Edgar Cove Sailing launch

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments

Edgar Cove came to Salcombe from the Thames before the War and rapidly established Salcombe’s most successful boatyard where he built a wide range of boats up to 30′, both sail and motor. He designed his own boats, he had an eye for a fine line and a Coves boat was always very respected in Salcombe for its lines and build quality.  Amongst many others, he built a fleet of hire boats for Salcombe in the 1950’s and 60’s, mostly motor launches but also a few sailing launches like this one with inboard engines and a simple easily managed rig.

This particular boat was built for his wife so the build was consequently exceptional using the best mahogany available with some very fine detailed work.  The boat shows very little signs of wear so appears to have had very careful maintenance and relatively little but careful use.

A sailing launch such as this is a very practical day boat. This is not a dinghy but a stable boat capable of sea sailing in reasonable conditions, stiff under sail and not over-canvassed but still with very rewarding sailing performance, a rig easily set and handled and with 5knts from her inboard diesel engine all making her a very versatile little boat.

The mast can be stepped by one standing in the boat, the heel dropping into a slot in the keel below the fore deck with a galvanised strap to secure it against the coaming. The 2 stainless steel shrouds are quickly set up with lanyards; the jib is set on a Wickham Martin roller gear on a traveller hauled out to the end of the bowsprit.  Both halyards come down to pins on the coaming alongside the mast. The mainsail is sheeted to a horse across the aft deck. The jib sheets pass through reinforced openings in the coaming and made up to cleats.

The centre-board is a substantial affair in galvanised steel but surprisingly easily raised and lowered with a lever.  When lowered the mast lies with only a couple of feet over the transom and the spars lie easily within the boat.

The boat has been recently stripped and re-varnished with 6 coats of conventional yacht varnish and is ready in all respects to be launched and sailed.

Construction

Clinker planked mahogany with steam bent oak timbers.

Varnished ply deck.

Beautifully radiussed coamings capped with bronze.

Bronze rubbing strip round the gunnel.

Galvanised steel centre-board in mahogany case raised and lowered with a lever.

Lift-off rudder hung on the transom. Short and long tillers for sailing and motoring.

A beautifully made boarding ladder clips on bronze fittings on the gunnel.

Rig

Gunter rig on varnished spruce mast and spars.

Stainless steel rigging set up with lanyards to external bronze chain plates.

Main sheet to a horse across the aft deck.

Traditional varnished blocks.

Sails by McKillop of Kingsbridge in red terylene.  Mainsail with one reef.

Jib on Wickham Martin roller gear.

Machinery

Beta Marine 10hp twin cylinder diesel with very few hours.  Fully serviced and ready to go.

Fixed 3 blade bronze propeller

Stainless steel fuel tank under the aft deck, approx 5 galls.

New 12v battery.

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.