Luke Powell Cutter

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments on this Luke Powell Cutter

Luke Powell, of Working Sail, has been a big part of the pilot cutter resurgence which has seen the rebuilding of many original boats and building of new ones to various designs.
Lizzie May, the second of eight boats to date, was the last one built entirely by himself. Launched in 1999, she has had an interesting history and several notable adventures.  Much had been learnt about the design of these boats from his first boat and Lizzie May was a longer, faster and more elegant evolution.  Some say she is the prettiest of his boats, whatever your opinion there is no denying the grace of her sheer and the perfection of the counter.
Designed for speed and weatherliness she can be easily handled by a small crew because of her sensible size. Two experienced traditional sailors are able to sail Lizzie May easily on their own, setting sail, taking in reefs and tacking upwind. One man can control the sheets of the mainsail and jib without moving from the helm which is extremely beneficial, she does not require several crew on the main sheet tails like some bigger boats.  In the right conditions, with the sails balanced and the tiller line adjusted sympathetically she can be set up to hold a steady course with minimal attention.

In present ownership she has cruised extensively as a coded charter vessel mainly on the West Coast of Scotland, plus trips to Brittany to participate in the Brest and Douarnenez Maritime Festivals.  She has also been used as a private family yacht and has been very successful as both.  Lizzie May has proven seakeeping abilities and resilience. She is still a young and  well cared for boat that has many adventures yet to come.  Inspected by wooden Ships in September ’17, she appears to be an honest and exciting vessel, cosmetically there is scope for a little improvement but she is absolutely ready to sail.

Length on Deck                                 42′

Length Waterline                            36′

Length Overall                                  55′

Beam                                                    12’6″

Draft                                                      6’7″

Displacement                                    16 tons

Construction

Planked in Larch all bronze screw fastened to heavy sawn oak frames bolted together in pairs.

Grown oak floors across the centreline all bronze fastened

Opepe backbone with external lead ballast keel of 3.5 tons with bronze keel bolts.  1.5 tons of internal lead trimming ballast.

Straight laid Opepe deck, caulked and payed in the traditional manner.  Bronze screw fastened to the deck beams.  Bulwark all round on oak stanchions mounted through the coverboards.

Small coachroof in solid Opepe with a straight laid coachroof deck.  Sliding entrance hatch on the centreline.

Small self draining cockpit well aft for the helmsman, allows you to sit comfortably on the deck while helming.

Rig

Gaff cutter rig on a keel stepped solid wooden mast with a fidded topmast.

Solid wooden boom, gaff yard and bowsprit.

Traditional galvanised wire standing rigging, parcelled and served and painted with Stockholm Tar.  Dead eyes and lanyards to external galvanised chain plates.  Whisker stays and forestay new in 2017.

Traditional type sails in Clipper Canvas, hand stitched with bolt ropes and cringles.  All sails by Patrick Selman of Falmouth, mainsail, topsail, staysail, jib and working jib.

Machinery

Vetus M4.17 4cyl 42hp marine diesel installed new in 2012.  Hurth gearbox with single lever control to a fixed 3 blade bronze propeller.  5.5 knots cruising speed, 7.2 knots max speed.

Pair of stainless steel fuel tanks, one each side of the engine with a balance pipe.  Total capacity 350 litre

Stainless steel water tanks aft of the fuel tanks, total capacity 250 litres

Accommodation

6 berths plus 2 saloon settee berths with a large double quarter berth, single quarter berth, pilot berth and 2 singles in the forepeak.  Settee berths are wide and comfortable.

Steps down over the engine box with a large double quarter berth to starboard and a single quarter berth to port.

Galley on the port side with a top quality gimballed GN Espace Levante 3 burner gas stove with oven and grill.  Twin stainless sinks with pressurised hot and cold water.  Storage in cupboards under the deck head and below galley work surface.

Large chart desk to starboard, forward facing with a seat.  Electronic instruments easily to hand and ample storage.

Half height bulkheads with vertical grab rails separate off the main saloon.  Centreline dropleaf table with port and starboard settee berths.    Port side there is a good sized pilot berth under the deckhead.

Passageway going forward to starboard of the mast with a wet hanging locker to starboard and large heads compartment to port.  Jabsco sea toilet with hand basin, hot and cold pressurised running water.

Double centreline teak doors into the forepeak with a single berth each side, storage beneath and anchor locker in the bows.

Full specification and details available upon request

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.