The Wooden Ships website is the only place on the web dedicated to advertising and selling small traditional boats, dinghies, cabin boat and river launches. The team is fortunate to have some of the world’s most beautiful small wooden boats for sale. We consider it both a pleasure and a responsibility to guide you in selecting the boat that is your perfect match.
Browse our portfolio of small wooden dinghies, yachts, rowing boats and powerboats for sale today, or contact us to find out more information.
Enquire about Clinker motor launch
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Clinker motor launch
£9950
Clinker motor launch with pretty lines, a substantial and sturdy boat that has been professionally maintained in present ownership. Refitted in 2018 with a new Yanmar 1GM engine and systems, new covers, sprayhood, Snipe trailer and a refit of the hull. Current ownership has included a new foredeck and engine box, and a complete strip back and re-varnish of the hull. A lovely little boat in very tidy condition, complete with smart sprayhood and cockpit cover which are both very nice additions, giving protection in our unpredictable climate. All serviced and ready for the season.
- Designer: Traditional
- Location: Dorset
- Length on deck: 14'
- Beam: 5'10"
Enquire about Mears of Seaton Clinker Motor Launch
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A traditional design, recently built and based on the traditional Beer fishing boats. These boats were designed to fish off the beach and were pulled up and down with the aid of winches and poles. She is planked in elm on oak frames. Yanmar 1GM inboard diesel. A stable, spacious boat very capable of coastal passages.
- Designer: Traditional
- Builder: Paul Mears of Seaton
- Year: 2008
- Location: Devon
- Length on deck: 18'
- Beam: 6'10
- Draft: 2'
Enquire about Andrew Wolstenholme Motor Launch
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Built by the current owner while studying at the Lyme Regis School of Boatbuilding in 2011 to an Andrew Wolstenholme design. The original design was for an electric motor but the owner modified it for a small diesel. Built from double diagonal Khaya mahogany which gives a rigid but light hull that does not dry out and move when ashore for long periods. Nanni 10hp twin cylinder diesel, fresh water cooled. Serviced regularly and with very low hours. Comes with a galvanised road trailer and cover, a delightful launch perfect for pottering around the river.
- Designer: Andrew Wolstenholme
- Year: 2011
- Location: Devon
- Length on deck: 13'
- Beam: 5'
- Draft: 18"
Enquire about Racing Keel Boat
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Racing Keel Boat
£8000
Designed by Dave Hollom of Americas Cup fame and built by the owner in 2013. She is similar in many ways to the Flying 15 and will plane easily in 12 knots of wind. Strip plank hull with carbon fibre spars and a retractable lead bulb keel, this is a boat with excellent performance and good pedigree given her designer. The rig and sail plan was designed by the team at Goacher Sails will all Harken fittings, 2 sets of sail and spinnakers. Complete with a Bison electric outboard and custom road trailer. A fun and exciting boat to sail, fully equipped, tried and tested, ready for her next owners.
- Designer: Dave Hollom
- Year: 2013
- Location: Derbyshire
- Length on deck: 22'
- Beam: 5'
Enquire about 14′ Clinker Motor Launch
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14′ Clinker Motor Launch
£7500
Built by Pasco and Sons as a river launch. Refitted by the previous owner with a reconditioned Bukh DV10 engine, new garboards and various new steamed timbers. Recent new propeller shaft and engine box with insulation. Complete with cover and road trailer. Attractive launch that has been used every season for the last 6 years on the River Dart, perfect for river or local coastal exploration.
- Designer: Traditional
- Builder: Pasco and Sons Boatyard, Cornwall
- Year: 1964
- Location: Devon
- Length on deck: 14'
- Beam: 6'
- Draft: 1'
Enquire about 18′ Rowing Skiff
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18′ Rowing Skiff
£7500
Immaculate rowing skiff, traditionally built with a single rowing position and aft rattan seat. Complete with all over cover and road trailer. Excellent boat in lovely condition.
- Length on deck: 18'10"
Enquire about Norfolk Oyster Sailing Dinghy
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A superb dinghy built professionally for the current owner to the Norfolk Oyster design by John Leather. Built to a very high standard and used only for a single 10 day holiday in Cornwall, this boat is in superb condition. A large volume and stable boat with good freeboard making her stiff and safe to sail. She will easily accommodate 4 adults when sailing. Installed outboard bracket on the transom. Easy to set up gunter rig means all spars stow on the boat easily for transport and the rig can be raised single handed. A truly magnificent dinghy complete with cover and road trailer.
- Designer: John Leather
- Location: Suffolk
- Length on deck: 16'9"
- Beam: 6'2"
- Draft: 1'6"
Enquire about Camper and Nicholson Launch
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Believed to have been built by Camper and Nicholson, major refit in 2014 and used very little since then. Carvel mahogany hull on very light steamed oak timbers, lovely build quality with charm and patina that can only gained with time. Rebuilt Stuart Turner twin cylinder petrol engine. Comes with a very good road trailer, ready to tow away. Lots of original features and fittings including all chromed bronze deck gear. An exquisite boat in lovely condition, a very handy size for messing about on the river.
- Designer: Camper and Nicholson
- Builder: Camper and Nicholson
- Location: Hants
- Length on deck: 14'2"
- Beam: 5'1"
- Draft: 1'8"
Enquire about Gorran Haven Crabber
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Gorran Haven Crabber
£6500
Built in Gorran Haven in 1921 as a crabbing vessel, she fished from Gorran Haven for much of her life, was rebuilt in the village 20 years ago and still resides in the village a stones throw from the beach. There are very few of these boats left and she represents a significant piece of local maritime history. The noticeable shape has generous beam and full bilges making them stable and safe even out in the open sea. Beta Marine 20hp diesel fitted new approximately 20 years ago. Comes with a galvanised yard trailer that is available to purchase at extra cost.
- Designer: Traditional
- Builder: Dick Pill of Gorran Haven
- Year: 1921
- Location: Cornwall
- Length on deck: 18'
- Beam: 6'5"
- Draft: 2'
Enquire about Lug Rigged Day Boat
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Lug Rigged Day Boat
£6500
Built in 1998 at the Lyme Regis School of Boat Building, carefully overseen by a professional and finished to a high standard. Strip plank cedar hull sheathed externally in epoxy glass cloth for a strong and light hull. Very spacious and stable, she was given an RCD compliance ticket upon completion. Complete with cover, outboard and road trailer, a nice looking and capable day boat.
- Designer: Antonio Dias
- Builder: Lyme Regis School of Boatbuilding
- Year: 1998
- Location: Devon
- Length on deck: 17'
- Beam: 5'6"
- Draft: 18"
Enquire about Double Rowing Skiff
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Double Rowing Skiff
£5750
Double rowing skiff built in the 1920's for Severn Hill House at Shrewsbury School. Rescued by the present professional shipwright owner 30 years ago and totally rebuilt. A re-purposed glider trailer serves as her trailer and mobile boathouse, being a totally enclosed trailer that the boat is wheeled in and out of. This set up has been refined to make for very easy use and transportation of the skiff. At less than 750kg total towing weight she is easy to move around with an average car. With a choice of oars and fixed or sliding seats this is a very unique and attractive boat that is ready to be towed away and used immediately. Will be on show at the Thames Traditional Boat Festival in July 2023.
- Designer: Traditional
- Builder: Salterns or Eton
- Year: 1920's
- Location: Suffolk
- Length on deck: 27'
- Beam: 3'6"
Enquire about 12′ Clinker Sailing Dinghy
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Traditional 12' clinker sailing build from mahogany on oak frames, all copper fastened. Professional refit at the IBTC, Lowestoft in 2014. Brand new rig in 2016 to International 12 rig plan. Lovely condition dinghy kept undercover the majority of its life. Complete with road trailer, oars and cover. Has been used to teach the children to sail, a fun but forgiving boat totally complete and ready for the summer.
- Designer: Traditional
- Year: 1981
- Location: Cambridgeshire
- Length on deck: 12'
Small boats for sale
People use small boats for sailing, rowing, fishing and tenders for larger vessels. They are easy to transport, affordable, and a great way to get afloat. Small boats are perfect for as a small fishing boat, small sailing boat, motor cruiser or sports cruiser and popular for recreation. We have spent some of the best family days pottering up and down the estuary in our sailing dinghy.
Small classic sailing boats are great for people wanting to start sailing. They’re relatively affordable and classic in style, and you can often find older examples for a fraction of the cost of a new boat. Plus, they’ll still provide you with years of enjoyment.
Classic boats are also a great option if you’re looking for a project boat. Many of these boats have been well cared for and only need a little TLC to get them back into sailing shape. With a bit of elbow grease, you can often have your dream boat for a fraction of the cost of buying new.
Some of the cheap small sailboats for sale on the Wooden Ships website include dinghies, day boats and river launches. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about any small boats featured on our website, or if you’d like to sell your boat.
Wooden Ships classic yachts brokers have an extensive database of small boats for sale. With a wide range of sail boats, classic yachts, motor yachts and small classic boats, Wooden Ships has one of the largest selections of traditional wooden boats and yachts for sale in the UK.