West Country Gaff Ketch Yacht
Wooden Ships Comments on this West Country Gaff Ketch Yacht
Built by W.J. Oliver & Sons of Porthleven, Cornwall in 1920 as a sailing fishing drifter. She worked out of St Ives until 1934.
Originally fitted with a 2 mast lug rig, she has typical West Country fishing vessel lines except for her rather elegant counter stern which is very unusual and gives the hull a very attractive profile. There are only 3 known examples of these West Country boats with a counter stern, a design feature that helped the vessels stern lift to the waves when drifting with nets out.
Built at the time when engines were being fitted to the fishing vessels from new she had a 26hp Kelvin plus a 24hp Gardner auxiliary. This introduction of powered propulsion meant a change in the hull shape from fine underwater lines which maximised sailing performance, a necessity when fishing without an engine, to more full hull shapes giving more volume and therefore able to carry greater loads of fish. Later boats such as this one do not have the notorious sailing performance and speed of some of the earlier luggers, but they do make better private yachts as they offer a lot more space below decks and a very sea kindly motion.
This boat is a prime example of the design change, coupled with her elegant doghouse she is a real tardis of a vessel with excellent volume and living space below decks.
She was sold out of fishing in 1934 and converted to a yacht. Subsequently in 1939 she was engaged by the admiralty along with her then owner Mr Francis Bevan on a spying mission along the German Baltic coast looking for radar installations. She was then requisitioned by the Admiralty during the War and took part in Operation Dynamo thus becoming a certified Dunkirk Little Ship. After Dunkirk she had her masts removed and a gun fitted to the foredeck to be used on patrols around the south east coast. Following the Battle of Britain she remained in military service as a supply vessel based in Rothesey until the end of the war. A change of name to Freebooter in the late 1950’s followed a win in the National by a horse of the same name backed by her then owner.
She carries aboard numerous artefacts relating to her historical adventures, including the bible carried aboard during her spying missions and operation Dynamo, plus mounted medal ribbons from a past owner donated to the vessel in recognition of the important work carried out aboard her.
After several private owners, she was bought by Ray Barnett of Dartmouth who operated her for 30 years as a charter angling boat, as well as taking part in numerous film productions including The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Dracula, Kidnapped, The Apple Tree and The Onedin Line. After a family cruise to the Med and several owners, she came into present ownership in 2015. The vessel was clearly in need of work and was taken to the International Boat Building Training College, Lowestoft, where a major rebuild was undertaken between 2016 and 2019. Full details of the work done during this refit can be seen below.
Now in superb condition with modern systems and a very smart interior, this is a magnificent yacht ideally suited to extended cruising in absolute comfort. She is an easily handled boat with a moderate rig that has been planned out for single handed sailing, wide decks and a powerful engine to make good headway in adverse conditions.
The refit was carried out in conjunction with naval architect James Pratt who oversaw every step of the rebuild and produced all the technical and design drawings for every component and part of the vessel. The boat was put through the MCA commercial code of practice and now holds a commercia licence, which also means she has been rigorously surveyed and carries all the necessary gear and equipment to meet the licence requirements.
A rather unique yacht with a varied and fascinating history presented in excellent condition.
2016 – 2022 Refit List
60% of hull planking and frames replaced
New counter with horn timbers, frames etc
New laminated stem knee and structural oak floors throughout
New keel bolts and custom cast internal lead ballast plus new steel keel shoe
Complete new deck structure including beam shelf, deck beams and plywood deck
New stanchions and bulwarks
New coachroof and doghouse
Complete new interior fit out including structural bulkheads
New Beta engine plus all associated systems and tanks
All new wiring, systems, batteries etc
New domestic systems for heating, fresh water and sanitation
New standing rigging and refurbished spars
New sails from James Lawrence