Kings Ametyst cutter

Full specification

Wooden ships comments on this Kings Ametyst cutter

The Kings Ametyst cutter was a popular and successful racing yacht designed for RORC Class III by the little known Polish designers Z.J. Milewski and M.F. Plucinski.  They were looking to design a yacht that could be constructed at a low price so as to give keen a sailors a competitive yacht at affordable prices.  As part of the original advertising, some of the main features of the yacht were described as:

• Light but strong and reliable construction
• Graceful silhouette
• Speed and manoeuvrability combined with stiff and comfortable behaviour at sea
• Comfortable cruising accommodation for five persons
• Sail plan suitable for racing but easily operated when single handed
• Exceptionally high standard of workmanship and finish

The yachts were built in Poland, an area that was becoming known for producing quality boats at very reasonable prices, and the design was very modern and forward thinking.  While many designers were still producing long keeled yachts, albeit with a more cut away forefoot than in previous decades,  the Kings Ametyst had a split fin keel and skeg hung rudder, reducing her wetted surface area and improving performance.  This type of design became common place in later years, but not all designers at the time were bold enough to step away from the conventional ideas of underwater profile.

The centre cockpit allows the boat to be split with a separate aft cabin giving three different living areas which is useful for both cruising and racing.

The design has been well proven over the years, including a 6000Nm single handed voyage from Poland to the USA in 1963 by American yachtsman Stanley Jablonski, which included a run in with Hurricane Beulah.

2010 survey available.

Sail area                                   490sq.ft.

ROC rating                               22.2 ft.

This example was built in 1965and is hull number 50.  In her present 25 year ownership she has voyaged to the Mediterranean and underwent a major refit starting in 1995.

Planked in 7/8” West African mahogany copper rivet fastened to alternating steam bent and laminated oak frames.  Hood ends are bronze screwed.  Keelson, stem and stern post are all laminated from white oak and African mahogany.

Mixture of grown oak and galvanised strap floors held through the back bone with galvanised bolts.

In the 1995 refit, all metal floors were removed and straps were replaced with new galvanised ones and new floor bolts.  All necessary repairs carried out to frames beneath the floors.

 

Fin keel constructed of laminated white oak, mahogany and pine with a 1.7 ton cast iron ballast keel.

The underwater hull was then stripped to bare wood, left to dry for a long period, and sheathed with epoxy and glass cloth under the supervision of the surveyor using specifications provided by SP Resins.  This has created a hull that makes no water, is absolutely stiff and has no worries of suffering damage in tropical waters.

 

Yacht laid 5/8” teak deck over a ¼” marine plywood subdeck.  The deck seams were raked out and re-payed with Sikaflex in 1995.

 

Varnished mahogany coachroof with recessed Perspex windows.

 

Self draining cockpit, copper lined, with mahogany thwarts.  Cockpit well is deep and protected with comfortable seating and easy access over the bridge deck to the main cabin.

Tiller steering with the tiller protruding over the top of the aft cabin coachroof.

Decent amount of working deck space all round.  Twin roller stem head fitting with twin fairleads and a pair of large mooring cleats.  Stainless pulpit, guard wires and stanchions all round.

Varnished mahogany forehatch with a low teak toe rail all round.

 

Rig

Bermudan cutter rig on deck stepped varnished spruce mast.  Mast was new in 1989 by Noble Spars.

Roller reefing varnished boom with bronze goose neck and reefing mechanism.

Stainless steel standing rigging new in 2010 with stainless rigging screws to internal stainless chainplates.  Twin lower shrouds, single intermediate and single capshroud.  Twin back stay, inner forestay and outer forestay.

All running rigging led back to the cockpit for ease of handling.

 

Sails

 

Mainsail           Penrose Sails                236sq’             4 yrs old                      Very good

Genoa              Penrose Sails                315sq’             3 yrs old                      Very Good
A large wardrobe of older sails, all in good condition, including several staysails and jibs, Yankee, Spinnaker, Storm Jib and trysail.

 

Machinery

M20 Perkins Perama 18hp diesel installed new in 1992.  Very smooth and tidy 3cyl marine diesel that has been well maintained and serviced regularly.

Twin lever control Hurth gearbox with a centre line stainless steel shaft to a 3 blade bronze propeller gives 5 knots cruising speed at 1-2 litre/hour.

Shaft and Flexi coupling new in 2005.

14 gallon stainless steel diesel tank under the cockpit sole.

 

Batteries

3 x 12 volt batteries in an original lead lined battery box.  Dedicated engine start battery with two domestics.

Charging from engine alternator and shore power system with sterling intelligent charger.

 

Accommodation                      5 berths

These little yachts have an enormous amount of useable interior volume for a 33’ boat.  The benefit of the centre cockpit is that it splits the accommodation into 3 separate areas which is very useful whether racing or cruising.

The aft cabin is entered through the sliding hatch with steps down. U-shaped berths give ample space for 2 people with the tiller stock between the berths.  Sitting headroom throughout the aft cabin.

Steps down over the bridge deck into the main cabin.  Engine is recessed behind the companion steps and under the cockpit sole.  To starboard is a varnished drop leaf mahogany table with seating around against the hull sides.

Galley to port with a small work surface and single stainless steel sink which drains overboard.  2 burner gas stove recessed into a gap under the deck head.  Water from 2 x 35 gallon welded plastic water tanks each side under the cockpit.  Electric pressure pump with hot and cold running water.

Heads compartment to port with a manually pumped sea toilet

Hull is lined throughout with varnished mahogany slats.

Forward cabin through a central passageway.  Twin v-berths with large storage lockers beneath and full height hanging lockers.  Anchor locker forward of the berths.  Forward cabin is again panelled with varnished mahogany slats.

 

Inventory

Sestral steering compass

NASA sounder

NASA thru’ hull log

Standard Horizon DSC VHF

Raymarine ST4000 Tiller Pilot

Garmin 120XL GPS

Smarter Chart 500 plotter with AIS

Hand bearing compass

Victron 250W inverter

24v Eberspacher heater

Solar panel

 

Horse shoe lifebuoy with lights

4 x safety lines

2 x fire extinguishers

2 x fire blankets

Offshore flare pack

Radar reflector

 

Danforth bower anchor

20lb CQR anchor

120m of 8mm chain

100m of 25mm warp

 

Avon Redstart inflatable dinghy

Sprayhood

Boom Cover

Full winter tent cover

 

12 various fenders

Ample 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.