Archives: Small crafts

Wooden Ships Comments

Designed and built in 1922 by McGruers of Clynder as a gentlemans launch.  She was berthed on Loch Earn until 1929 when she was purchased by McGruers and used as their work boat and tug to move yachts around where she remained until the McGruers business closed up about 20 years ago.

The current owners bought her with a view to carrying out the restoration that is required.  They have stripped her back to the bare boat, removing various additions and stripping the hull back to bare inside and out.

The teak planking is in relatively god condition but the transom needs replacing, the keel is in a bad way and most of the steamed timbers need replacing.

It is thought she was originally built with a small central wheelhouse and two cockpits, an elegant boat for pottering around the inshore waters of the west coast of Scotland.

Length                  26’

Beam                    6’6”

Construction

Planked in teak all copper fastened to steam bent oak timbers.

Sawn oak floors and long engine beds adding great strength to the hull.

Foredeck and aft deck with a curved teak coaming, however this will probably be removed in the refit so could be replaced to whatever design a new owner wishes to have.

Teak cockpit thwarts.

Various cockpit sole boards

Transom hung rudder with cables and wheel steering mounted on the side of the cockpit.  New bronze wheel to be fitted.

Machinery

No engine with the boat, although engine beds are in place.

There is an engine box and the stern tube is in place.

Fuel tank has been removed but comes with the boat.

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.

Wooden Ships Comments

Sailing pram dinghy built in Salcombe, most likely by Coves.  Owned by the same family in Salcombe for many years, used for family sailing around the river.

She has been in storage now for many years and is in need of some remedial work to the hull, plus a full strip down and re-varnish.  There is evidence of some planking coming away at the hood ends, although it seems most of the steamed timbers are intact.

A lovely little pram dinghy, complete with rig, that would make an excellent winter project for a keen amateur.

Length                 8’11”

Beam                  4’1”

Construction

Clinker planked in mahogany copper fastened to steam bent oak timbers.

Mahogany fore and aft transoms and mahogany gunwhales.

Mahogany thwarts with sawn hanging knees.

Single rowing position for centre thwart.

Dagger board case in mahogany.

Wooden dagger board and rudder with 2 tillers.

Rig

Gunter rig on a keel stepped wooden mast.

Rig is complete with all spars, battened sail and rigging.

Equipment

Dagger board

Rudder and 2 tillers

Pair of oars

Mainsail

Spars and rigging

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.

Wooden Ships Comments on this IDRA 14

The IDRA 14, or Irish Dinghy Racing Association 14’ One Design Dinghy was originally designed and built in 1939 by naval architect George O’Brien Kennedy who was living and working in Poole.  The first boat he built was called Fuss and proved to be a very successful racing dinghy amongst the local fleet in Poole.  After the war, a group who were looking for a new design to take on as a one design dinghy in Ireland turned to this design and adopted it as the IDRA 14.

Kennedy was also the designer of the more well known Yachting Word Dayboat dinghy.

Full history of the design can be found in the following link: https://www.idra14.ie/class-history

Today there are active fleets in various sailing clubs in Ireland, with wooden and now GRP boats racing against one another in what is evidently a competitive but sociable scene.

Here in the UK the design was used with some minor modifications and known as a Dragonfly dinghy, and was raced in several locations including Christchurch.

This dinghy was built in 1947 by R&A Hamper of Farnham appears to be in decent condition, dry stored and well maintained.  She is complete with her rig and sails although the mast and rig are in need of some attention.

Length Overall                  14’

Beam                                    5’

Draft with plate                                4’6”

Displacement                    810lb (368kg)

Sail area                               120sqft

Construction

Clinker planked in what is thought to be spruce, copper rivet fastened to steam bent oak timbers.

Mahogany sheer strake with an oak rubbing strake.

Oak stem, keel and sterm post with oak garboard strakes.  Mahogany transom.

Small foredeck in straight laid mahogany with an oak coaming around the aft end of the deck.  Oak Samson post.

Three varnished mahogany thwarts and hanging knees.

Wooden centreboard case with a galvanised centreplate

Rig

Fractional Bermudan sloop rig on a keel stepped spruce mast.

Stainless steel standing rigging to internal chain plates.  Rigging new in 2020.

Set of older sails in sound condition but need servicing.

The mast is in a poor state and needs repair or replacement before use.

Equipment

Snipe road trailer

Rudder

Tiller

Centreplate

Standing rigging

Sails

Buoyancy bag

Pair of oars

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.

Wooden Ships Comments on this Drascombe Peterboat

Designed by John Watkinson as the Drascombe Peterboat.  Built by John Kerr in 1984.

Originally built as an open boat, she had a coachroof added to a design by Iain Oughtred, turning her into a weekend boat with enough dry space below decks to allow a V-shaped double berth and sitting headroom.

The cockpit is still large and spacious, perfect for family sailing.  The rig is easy to handle and quick to set up before sailing.  All spars stow within the length of the boat for easy handling.

She comes on an as new break back road trailer in ready to go condition.

The boat was given to Hunters Yard in Ludham in 2019 who performed a ‘back to wood’ refurbishment with complete new paint job top to bottom.  The boat has not been used since and is in lovely condition.  New upholstery, as new trailer and very good outboard engine make her a ready to go boat.

The boat is light enough that she can be towed behind a family car, launched with ease and has enough space for the family making her a cost effective, great fun and hassle free method of going sailing.

Length on deck                 19’9”

Beam                                    6’6”

Draft                                      20”

Weight

Construction

Clinker planked in epoxy glued plywood using Brunzeel Marine Plywood.

Widely spaced plywood frames glued to the inside of the hull.  These stretch from deck to deck across the centreline acting as floors as well as frames.

Marine plywood decks on mahogany deck beams.  Varnished externally.  Bronze cleats and fairleads.

Large cockpit with a full length thwart either side and painted plywood sole boards.

Galvanised centreplate raised and lowered with a geared wheel.

Iroko coachroof coamings with painted plywood coachroof deck.  Varnished mahogany handrails and varnished sliding companion hatch.

Tiller steering with a stern post hung rudder.

Rig

Lug yawl rig on deck stepped varnished spruce masts

Varnished spruce mizzen boom, yards and bowsprit.

Stainless steel standing rigging to external galvanised chain plates

Mainsail, mizzen and jib all in tan terylene and in good condition.

Loose footed mainsail for easy handling.

Wyckham Martin furling gear on the jib.

A simple rig with no need for winches, easily handled by one or two people and all spars can be stowed within the length of the boat for transport.

Machinery

Tohatsu 5hp 4 stroke outboard engine, new in 2012.  Remote fuel tank.

Mounts on a bracket on port quarter.

Manual bilge pump in the cockpit

Accommodation

Simple interior with sitting headroom and a double berth forward.

Step down into the cabin, there is a built in cabinet each side offering storage, port side can be used as a galley surface if required.

Large V shaped double berth stretches forward with seating on the aft end of the berth.  As new cushions and upholstery.

This is a small interior space that should be considered weekend camping, but offers dry space with room to make some food and get some sleep.

Equipment

Break back galvanised single axle braked road trailer, as new

Tohatsu 5hp outboard, low hours

All spars and rigging

Mainsail, mizzen and jib with Wyckham Martin gear

Rudder, tiller and centreplate

7kg anchor with chain and warp

Fenders

Mooring warps

Cockpit cushions

Bunk cushions

Whale manual bilge pump

Fire Extinguisher

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.

Wooden Ships Comments on this Gorran Haven Lugger

Back on the market very quickly through no fault of the boat.

Built in 2013 by Chris Rees, a professional shipwright based in Cornwall.  The lines were taken from a Gorran Haven lugger, a traditional Cornish inshore fishing boat.  All the timber used in the construction of this boat came from Cornwall, sourced as locally as possible to the yard where she was built.  Set into her stern post is a Shilling from 1887, the closest that could be found to the date of the original boat.

Nicely finished and stored indoors each winter since she was built.  During the summer season she is dry sailed which has helped to keep her in lovely condition.

Complete with a custom made galvanised road trailer, outboard engine and all over cover, this is a complete package ready to go for the summer.  There is also a galvanised heavy duty launching trolley which is available if required by a new owner.

A very pretty and unusual boat in lovely condition, a very easy and enjoyable way of getting afloat this summer in style

Length on Deck                 17’1”

Beam                                    6’1”

Draft                                      1’6”

Construction

Clinker planked in larch all copper rivet fastened to steam bent oak timbers.

Oak stem, keel and stern post with a chestnut transom.

Larch inwhale with grown oak breast knee and quarter knees.

2 rowing positions with oak thole pins instead of rowlocks

Oak floors across the centreline with internal lead trimming ballast and a sand bag either side of the centreboard casing.  Galvanised centreplate, raised and lowered with a block and tackle on a 2:1 purchase.

Larch thwarts with oak supporting knees.

Rig

Lug yawl rig with a balanced lug mainsail and standing lug mizzen.

All spars are varnished douglas fir, apart from the bowsprit which is new and made from iroko.

Bowsprit carries the single jib.

Mainmast is keel stepped with a single pair of shrouds in stainless steel made up with lanyards to external bronze chain plates.

Mizzen mast is stepped in chocks on the inside of the transom. Mizzen sheets to a bumpkin.

Sails in cream terylene made by SailTech of Falmouth in 2013.

Running rigging mostly of traditional look polyester 3 strand with Tuffnell blocks.

Machinery

Mariner 2.5hp 4 stroke outboard engine mounts on a bracket on the transom.  Recently serviced and ready to go.

Equipment

Tyrone Snell road trailer

Separate Tyrone Snell launching trolley

Mariner 2.5hp 4 stroke outboard engine with transom bracket

All over boat cover

Rudder and tiller

Centreplate

Masts and rigging

Mainsail, mizzen and jib sails

Pair of oars with thole pins

Danforth anchor with chain and warp

Portable manual bilge pump

Flotation air bags

Warps and 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.

Wooden Ships Comments on this Paul Gartside Skylark

Professionally built in 2018 to the Paul Gartside Skylark design.  A pretty lug rigged dinghy, complete with trailer and cover, perfect for messing about on the water.

In superb condition, she has been used only a handful of times and stored undercover since new.

She was built on the Boat Building training course at Lyme Regis and has been finished to a high standard as would be expected.

Smart condition, on her trailer and ready to tow away for fun afloat this summer.

Length                                  14’

Beam                                    5’8”

Weight                                 Approx 250kg

Sail Area                               88sqft

Construction

Clinker planked in khaya mahogany, copper fastened to steam bent oak timbers.

Oak stem and sapele back bone.  Khaya transom with oak fashion pieces and oak stern knee

Quarter knees are steam bent oak with a sapele insert.  Sawn mahogany breast knee.

Oak rubbing strake and inwhale fastened through with copper rivets.  2 rowing positions in the gunnels.

Sapele thwarts on an oak stringer.  Supporting knees are steam bent oak with a sapele insert.

Sapele slatted sole boards lift out in sections.

Sapele centreboard case with an oak top.  Galvanised centreplate, raised with a block and tackle which runs aft to a jamming cleat so it can be easily reached from the helm position.

Transom hung rudder made from mahogany with a lifting oak blade.  Bronze rudder hangings.

Hull is finished with satin varnish externally and Deks Olje D1 internally.

Rig

Lug rig on an unstayed varnished Spruce mast.  Stepped on the keel through a supporting beam at gunnel level.

Varnished spruce boom and lug yard.  Stitched leather on the spars where necessary.

Tan mainsail in Clipper Canvas with 2 reefing points.  Main sheets to a rope horse across the centre thwarts.

Running rigging in traditional 3 strand rope with tuffnel blocks.

Equipment

Galvanised road trailer from Admiral Trailers

Rudder and tiller

Galvanised centreplate

Mast, boom and yard

Mainsail

Running rigging

Sole boards

Pair of oars

Pair of bronze rowlocks

All over mooring cover

Full specification and details available upon request

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.

Wooden Ships Comments on this Tela Class Gaff Sloop

Tela class gaff sloop, built by Salterns Boatbuilders Ltd in 2009 for the current owners.

The Tela is a half decked open day boat built with a GRP hull and teak trim.  These pretty boats have a shallow draft with a centreplate making them excellent river and estuary boats, but with a reasonable weight, 50% ballast ratio and protective decks they are capable of coastal passages as well.

The gaff sloop rig is very light and easy to handle so she can be sailed by one person if needed, but has space for 4 adults with ease.  She is easily launched and recovered on her road trailer and can be towed behind an average family car.  All this makes for an excellent family boat providing easy yet fun sailing without too much hassle.  She is generally fairly low maintenance.

The boat has recently been launched and is afloat and ready for the season.

Length on Deck                 16’6”

Length Overall                   18’9”

Beam                                    5’6”

Draft                                      14”/4’ plate down

Weight                                 Approx. 500kg

Construction

Hull and deck laid in 12oz GRP.  Reinforcing web of stringers running fore and aft.

200kg of internal lead ballast moulded into the bilge.

Epoxy coating below the waterline for protection.

Moulded GRP centreboard casing.  Galvanised centreplate.

Built in fore and aft buoyancy tanks with inspection hatches.

Scrubbed teak rubbing strakes and cockpit coamings.  Slatted thwarts in scrubbed teak.

Spruce sole boards in the cockpit

Transom hung rudder.

Rig

Gaff sloop rig on a deck stepped varnished spruce mast.  Varnished spruce boom, gaff yard and bowsprit.

All spars made by Collars

Stainless steel standing rigging

Mainsail and jib in cream terylene made by Richardson Sails.  150sqft of sail area.

Wyckham Martin bronze furling gear on the jib at the end of the bowsprit.

Machinery

2.3hp long shaft air cooled Honda outboard engine with integral fuel tank.

Equipment

Sovereign galvanised road trailer with winch

Cockpit cover over the boom in blue acrylic canvas

Honda 2.3hp outboard engine

Whale manual bilge pump

5kg Bruce anchor with stainless chain and warp

3 x fenders

Mooring warps

Mainsail and Jib

Wickham Martin jib furling system

Mast, boom, gaff and bowsprit

Rudder, tiller and centreplate

Full specification and details available upon request

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.

Wooden Ships Comments on this Mevagissey Tosher

Lug rigged Tosher built by Frazier of Mevagissey, probably in the 1930’s.  It is thought the boat was built as a private yacht rather than a working Tosher, working boats would never have been built with varnished mahogany sheer strakes.

She has typical Tosher lines with a sweet sheer, straight stem and a transom stern with nice tumblehome.  Her underwater lines are surprisingly fine with a sharp entry at the bow, stiff turn to the bilge giving stability and a lovely run back to the stern post.

Fitted with a 2 mast lug rig, she is a lot of fun to sail, easily done single handed, but as is often the case in the present ownership, she can be used simply as a motor launch, forgetting the sail and pottering around with her reliable beta Marine 10hp engine.

The coamings and small decks make her a safe boat, giving the feeling of being in the boat rather than on top.  She is frequently seen afloat with numerous grandchildren, comfortably taking 7 or 8 people.

She comes with a good quality road trailer, made for the boat which has never been submerged in the water.

Length on deck                18’6”

Length overall

Beam                                 6’

Draft                                  2’

Weight                              Approx. 1.25 tons

Construction

Carvel planked in ¾” pine fastened with copper rivets to steam bent oak timbers of ¾” x 1 ¼” at 7” centres.

Varnished mahogany sheer strake with pitch pine rubbing strake.

Likely to have an oak stem and back bone.

Painted plywood foredeck, side decks and aft deck.  Curved varnished mahogany coaming.

Painted wooden sole boards with varnished mahogany thwarts.

Painted plywood engine box with insulation.

Wooden centreplate box with painted steel plate.

Rig

2 mast lug rig on deck stepped varnished wooden masts.

Loose footed sails with varnished wooden lug yards.

Mast is stepped in a wooden tabernacle on the foredeck.

Stainless steel standing rigging to small external bronze chain plates, tensioned with lanyards.

Halyard falls make up to wooden cleats on the inside face of the forward cockpit coaming.  Main sheets to a horse on the aft deck and makes up with a jamming cleat on the inside of the coaming.

Mizzen mast stepped though the aft deck with a bumpkin set on an angle.

Bowsprit mounts through a bronze gammon iron and the heel slots into the Sampson post.

Wickham Martin bronze furling gear for the jib on the bowsprit end.

Sails in tan terylene, all in average but useable condition,

Machinery

Beta Marine 10hp twin cylinder diesel installed new in 2006.

TMC40 gearbox with stainless shaft to a centreline 3 blade bronze propeller. Gives 5 knots cruising speed.

2 gallon steel fuel tank under the aft deck.

2 x 12 volt batteries, one for engine starting and one for the bilge pump.

1 auto electric bilge pump.

Equipment

20kg Bruce anchor with 50’ of warp and chain

Pair of sweeps and rowlocks

Tyrone Snell galvanised road trailer with spare wheel and winch

Fenders and warps

Rudder, tiller and centreplate

Standing and running rigging

Masts and spars

Mainsail

Mizzen

Jib with Wickham Martin furling gear

Full details available upon request

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.

Wooden Ships Comments on this 14′ Clinker Rowing Dinghy

Clinker rowing dinghy built in Fowey in the 1980’s.  Recent professional refit with a complete paint job inside and out and new woodwork where necessary.

A very elegant boat with a nice sheer, subtle tumblehome to the transom and a raked stem.  2 rowing positions with an aft thwart.

The hull has been strongly built making her a tough and practical rowing boat currently in excellent condition and ready to tow away.

Length                  14’

Construction

Clinker planked, copper fastened to steam bent oak timbers.  Timbers stretch from gunnel to gunnel across the centreline to add strength.

New capping rail in oak and inwhales in larch, recently fitted.

New opepe transom fitted.

2 rowing thwarts with heavy hanging knees.  Aft thwart  with heavy hanging knees.

Painted slatted wooden sole boards.

Galvanised fairleads on the bow with a galvanised ring fastened to the inside of the stem.

Equipment

Road trailer

Pair of varnished oars

2 pairs of galvanised rowlocks

Tohatsu 3.5hp outboard engine

Full specification and details available upon request

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.

Wooden Ships Comments on this 18′ Traditional motor launch

Brand new varnished clinker launch built by Nick Smith, a skilled and experienced boat builder who has a reputation for building exquisite motor launches.  His designs are based on the traditional working boats of Salcombe built by Coves boatyard with a straight stem, full bilges and an elegant sheer line.  Nick Smith started his career with a 4 year apprenticeship at Coves in Salcombe and has been a professional boat builder ever since, carrying with him those skills for building sturdy yet elegant motor launches.

Derived from the inshore fishing boats of Salcombe, this launch is an excellent sea boat with the full bilges giving good internal volume and excellent stability, while the full bow sections and high sheer line make them dry boats and very capable at sea.

Fitted with a brand new Beta 14hp diesel engine which will give an estimated 6 knots cruising speed.

Commonly these boats are built with a small aft deck and foredeck, however this one is completely open giving more useable interior space.  In the bows is a large V-shaped thwart which provides ample seating space but also a safe step for stepping over the bow when coming into a pontoon.

Being sold as a brand new and professionally built boat.  Road trailer, cover and other accessories can be organised for her first owner.

She is as yet unnamed, that is to be chosen by her first owner.

Further details available on the builders web site: https://nicksmithboatbuilder.co.uk/

Length                  17’11”

Beam                    6’4”

Draft                      16”

Weight                 650kg

Construction

Clinker planked in Khaya mahogany, copper rivet fastened to steam bent oak timbers.

Oak stem and iroko keel with iroko transom.  Brass rubbing band on the stem.

Grown oak bow and quarter knees fastened through with copper rivets

Douglas Fir inwhales and mahogany capping rails.  Bronze fairleads on the bow.

Iroko thwarts with sawn oak knees.  3 thwarts with a straight laid mahogany lower foredeck acting

as a seat and also a step when stepping out over the bow onto a pontoon.

Slatted pine sole boards finished in grey paint.

Varnished mahogany engine box

Transom hung iroko rudder with bronze hangings and oak tiller.

Machinery

Beta Marine 14hp 2 cylinder diesel installed new in 2020.

Stainless steel shaft to a centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propeller.  Gives approximately 6 knots cruising speed at an estimated 1 litre/hour.

Vetus single lever engine control.

20 litre stainless steel fuel tank under the fore deck with flexible rubber fuel hose.

12 volt battery in a varnished mahogany battery box in front of the engine.

12 volt auto electric bilge pump.

Equipment

Beta Marine 14hp 2cylinder diesel

Varnished mahogany engine box

20l stainless steel fuel tank

Vetus single lever engine control

Auto electric bilge pump

Portable manual bilge pump

Rudder and tiller

Painted sole boards

Triangular cushion for forward thwart

Full specification and details available upon request

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.