Laurent Giles Peter Duck ketch

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments

The Peter Duck is well known for its connection to Arthur Ransome, the very first one being designed for the writer by Laurent Giles just after the war.  In 1961 the design was revived, altered a little and a total of 38 boats were built up until 1970 by Porter and Haylett Ltd of Wroxham, this yacht was launched in 1969.

The design has become well known for its comfort and safety, undertaking long voyages as well as being easily handled local cruising boats.  The volume of a Peter Duck ketch is vast compared to similar sized boats, the generous beam is carried well forward and coupled with the more than ample headroom they fell like much bigger boats below decks.

Bought by the present owners in 2004, she had undergone a recent major refit in the previous ownership, all professionally carried out, which included a new engine, new sails and rigging, structural work to the hull and all new electrics.  Over the last 13 years the owners have cruised every summer with trips to north Biscay, Brittany and all along the north coast of France plus southern England.  She has proved to be a very comfortable and safe summer home, looking after her crew in rough weather and allowing them to enjoy the sun in comfort when it is fine.  Her impeccable maintenance record has been kept up and it is easy to see that she is a much loved well cared for yacht.  Full records of all work done are available.

She is now offered for sale in fine condition, ready to sail at a very sensible price.

Length on deck                 28’6″

Length waterline              25′

Beam                                    9′

Draft                                      4’3″

Thames Tonnage             8TM

Construction

Planked in Iroko all copper rivet fastened to closely spaced steam bent oak timbers.

Wooden floors across the centreline fastened with large copper rivets.  Galvanise strap floors aft.

2.4ton external iron ballast keel fastened with mild steel keel bolts, last drawn in 2013.  Minimal internal trimming ballast.

1″ yacht laid teak deck over a marine plywood subdeck

Varnished mahogany coachroof coamings with bronze framed windows.  Sheathed plywood coachroof deck with varnished handrails and a varnished teak rubbing strip.

Large self draining cockpit, all varnished mahogany.  Tiller steering on a transom hung rudder.

Rig

Fractional bermudan ketch rig on deck stepped varnished spruce spars.  Hollow built main mast and solid mizzen.  Varnished wooden slab reefing booms.

Stainless standing rigging from 2002 to internal galvanised chain plates.  Standing back stay to main, runners on tackles for the mizzen.  Roller reefing headsail from the stem head on a Rotastay continuous line furler.  Inner forestay for storm jib.

Running rigging mostly replaced between 2015-2017 with 12mm braid.

Main, mizzen and genoa by Jeckells in 2002, all in very good order.  Also a ghoster, cruising chute and storm jib.

Machinery

Beta Marine 37.5hp 4cyl diesel installed new in 2001.  Fresh water cooled with a heat exchanger.

Newage PRM single lever control gearbox to a centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propeller.  5kts cruising at 2lts/hr.  6kts max.

2 x 12 volt batteries charged from engine alternator or through the new (2017) charger when connected to shore power.  Installed shore power system with a socket ring, charger and water heater.

Engine professionally serviced in 2017, very good running order.

Accommodation

4 berths including 2 saloon settee berths and two singles in the forepeak.

The interior volume of a Peter Duck is vast compared to similar boats of her length as she carries her generous beam a long way forward and has very good head room, making the cabin feel large and spacious.  For a cruising couple the design is ideal, allowing the saloon to be totally used for living in absolute comfort

Steps down from the cockpit into the doghouse with vast headroom under the raised doghouse roof.  Galley to starboard and large chart desk to port.

Galley has a gimballed Taylors paraffin stove with oven and a single stainless sink with pressurised hot and cold water, plus a manual filtered fresh water tap.  Storage under the deck head for crockery and equipment.

Large full size chart desk faces outboard with electronics above and storage below.

Half height bulkheads with vertical hand rails into the saloon with a centreline dropleaf table and a large settee berth either side, each with a trotter box at the aft end.  Each has a shelf behind under the deck head with open top storage bins.  Masses of storage space behind the seat backs and below the berths.

Centreline door going forward with the heads to starboard  and hanging locker to port.  Heads is a Jabsco manual sea toilet which discharges either directly overboard or into a holding tank.  Hot and cold water in a pull out sink over the heads.

Forecabin has a decent single berth each side with storage beneath and anchor locker forward.  Hatch above for ventilation.

Inventory

Sestrel steering compass

Raytheon ST60 log, sounder and wind indicator

Repeaters in cockpit

Simrad RD68 DSC VHF

Raymarine RL70 radar and chartplotter

Raytheon ST60 4000 tiller pilot

Hand held VHF

Battery monitor

Stereo radio and CD player

Seago 4 man liferaft, serviced in March 2016

EPIRB GME with GPS, battery sufficient until 2021

3 lifejackets

MOB sling

Danbuoy attached to horseshoe with light

Flare pack

2 x fire extinguishers and 1 fire blanket

2 x CQR 25lb anchors

15lb Admiralty pattern anchor

50m of 5/16″ galvanised chain

Simpson Lawrence manual windlass

Custom made winter cover in 3 parts

Cockpit cover

Cockpit awning

Many warps

4 fenders  plus snubber

All galley equipment

Full specification and details available upon request

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.