Archives: Sailing yachts

Wooden Ships Comments on this Hillyard 13 ton Sloop

13 ton Hillyard Bermudan sloop launched in 1974, yard No.754.  This is one of the last wooden boats built at Hillyards and she has had only 2 owners in all her years.

There were very few of the 13 ton class built, they are a slight enlargement of the more standard 12 ton boat which was built in great numbers from the 1950’s onwards.

The tonnage referred to is Thames Tonnage, a measure of useable interior volume rather than weight.  The 13 ton class has the usual layout with aft cabin, centre cockpit, large saloon and fore cabin, but the extra space allows for a second heads in the forepeak.  Total of 6 berths with 1.95m headroom.

The slight extension of length over the 12 ton class makes for a slightly sleeker looking hull and a prettier sheer line, as well of course as a greater waterline length and consequential improvement in performance.

Bought by the current, and second owners, in 1994, since when she has cruised extensively around northern France, Channel Islands and the West Country with participation in numerous classic boat events.  The boat has been very well maintained and upgraded as necessary with a modern engine, new domestic systems and replacement standing rigging in 2025.  She is stored ashore undercover every winter and is presented in smart and tidy condition.

Length on Deck                          37’10”

Length Waterline                       33’6”

Beam                                            10’1”

Draft                                             4’8”

Thames Tonnage                       13TM

Sail Area                                      470sqft

Wooden Ships Comments on this West Country Gaff Ketch Yacht

Built by W.J. Oliver & Sons of Porthleven, Cornwall in 1920 as a sailing fishing drifter.  She worked out of St Ives until 1934.

Originally fitted with a 2 mast lug rig, she has typical West Country fishing vessel lines except for her rather elegant counter stern which is very unusual and gives the hull a very attractive profile.  There are only 3 known examples of these West Country boats with a counter stern, a design feature that helped the vessels stern lift to the waves when drifting with nets out.

Built at the time when engines were being fitted to the fishing vessels from new she had a 26hp Kelvin plus a 24hp Gardner auxiliary.  This introduction of powered propulsion meant a change in the hull shape from fine underwater lines which maximised sailing performance, a necessity when fishing without an engine, to more full hull shapes giving more volume and therefore able to carry greater loads of fish.  Later boats such as this one do not have the notorious sailing performance and speed of some of the earlier luggers, but they do make better private yachts as they offer a lot more space below decks and a very sea kindly motion.

This boat is a prime example of the design change, coupled with her elegant doghouse she is a real tardis of a vessel with excellent volume and living space below decks.

She was sold out of fishing in 1934 and converted to a yacht.  Subsequently in 1939 she was engaged by the admiralty along with her then owner Mr Francis Bevan on a spying mission along the German Baltic coast looking for radar installations.  She was then requisitioned by the Admiralty during the War and took part in Operation Dynamo thus becoming a certified Dunkirk Little Ship.  After Dunkirk she had her masts removed and a gun fitted to the foredeck to be used on patrols around the south east coast.  Following the Battle of Britain she remained in military service as a supply vessel based in Rothesey until the end of the war.  A change of name to Freebooter in the late 1950’s followed a win in the National by a horse of the same name backed by her then owner.

She carries aboard numerous artefacts relating to her historical adventures, including the bible carried aboard during her spying missions and operation Dynamo, plus mounted medal ribbons from a past owner donated to the vessel in recognition of the important work carried out aboard her.

After several private owners, she was bought by Ray Barnett of Dartmouth who operated her for 30 years as a charter angling boat, as well as taking part in numerous film productions including The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Dracula, Kidnapped, The Apple Tree and The Onedin Line.  After a family cruise to the Med and several owners, she came into present ownership in 2015.  The vessel was clearly in need of work and was taken to the International Boat Building Training College, Lowestoft, where a major rebuild was undertaken between 2016 and 2019.  Full details of the work done during this refit can be seen below.

Now in superb condition with modern systems and a very smart interior, this is a magnificent yacht ideally suited to extended cruising in absolute comfort.  She is an easily handled boat with a moderate rig that has been planned out for single handed sailing, wide decks and a powerful engine to make good headway in adverse conditions.

The refit was carried out in conjunction with naval architect James Pratt who oversaw every step of the rebuild and produced all the technical and design drawings for every component and part of the vessel.  The boat was put through the MCA commercial code of practice and now holds a commercia licence, which also means she has been rigorously surveyed and carries all the necessary gear and equipment to meet the licence requirements.

A rather unique yacht with a varied and fascinating history presented in excellent condition.

2016 – 2022 Refit List

60% of hull planking and frames replaced

New counter with horn timbers, frames etc

New laminated stem knee and structural oak floors throughout

New keel bolts and custom cast internal lead ballast plus new steel keel shoe

Complete new deck structure including beam shelf, deck beams and plywood deck

New stanchions and bulwarks

New coachroof and doghouse

Complete new interior fit out including structural bulkheads

New Beta engine plus all associated systems and tanks

All new wiring, systems, batteries etc

New domestic systems for heating, fresh water and sanitation

New standing rigging and refurbished spars

New sails from James Lawrence

Wooden Ships Comments on this Alan Buchanan 32 Sloop

Designed by Alan Buchanan and built by Sutton and Smith of Essex in 1970.  This yard were known for their high quality yachts and this is no exception, evidently built to a high spec for an owner who could afford the best materials of the day.

Built with no ferrous materials, she has bronze floors and keel bolts, lead keel and bronze knees throughout.  This list of materials will ensure the boat has a very long service life with minimal maintenance, not being affected by many of the problems associated with other contemporary yachts which had galvanised floors and ferrous keel bolts.

Maintained to a good standard by her diligent owners, the boat is a superb example of British yacht design and boat building from her period.  The size also hits a sweet spot, she is big enough to offer excellent headroom, 5 good berths and a nice sized cockpit, however she is small enough to be single handed when required.  The boat is very capable of offshore cruising, classic regatta racing or local coastal pottering.  A very versatile, attractive and well maintained classic yacht offered for sensible money in ready to go condition.

Length on Deck                          32’6”

Length Waterline                       24’6”

Beam                                            9’4”

Draft                                             4’7”

Thames Tonnage                       11TM

Sail Area                                      474sqft

Wooden Ships Comments on this Harrison Butler Z4 Tonner

Harrison butler Z4 tonner, designed by T. Harrison butler and built by Alfred Lockhart (Marine) Ltd of Brentford in 1938.

Thorough refit carried out in 2023 with further works by Simon Wood & Sons, Lymington in 2024 and 2026, full list of works below.

The Z4 is one of the well known designs of T. Harrison Butler, an amateur yacht designer and Opthalmic surgeon by profession, who produced some very fine, well mannered and capable yachts.  The name is derived from the Thames Tonnage of the design, a measure of useable interior volume.

The boat has a comfortable cabin with 2 good sized single berths and ample sitting headroom.  The compact galley with a Taylors stove is crisp and practical.  The Forepeak has a heads compartment with sitting headroom under the forehatch.

A very smart and well presented example of the class with a detailed recent refit history and seemingly very much ready to go.

Length on deck            22’

Beam                              7’

Draft                                4’

Thames Tonnage         4TM

2023 refit list

The hull was carefully taken back to bare wood to remove many paint layers and after repairs the hull was primed with three coats of Epifanes Underwater Primer and two coats of Seajet Antifouling.

All the strap bolts were replaced and all the related plank areas were repaired.

Straps were cleaned in situ and cold galvanized and then protected with two coats of Zingatarfree. A system we’ve used elsewhere that seems to work well.

The iron keel was mechanically abraded to bare metal and coated with three coats of red lead paint, then antifouled.

Where the hull opened while drying, or where repairs had been carried out, the seams were cleaned and the areas re-caulked. About 1/3^rd of the hull was re-caulked.

New engine beds were made and fitted. The metal engine bed frame was removed, shot blasted, cold galvanized and given three coats of Zingatarfree.

The keel bolt under the engine bed was replaced. This was made and galvanized for us by David Webster at Deep Blue Engineering.

Original beaching legs sockets in the hull were repaired and reinstated.

Tabernacle was removed and re-galvanised and the four holding boats were renewed.

The stem protection strip that runs from deck to keel replaced with stainless 316 and re-fastened.  The stemhead fitting was cold galvanized and rebedded.

Pushpit, pulpit and stanchions galvanized and refitted with dyneema lifelines.

David Webster at Deep Blue re-built the boomkin which was found to be weakened by rust, and at the same time he fitted an attachment method for a Pacific Light self-steering.

David Webster at Deep Blue remade and galvanized the upper and middle rudder pintles and these were refitted to strengthened transom mounts.

The lower chain attachments for the boomkin were repaired and all the fastenings and chain replaced.

The fuel tank was removed, cleaned and fitted with an extra shut-off valve and proper breather pipe.  The fuel tank was changed from hanging by a few screws to sitting on a new beam and then rigidly fixed.  Fuel filler cap improved to stop leaks.

The central Ringframe was found to be weakened at the base by rust. The rusted area was cut out and repaired with a 316 stainless strut – also made by David Webster at Deep Blue.

A reconditioned engine was fitted after complete service to all systems.

The interior of the boat has been repainted from bilge to deck ceiling.

The relatively new Collars mast was stripped of fittings, which were regalvanised, and the mast given 11 coats of varnish. The boom was given the same treatment as the mast with fittings removed, galvanized and with 11 coats of varnish to the wood.

An improved VHF aerial was fitted to the mast with better wiring and stronger mount.

2024

The rudder was removed and the Gudgeon and Lower Pintle fabricated and bushed. The rudder was re-fitted, and coated with Primer, Undercoated and Top coated.

3 Keel bolts forward were removed and replaced.

Topsides partially stripped, re-caulked and painted with 2 coats epoxy Primer, 2 coats Epiphane undercoat and 3 coats Epiphane Topcoat.

Cove line re-established.

Pulpit, Pushpit and Stanchions removed. Deck made good.

Stern light re-mounted.

2 coats of antifoul Primer and 2 coats of Shogun antifouling applied .

2026

Sadolin coating on Toe rail removed and 4 coats of teak oil applied.

Seams re-caulked where needed. 2 coats of Epoxy Primer applied to topsides before 2 coats of Epiphane Undercoat and 3 coats of Hempel gloss.

Underwater surfaces re-caulked where necessary. 2 coats of Primer. 2 coats of Antifoul Primer and 2 coats of Shogun Antifoul applied.

Wooden Ships Comments on this Alfred Mylne Sloop ‘Trefoil of Kames’

Designed by Alfred Mylne and built Alfred Mylne & Co. in 1950.  She was design No.414 and is the last yacht designed and built by the late Alfred Mylne Snr.  Mylne once said this design was the best small cruising yacht he ever produced and her history would support that with her extensive voyages around the west coast of Scotland.

Mylne came up with the design in response to a great desire in post war Britain for affordable yet capable cruising boats at the start of what would become prolific years of wooden boat building in the UK.  The size of boat meant she was easy to handle yet capable of offshore sailing and large enough for 4 berths and a heads.

Built from stocks of high quality timber Mylne hid away from prying eyes before the War, the quality of the original build is clear, but her price tag of £2,500 was several times that of a regular cruising yacht at the time, indicating the quality of materials and time that had gone into her construction.  The book matched mahogany of the saloon doors is another small indicator of the quality of this yacht.

Commissioned by Mrs Jean Wilson, her voyages in this yacht Trefoil of Kames became legendary as she singlehandedly charted every corner of the west coast of Scotland, with her work used in the fledging Clyde Cruising Club Directions, a volume that would go on to become the bible for west coast cruising.

After first seeing Trefoil and falling for her charms as a 5 year old boy, the present owner was put through a rigorous ‘interview’ with an elderly Jean Wilson and was granted permission to become the custodian of Trefoil in 2004 with a few stipulations:

-She must always be called ‘Trefoil of Kames’

-She must always be blue

-She must always be sailed on the West Coast each year

-She must never be sold to England

The owner has stood by these stipulations to date but of course is happy to sell the boat out of Scotland if an interested buyer from elsewhere shows themselves.

Over the next four winters, a major refit of the boat was carried out including major hull repairs, replacement of systems and a rebuild of the interior.  Nothing was done in haste and any changes to the original design were not acted upon without extensive sailing to ensure the changes were for the better.

A fascinating yacht with a wonderful history that has proved herself as one of Mylnes great designs despite being one of the smallest boats in his back catalogue.  Proven as deceptively fast and very seaworthy, she will take any weather thrown at her and is a delight to sail in any conditions.

June 2026 survey report available.

Length on Deck            28’3”

Length Waterline         22’10”

Beam                               8’1”

Draft                                4’8”

Sail Area                        367sqft

Thames Tonnage         7TM