables to a traditional spoked teak wheel.

Double chain roller bronze stemhead fitting.

Bronze cleats and fairleads

Hatch on the fore deck with heavy bronze hinges and bronze-framed light.

The centre part of the triple windscreen opens.

Teak grab rails on the cabin top.

Large 10’ long aft cock-pit with seat lockers each side, deep coamings above, scrubbed teak gratings.

Bronze deck fittings.

 

Machinery.

 

Volvo 3000 MD11D 25hp 2-cylinder raw water cooled diesel with less than 50 hours running from new. Installed in the 2008 refit on rubber mounts on substantial oak engine beds.

Ideal for a launch like this, this slow revving engine  has decompressors and a hand start facility in case of electrical failure. Originally bought 20 years ago for another boat and never used this engine is as new.

Machinery refit in 2008 refit.

                                   All new fuel lines and filters

                                   New fuel tank

                                   New prop shaft

                                   New engine controls

                                   Totally rewired with new batteries and switchgear

 

Approx 30gall cylinder fuel tank under the after deck.

12v engine start battery, new 2007

12v domestic services battery new 2011

Belt driven alternator above the flywheel

 

Accommodation       

Fore peak stowage,  steps inside to deck hatch over.

Forward bulkhead below the windscreen formed by vertical T&G varnished teak boards with twin central doors

Helm position with traditional teak spoked wheel to port, cables to the tiller arm on the rudder head over the aft deck.
Athwartship bench seat with removeable middle section to allow through passage. Raised, flat foot rest surface each side.

The roof above is a sliding section which can be easily opened in fine weather.

Seating down the port side with a double drop-lead table.

                                    New upholstery by Jeckells in 2008

Galley down the stbd side with rectangular stainless steel sink, bronze Patay hand pump for fresh water supply, sink drains overboard.

                                    Plastimo 2-burner gas cooker, new 2007.

                                    New work-surface 2007

Heads compartment in the after stbd corner with full height panelled door.

            Blake Victory sea toilet, chromed and looks like new!

Double doors in the bulkhead to the aft cock-pit.

6’ head-room in the cabin.

Scrubbed teak sole boards

 

 

Inventory

 

Navigation                 Steering compass

Garmin GPS

Silva sounder, new 2006

Nav lights. New bronze bi-colour over the windscreen. All round white on                                    a 2’ mast on the cabin top.

 

Ground tackle.         SL Delta anchor and warp, new 2007

 

Safety gear               

2 x fire extinguishers

Fire blanket

Henderson Mk6 manual bilge pump – new 2007

Whale 2v bilge pump on float switch – new 2011

Life buoy

 

Deck gear                 

Warps and fenders.

Stainless steel stern boarding ladder

 

                                  

 

History.

Hurricane Wake first appears in the April 1939 edition of Yachting Monthly where it is noted “Lukes of Hamble are building to a Fred Shepherd design a 26’ day cruiser, now partly planked”.

Shepherd was one of the best known and respected marine architects in his day with many notable sailing and motor yachts from his board. He had a long career working in his London Piccadilly offices from the early 1900’s to his retirement in 1939 and living to the grand old age of 104.  Hurricane Wake was one of his last designs and he seems to have had fun with this one.

Lloyds Register notes her in 1939 as Hurricane.

She appears on the British Shipping Register July 1946 renamed Hurricane Wake. There is no evidence of war service.

Her Certificate of Registry shows various owners on the South coast over the next 30 years.

Her original Gray petrol engines, 40hp main engine and 16hp wing engine, were replaced with a diesel engine in 1965.

A change of ownership in 1974 brought her to Porthleven in Cornwall where she was berthed in the drying harbour for many years.

Apart from the change in engine, Hurricane Wake remained virtually original but by 2007 when she was bought by the present owner she was in need of a face lift.

The present owner carried out significant work as detailed above and she is once again and exceptionally attractive, unusual and very interesting boat. Surveyed prior to relaunch in June 2008, copy available.

The surveyor comments:

“Well built to a very high standard originally and she has had a considerable amount of time and money spent on her since to bring her up to as new condition.

Thanks to the considerable amount of work done there are virtually no defects.”

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.