42′ Bermudan Cutter

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments on this 42′ Bermudan cutter

Built by the present shipwright owner purely for the sailing needs of him and his family, this is an immensely strong and capable yacht built to exacting standards by a highly skilled craftsman with an eye for detail. After looking for a new yacht the owners decided they could not find anything that suited their requirements so decided that building their own was the best way forward.  They employed the services of David Alan-Williams, a naval architect, who penned their ideas into line drawings and specified the various technical details such as ballast keel weights and arrangement, chainplate positions and design, structural bulkheads and hull construction.  The owner then built the boat at his yard in north Devon and has used her for family sailing ever since.

The construction of the hull is massive and unlike any other wood epoxy boat we have seen.  There are none of the usual gaps and joints filled with epoxy as is so often found in this type of boat, the quality of finish in the hull and joinery is superb and she really is a boat that is ready to sail away.

 

Length on Deck                                 12.8m

LWL                                                       12.0m

Beam                                                    4.0m

Draft                                                      2.0m

 

Construction

 

Hull

Immensely strong hull constructed using strip plank mahogany and cedar all epoxied glued.  Once that had set multiple layers of diagonal and fore and aft hardwood were glued over the top and fastened with bronze gripfast nails.  The entire hull was then sheathed with epoxy glass cloth inside and out creating a total thickness of over 30mm.  The hull was faired and finished with a two pack paint system for minimal maintenance.

 

Laminated wooden floors span the bilge and were fitted prior to the inside of the hull being sheathed which helps put an enormous amount of rigidity into the structure.

 

There are no frames in the boat however the bulkheads are structural and as such are bonded to the hull.  Because of the sheer thickness and strength of the hull there is no need for conventional frames to be fitted to this type of construction.

 

The keel is fabricated from stainless steel to create a hollow tank effectively which is mated up to the bottom of the hull.  To the bottom of this is fastened the lead ballast with large galvanised bolts going right though from inside the hull to the bottom of the lead.  The hollow tank acts as a high capacity fuel tank from which fuel is pumped up when needed to the day tank.  Everything about this has been over engineered including the enormous keel bolts.

 

Tiller steering to a skeg hung rudder for strength with stainless steel hangings.

 

 

Decks and cockpit

Decks are marine plywood glued and screwed to pine deck beams and then sheathed in epoxy glass.  Finished in two pack paint with non-slip pads.  Decks are wide which makes movement up and down the boat very easy.

 

Lifting hatch in the foredeck for access to a large storage area for ropes and fenders,  the bulkhead between this compartment and the rest of the accommodation is watertight and structural creating a crash bulkhead which is a comforting addition for any ocean sailor.  Aft of this is S/L manual windlass and a Lewmar forehatch to the forecabin.

 

Deep self draining cockpit with large lockers beneath the thwarts both sides.  Scubbed teak cockpit sole grating and thwart tops.  Very sheltered cockpit especially with the spray hood up, large enough for a family to sit around but small enough to span with your legs while the boat is heeling at sea.

 

There is a gentle hint of varnished teak to the decks and cockpit which is enough to make her standout and remind people she is a wooden yacht, but not too much so as to become a laborious task during spring refit.

 

 

Superstructure

Coachroof coamings and deck are made from marine plywood, sheathed in epoxy glass and finished with two pack paint.  Varnished teak hand rails on the coachroof deck and a rubbing band around the top of the coamings gives a nicely balanced contrast.

 

3 portholes per side all of toughened glass with heavy chromed bronze bezels, all cast by the owner specifically for this boat.

 

Rig  

Bermudian cutter masthead rig on a keel stepped alloy mast.  Alloy slab reefing boom.

Stainless steel standing rigging fitted to the boat when built.   Stainless steel rigging screws with norseman terminals to stainless steel internal chainplates.   This is an immensely strong rig, again it is over engineered with larger than required standing rigging for added peace of mind.

 

3 mast winches and 4 cockpit winches, all self-tailing Lewmar.

 

Sails.   

Mainsail fully battened                  Diamond Sails    37.25sqm     1994              Good condition

Furling genoa                                     Diamond Sails    48sqm           1994              Fair condition

Hanked staysail                                 Diamond Sails    20sqm           1994              Good condition

 

 

Machinery

 

Engine  

Lister PHW 40hp 4 cyl diesel, 1994.  Hurth manual gearbox with single lever controls.  Stainless shaft to a centreline 3 blade propeller.  Gives  cruising speed of 6kts at 3 litres/hr, max 7.5kts.

Engine regularly serviced and maintained.

 

Batteries

12v electrical system with two domestic batteries and a dedicated engine start battery.  Charging from engine alternator or shore power via a charger unit.

 

Tanks

2 fuel tanks with a total capacity of 100 gallons.  Day tank beneath the cockpit sole and a large tank within the keel as described above.

 

Water tank is s/s with a capacity of 160 gallons

 

Accommodation

 

The interior has been finished to a very high standard using light coloured timber including pine and ash to give the boat a feeling of space and comfort.  There is none of the normal oppressive darkness often found when dark mahogany is used.  The standard of finish with the joinery is top class and a joy to see.

 

Berths 

4 berths in the saloon and the forward double cabin.  Fore cabin is a very comfortable and spacious area with access from the port side of the saloon.  Large double to port with lockers to starboard and a dressing table area at the forward end.

 

Saloon

Centreline drop leaf table aft of the mast with U-shaped settee to port and a single settee berth to starboard.  Ample space for movement fore and aft through the boat.

 

Chart table is in the aft starboard corner.  You are seated at the chart desk facing aft with all the electronic equipment, switch board and book shelves within easy reaching distance.

 

Diesel cabin heater.

 

Heads

Lavac sea toilet aft stbd.

 

Galley

Port side aft.   Gimballed Neptune 2 burner gas cooker with oven and grill.  S/S double sink drains directly overboard.  Pressurised hot and cold running water, calorifier heated from the engine provides the hot water.  Plenty of locker storage space in and around the galley.

 

The galley is a U shape with a large work surface area on the centreline.  Beneath this is the engine in an insulated box.  This clever use of space allows easy access all around the engine and gearbox and provides valuable work space for the galley

 

 

Equipment

 

Navigation

 

Silva cockpit compass

Brookes & Gatehouse sounder

Raymarine log

VHF/DSC radio

Furuno radar

Aries windvane

Philips GPS

Yeoman chart plotter

Navtex

 

Safety Equipment

 

Viking 4 man liferaft.  Serviced March ‘14

Horseshoe lifebuoy

Danbuoy

2 Fire extinguishers

 

Ground tackle

 

45lb CQR anchor

40m  10mm chain

60m 12mm warp

Manual windlass

 

Gear

 

8’ Avon inflatable

2hp Yamaha outboard,  20 yrs old.

Spray hood on SS frame

8 fenders

Warps

 

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.