Blackwater Sloop - held identifying?

J

jamesbagnall

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Hi all.

I have inherited what has been described to me as a Blackwater Sloop.

Google throws up very little information other than some of them were build by Dann Webb and Feasey in Maldon.

I have no information on mine, but have taken some pictures of her and have created a (rather rough - click on each thumbnail picture to enlarge and then 'back' to return to gallery thumbnails!) gallery of here:

http://www.jamesbagnall.karoo.net/sloop/sloop.html

Anybody care to guess what her origins are and roughly her age?

She is a little on the shabby side, but still not quite sure what I'm going to do with her yet!!

Many thanks and kind regards,

James.
 
Yes, she is called 'Maureen' - structurally she is very sound (or appears to be, haven't had her lifted yet!) but the standing rigging is rather rusty and some of the deckwork has started to go rather green.

Best wishes,

James.
 
Might be worth doing a search as there was a thread not so long ago about the origins of a Blackwater sloop. I think they were designed by the late William Blake of Whisstocks in Woodbridge around the late 40's, early 50's.

Your flush-decked version is the most attractive in my opinion - there was a coachroof version too.
 
Thanks for looking so quickly!! She does have a plate, but it is totally un-readable. The yard owner says that the boat has been there since he has owned the moorings (around 15years) and the owner before the previous owner rebuilt her from practically derelict condition.

I'm afraid I'm more of a 'stinky' owner (having owned a couple of ex Broads boats) so not really sure what to do with this old girl at the moment!

Best wishes,

James.
 
The old Dan Webb & Feesey yard is still operating but under a different system. There are [or were] some traditional shipwrights working there, I believe on a freeelance basis.
I can't remember the name of the yard but the attached chandlery is operated by Marine Store [phone 01621 854280] If you ask nicely they may be able to put you in touch with one of the shipwrights, many of them will know a lot about these super little boats.
 
Hey guys, look somebody has given him a wooden boat........... you lucky sod. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Very nice and I'm sure there will be many on here who will provide you with excellent advice

Good luck /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Tom
 
Thanks for that Tom. Yes, it was one hell of a kind gift.

The old guy who gave me it is a friend of the family and had become (sadly) too frail to look after her. That's why she is looking a bit unloved at the moment.

He never sailed her though actually, and swapped her for his last boat (as older gents sometimes seem to do!) - but couldn't do her justice, so she came to me.

I had considered doing another swap for something a bit more manageable, as I'm not sure I have the time or energy to make the most of her either - she's a lovely little piece of craftmanship though.

Best wishes,

James.
 
Hello James,

Iam not sure this is a Blackwater Sloop. These were built by DW and F at Shipways Maldon from the 30's to the 60's. Most had raised topsides like yours and were either 2.5 or 4 tons Thames measurenent. However looking at the pics she doesnt look quite like either and I think she may be Cardnell designed and built. George Cardnell built some fine pocket crusiers like this in Steeple Essex before the war and his two sons continued after the war till the 60's at Maylandsea.
Try to get anything you can off the builders plate, I am intruiged!
cheers Paul
 
Hi Paul,

Thanks for that - the builders plate is totally unreadable, but next time I'm at the yard (probably Thursday) I'll see if I can maybe do a 'rubbing' of it - might reveal something I haven't been able to make out.

I am only referring to it as BW Sloop as that's what the guy who gave me it described it as - however, I am totally open to the people of this forum's wisdom as to quite what she is - and makes me wonder further how she ended up on the inland waterways of East Yorkshire!!

Best wishes,

James.
 
There is a "Maureen" in the 1949 Lloyds register. Built in 1931, unknown builder. 25' Aux bermudan sloop owner by G.C. Ellinger of PRESTON.
 
Hmm, thanks for that. Probably too big - mine is (I think) 23ft (ish) LOA. Interesting though, as I haven't actually measured her myself, so will also do that on Thursday......

Thanks again,

James.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Have a go at the decks with a brush and sea water. I think you might be surprised as to how well they will come up!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmm, I'll give that a try too - as in using a stiff sweeping brush?

Cheers,

James.
 
Beautiful boat, thanks for posting the photo's.

[ QUOTE ]
not sure I have the time or energy to make the most of her

[/ QUOTE ] Oh, yes you have. It's just surface dirt /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

A good scrub and she'll be transformed. And we've already begun to help by transferring all that green stuff to our envious faces. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Best of luck
 
Sorry - got it wrong and mixed up the Deben 4 tonner with the Blackwater sloop! The designer of the former is Maxwell Blake - so I got that wrong too!

The coach roof version of the Deben 4 toner and the blackwater sloop look very similar, although I think that the Deben 4 tonners were originally gaff rigged. Shame Mirelle is not around to "Instant" correct me.
 
Don't sell her without letting me know first. I was inlve with the name 'Blackwater Sloop' before I opened the link, but once I did I was smitten.
 
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