Windermere 19

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments

The Windermere 19 was a class racing yacht designed for the Royal Windermere Yacht Club by Percy Crossley.  The 19 denotes her waterline length.

Built by Shepherds Boatyard on the Lake in 1928 for C.J.E Hall, a Cheshire solicitor who very much enjoyed his yacht racing both on Windermere and on the Clyde.

There were only 6 yachts built to this design and this is the only known surviving example, the class was abandoned in 1934 due to lack of support and this boat was sold to Poole where an extra strake was added to the topsides and a cuddy built over the forward end of the cockpit.  The Windermere 17, her slightly smaller sister, was very popular and there are still numerous 17’s sailing on the Lake with many more built originally than the 19’s.

Sold by Wooden Ships to the present owner in 2005, she underwent a major rebuild in 2005/2006 where the hull was rebuilt and strengthened, the deck replaced and a complete new bermudan rig fitted.  Originally she would have had a gaff rig but it was decided to go with a more modern bermudan design to make her easier to sail and enable the owner to sail alone if he wished.  So often in these rebuilds, unlike with this boat, an owner will stick rigidly to the original plans which can often result in an awkward and difficult boat to use in the modern sailing world.

She is now in first class condition, on the water and ready to sail.  She comes with a road trailer and all over cover making her a very easy boat live with.  Unfortunately no original plans survive today but we have a number of black and white photos of the boat afloat in her early years.

Length On Deck                                30′

Length Waterline                              19′

Beam                                                    7′

Draft                                                     4′

Construction

Planked in mahogany, all copper fastened to closely spaced lightweight steamed oak timbers.

Garboards and one plank up replaced in 2005, all hood ends and garboards re-fastened with bronze screws.

During the ’05/’06 refit, she was veneered in 2 layers of diagonal mahogany planking fixed with epoxy.  This has added enormous stiffness to the hull and made her totally watertight.

Grown oak floors fixed with bronze screws, all new in 2005

Wooden back bone replaced in oak in 2005.

External lead ballast keel of 21cwt, removed and re-bedded in 2005, with new bronze keel bolts.

Yacht laid deck teak over a plywood sub deck, new in 2005.  Varnished mahogany coverboards with a small tow rail set slightly inboard of the outer edge finishes the deck off very nicely.

Varnished mahogany coachroof, all new in 2005 with varnished mahogany coamings around the cockpit.

Large open cockpit to allow the crew to work easily.  Scrubbed teak cockpit sole with varnished mahogany slatted thwarts either side.

Rig

Fractional bermudan sloop rig on a keel stepped wooden mast.

The rig was designed from scratch by the late Ed Burnett and built to this design.  Originally she was built as a gaff sloop, so a certain amount of interpretation had to be undertaken to produce and authentic looking and well balanced bermudan rig.

Mast and boom of Sitka Spruce, made by Collars in 2006

Standing and running rigging all brand new in 2006.  Single lower shroud and a single cap shroud to internal stainless steel chain plates fastened to the beam shelf.  She also has jumper struts to support the mast head.

Modern equipment has been used on the rig including sail tracks, sheet tracks, blocks and running rigging material.  This has created a rig which is incredibly easy to handle so she can be sailed by one person without concern.  Single line furling headsail.

Battened mainsail and roller genoa new in 2006.  Both in cream polyester.

Machinery

She has a 5hp Mecury 2 stroke outboard which fits to a bracket over the port side.

When not in use it stows under the aft deck.

Inventory

7 x inflatable buoyancy bags with pump

Mercury 5hp outboard with bracket

All over cover

Mainsail and Genoa

Road trailer

Danforth anchor and chain

Boat hook

Warps

Fenders

Manual bilge pump

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.