Gaff Cutter Working Boat

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments

Working boat type gaff cutter believed to have been built by Gales of Cowes in 1914 as a Solent Smack, similar to the Itchen Ferry.

Typical lines of the working boats above the water line with a straight stem, gentle sheer line and a slightly raked transom stern with a transom hung rudder.  Slightly more unusual lines below the water line with a very full midships section with a sharp turn to the bilge, and a fine run on the planking fore and aft.  Raking keel making her considerably shallower at the fore foot than at the heel

Complete professional rebuild finished in 2005 with all receipts.  Any work necessary in the hull was completed with a new deck, rig, sails, mechanics and paint work.  The result was a sound first class little boat with no nasty hidden corners as is usually found on these old working boats.

Large cockpit with coamings at waist height which helps keep the children aboard.  Small cabin under the foredeck with twin berth

Present owner has looked after her well, carrying out repairs and maintenance as necessary with a full paint job every year, new cabin bulkhead in 2016 and numerous other smaller jobs.  Raced in the Solent classics regattas and OGA events, she has been a huge amount of fun and a very successful family day boat.

2014 survey plus all receipts and photos from the rebuild are available.

Construction

Planked in larch copper fastened to sawn oak frames.  Much of the framing and planking appears to be older than the 2005 rebuild, except for evidence of new futtocks and a few frames and the sheer strake on the port side.

Internal lead ballast rather than the traditional external iron keel.

Laid deck in Iroko over a marine plywood subdeck.  Iroko is yacht laid and joggled to a king plank, glue fastened to the plywood, seams payed with butyl rubber.

Deck, deck beams, stanchions, toe rail and capping rail were all new in 2005.

Varnished Iroko bulwark all round set on stanchions.

Iroko cockpit coamings around the large open cockpit.  Scrubbed hard wood sole board sin the cockpit.  Varnished thwarts and engine box.

Bulkhead at the forward end of the cockpit, replaced in 2016.  Small door in the bulkhead giving access to the forepeak with 2 berths.  Mainly used for sail stowage but it is a comfortable dry space for weekend camping.

Rig

The gaff cutter rig was completely renewed in the 2005 refit using historical plans for a Plymouth Hooker.  All new spars , standing rigging, running rigging and sails.

Keel stepped solid spruce pole mast with single spreaders.  Stripped and re-varnished in 2016.

Single cap shroud and twin lowers in stainless steel wire with deadeye terminals to galvanised rigging screws and external chainplates.

Single forestay in s/s wire to the stemhead fitting.  Running backstays in s/s wire with 4:1 block and tackles.

All standing rigging new in 2004.

Varnished spruce boom with galvanised gooseneck fitting incorporating a mast band and pin rail for securing halyard falls.  Mainsail sheets to a galvanised horse bolted through the transom.

Mainsheet led forward through a turning block each side with a jammer on the cockpit coaming.

Sails made of Clipper Canvas by SKP Sails in Cornwall.  Mainsail, topsail, staysail and jib.

All sails in very good condition.

Main is bent on the mast with ash hoops.  Hanked on staysail.  Jib has a luff wire, set from the tip of the bowsprit to the masthead.  Headsail sheets lead through turning blocks on a track fixed to the side decks.

Pair of Lewmar 6 sheet winches each side

Machinery

Yanmar GM1 12hp horizontal single cylinder marine diesel engine installed in 2005.  Complete rebuild prior to installation with receipts to prove.

Twin lever controls.  Stainless steel shaft to a fixed 3 blade bronze propellor.

Engine centrally mounted under a hinged engine box for easy access.

6 gallon copper fuel tank under the aft deck.  Inline CAV fuel filter and water separator.

2 x 12 volt batteries.  Dedicated engine start battery with separate 110ah domestic battery.  Charging from engine alternator

System isolator and switchboard in the forepeak.

Accommodation

2 berths under the foredeck, separated by a bulkhead with a pair of doors for access.  Comfortable and dry, suitable for weekend camping or somewhere for the kids to go if they get cold.

Inventory

CQR with 18 fathoms of 8mm galvanised chain.

New kedge anchor and warp

Mooring warps

Fenders
Clipper echo sounder and log

Fire extinguisher

Horse shoe lifebuoy

Radar reflector

Manual bilge pump

Automatic bilge pump

Berth cushions and cockpit cushions

Boom tent

Brand new all over winter cover

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.