Advice on Golden Hind 31

I was noticed that my previously owned Golden Hind 31, HALE KAI, was mentioned on this site. I wonder if anyone has recent knowledge of her whereabouts. My wife and I spend 9 glorious and wondrous years aboard sailing about the world (and yes, including the 1979 Fastnet Storm).

I went to England in February 1979 as my GH 31 was being finished after being shown at the 1979 London Boat Show. Terry Erskine allowed me to visit and roam the construction facility so as to learn more about the boat. I saw two plywood, glass coated hulls being built in the facility in addition to the standard GRP hulls, so at least in 1978 and 1979, it appears one could request a wooden hulled Golden Hind 31. In fact, whist sailing a few years later, I ran across a Golden Hind 39, steel hulled. I don't know if Terry or someone else built it.
 
JimHaynes said:
I was noticed that my previously owned Golden Hind 31, HALE KAI, was mentioned on this site. I wonder if anyone has recent knowledge of her whereabouts. My wife and I spend 9 glorious and wondrous years aboard sailing about the world (and yes, including the 1979 Fastnet Storm).

I went to England in February 1979 as my GH 31 was being finished after being shown at the 1979 London Boat Show. Terry Erskine allowed me to visit and roam the construction facility so as to learn more about the boat. I saw two plywood, glass coated hulls being built in the facility in addition to the standard GRP hulls, so at least in 1978 and 1979, it appears one could request a wooden hulled Golden Hind 31. In fact, whist sailing a few years later, I ran across a Golden Hind 39, steel hulled. I don't know if Terry or someone else built it.
Click to expand...

I remember your boat at the show. I worked for British Seagull then and spent some time with Terry as we used to meet at boat shows. The following year I bought an Eventide 26 that was built by Hartwells - I still have it. Terry had built much of the interior as he was an apprentice then (1963). Mark Urry, who eventually took over the building had just finished his own GH31 Moondancer which he built from a sheathed plywood hull and deck supplied by Terry in 1977. I did my first cross channel trip in that boat in 1980. Mark built 2 more boats for himself (and I think 4 for other people). The last one is for sale (or may be sold). His boats were modified (after consultation with MG just before died) to have more ballast and a better balanced rudder plus a taller cutter rig with bowsprit.

Yes, Terry built the steel GH 39s. One was for sale a couple of years ago in a part finished state having sat in a field for 20 years. He also built a number of other steel boats, some in Cornwall and some in Malta. The introduction of the RCD in 1998 made building custom boats very difficult and like a lot of similar builders he called it a day.
 
For the person requesting info on purchasing a Golden Hind 31, I was the original owner of one built in 1978, and finished in early 1979, sail # 199. Her name is: "Hale Kai", Polynesian for, "Home on the Sea". I saw it recently for sale at Caley Marina, Inverness, Scotland, for 16,000 pounds. It looks to be in good shape, and has a relatively new 30 HP engine. It has the GRP hull, and is cutter rigged. I had her built especially for long distance ocean sailing, and she took very good care of us for over 8 years and 50,000+ miles.
Jim Haynes, jhaynes@earthlink.net
 
I made a mistake in one of my previous replies to this thread. I had thought that my sail/hull number was 183, but I was mistaken. My sail/hull number was 199. I signed the contract to build Hale Kai in late 1977, and told Terry to take his time because I wouldn't retire from the US Air Force until February 1979. He showed the boat at the London boat show in January 1979, and I took possession in March 1979. I am sorry if I caused any confusion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top