Percy Mitchell Gaff Cutter

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments on this Percy Mitchell Gaff Cutter

24′ Percy Mitchell gaff cutter designed and built in Mitchells yard in 1932 as a yacht.  Mitchell usually built fishing boats for the local fleets but had realised that there was a lucrative market for building private yachts that largely followed the same format of construction as the fishing vessels.  This yacht however is of lighter construction employing closely spaced steamed timbers rather than heavy sawn frames. The materials are all top quality with pitch pine planking that is incredibly durable.

 

She is an exceptionally pretty yacht with a very well balanced rig, both aesthetically and in terms of her sailing.  She has been in present ownership for many years and has been raced regularly in local club events and classic regattas, as well as numerous channel crossings both single handed and with crew.

 

A major refit between 1990 and 1992 saw a complete new deck as well as the ballast keel being dropped off and the keel bolts checked.  She is now a smart little yacht, very unusual and incredibly eye catching.

Length On Deck                                                24′

Length Waterline                             20′

Beam                                                    7’2″

Draft                                                      4′

 

 

Construction

 

Hull

Planked in pitch pine all copper rivet fastened to steam bent oak timbers of 1.5″ x 1″ @6″ centres.

 

Oak back bone with grown oak floors.  External lead ballast keel with bronze keel bolts, the bolts being fitted through the oak floors.  Some internal lead trimming ballast.

 

Decks and cockpit

Yacht laid teak deck joggled to a king plank over a plywood subdeck, all new in a major refit carried out between 1990-1992.  Varnished teak toe rails and rubbing strake with bronze fittings.

 

Cockpit was also new during the refit with scrubbed teak sole and varnished plywood thwarts.  Bridge deck aft of the entrance hatch.

 

The coamings are original in varnished teak with bronze cleats on the inside for the headsail sheets that are lead through bronze turning sheaves.

 

Superstructure

Varnished teak coachroof coamings with a new coachroof deck in 1990 made or laid teak on a plywood subdeck.  Bronze portholes and varnished teak handrails.

 

Rig 

Gaff cutter rig on a keel stepped solid wooden pole mast.  Solid wooden roller reefing boom and a hollow wooden varnished gaff yard with oak jaws.

 

Stainless steel standing rigging all replaced in 2014, except for running backstays which were new in 2010.  Twin lower shrouds and a single cap shroud over the spreaders all to external bronze chainplates mounted on teak pads. Standing inner forestay which takes the hanked on staysail.  Runners on 2:1 block and tackles.

 

Sails 

Mainsail               SKB Sails               2012                       176sqft                 Excellent condition

Staysail                 SKB Sails               2000                       155sqft                 Good condition

Jib                           SKb Sails               2005                       116sqft                 Good condition

Topsail                  SKB sails               2005                       59sqft                   Good condition

 

 

Machinery

 

Engine

10hp Nanni diesel installed new in 2007.  Twin disc gearbox with twin lever controls with a stainless shaft to an offset 2 blade bronze propellor.  Give 4 knots cruising, 5.5 knots max.  shaft and propellor all new in 2007.

 

Tank

7 gallon plastic fuel tank in the starboard cockpit locker.

 

Batteries

2 x 12 volt batteries in the cockpit lockers charged by the engine alternator

 

 

 

Accommodation

 

Berths

2 saloon settee berths

 

Saloon

A simple and effective use of the space below with the entrance over the engine box and ample sitting headroom.  Galley area to starboard and navigation area to port.  Ample space forward for storage beyond the heads.

 

Galley

Galley is a simple affair with a Homestrand alcohol stove mounted on a gimbal.  A washing up bowl suffices as a galley sink and water is supplied from a jerry can.

 

Heads

Bridon sea toilet mounted on the centreline just forward of the mast pumps directly overboard.

 

 

Equipment

 

Silva steering compass

NASA sounder and log

VHF radio

Tiller Mate autopilot

Handheld Garmin GPS

Wind indicator

 

Horse shoe lifebuoy

 

Danforth anchor

Fisherman anchor

14 fathoms of chain

Extensive coil of 14mm multiplait warp

 

Beaching legs

Winter cover from mast to stern

Mooring warps

6 fenders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.