Norman Dallimore Ketch

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments on this Norman Dallimore Ketch

Blue Bonnet was custom-designed by Norman Dallimore, built by Tucker Brown in 1947.

Commissioned as a cruising boat for a Colonel, his wife insisted on having standing headroom throughout so there is a step in the deck just forward of the cockpit and a gently rising foredeck to achieve this.  They carried a paid hand so she has a berth in the focsle where the hand lived.

She has received much alteration and improvement over the years, not least in the present 33-year ownership.  Originally a sloop with a very long boom, she was altered to a ketch to make sail handling easier and the wheelhouse was fitted with an inside helm giving comfortable cruising in heavy weather. Regular refits by Lallows in Cowes have kept her sound including a new engine in 2013 and a complete interior re-paint from bilges upwards with a new transom and teak stern deck and rails. Raised exterior helm gives all-round vision and communication with crew.

Blue Bonnet has cruised frequently around northern Europe , the Channel, Biscay, the French canals and the Mediterranean. She is a wonderful summer home, stable and with plenty of space. Although she has the looks of a motor sailer, her performance under canvas alone is very respectable with frequent passages in heavy and light winds without the engine on all points of sail. She has been sailed single-handed.  For a period she was a retirement home in the Mediterranean and later as a base for a City banker in St Katherine’s dock.

At less than 40′ she offers a lot of capability and volume for her size, and in an era where size is charged it is important to not buy too large a yacht.  An iconic, well- loved and interesting yacht with fine looks.

Length on Deck                 39’3″

Length Waterline             37’3″

Beam                                    10’2″

Draft                                      4’6″

Thames Tonnage             10TM

Expert survey in Summer 2016 (in France) accepted by UK insurers.

Construction

Planked in mahogany above the waterline, larch below, copper fastened to closely-spaced steamed oak timbers. Grown oak floors across the centreline, copper fastened.

Topsides painted with a 2 pack paint system.

External lead ballast keel with bronze keel bolts, x-rayed  in 2010.

T&G laid pine decks sheathed in glass fibre and finished in blue/grey deck paint.  Scrubbed-teak toe rails and rubbing strake all round with bare teak stern decks, varnished teak hatches.

Varnished teak wheelhouse with bronze framed windows and a sheathed plywood roof.

Large aft very deep, safe cockpit with comfortable seating all round (non self draining).  Full-height door leading into the wheelhouse.

Rig

Bermudan ketch rig on stepped masts in tabernacles supported to with compression posts.

Varnished slab reefing mizzen boom and painted alloy roller reefing main boom.  Timber spinnaker boom. Electric roller reefing system on the main, original Francis prototype (needs repair). Roller furling headsail.

Stainless steel standing rigging to recent custom-made bronze chain plates.

Sails include mainsail, mizzen, genoa, spinnaker with snuffer and fisherman’s staysail; Barient chromed bronze sheet winches.

Stern davits and stainless ladder extending below waterline for swimmers.

Machinery

Ford 2712 4cyl 80hp naturally aspirated diesel installed in 2013.  This was a rebuilt engine, newly marinised but very few hours since installation.

Parsons hydraulic gearbox, rebuilt by Parsons specialist, with single lever Morse controls to fixed 3-blade centreline propeller, gives 8 knots cruising, 9 knots max.

80 gallon stainless steel fuel tanks, including a reserve tank.

Manual hydraulic steering to centreline rudder.

Two domestic batteries and a separate starting battery charged from engine alternator or through 240v charger.  Installed shore power system.

Recently installed electric anchor winch with new chain, controlled on deck and at wheel position. Reserve anchor and propeller.

Accommodation

5 berths plus child berth.  2 saloon settee berths and 2 singles in the master cabin and a berth in the focsle.

Entry from the cockpit into the wheelhouse with a low level galley to starboard and steps up to the interior helm position to port which is above the engine.

Galley has 2-burner gas stove with oven and grill, single stainless sink with pressurised hot and cold water from a gas water heater.  Formica worktops and varnished door fronts with good storage.

Starboard side passageway into the main saloon with a settee berth either side and a centreline drop-leaf table.

Centreline door going forward passes through the heads compartment with a manual sea toilet, hand basin and shower.  Ladder and hatch to deck.

A further door opens to the master cabin with a large single berth either side and some nice panelled teak joinery including drawers, lockers and hanging lockers.

Focsle has a single berth and another small child’s berth as well as plenty of stowage space.

Good headroom and lots of light below decks. Eberspacher diesel-fired hot air system throughout.

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.