BUCHANAN 37FT - any info

[boredinthecity]

Help, does any one have any infor or know wher i can get info BUCHANAN 37FT. I have the offer of the boat which is described as "needing work all over". It just that i dont want to start the project to find out that its more work than i am prepared to do, I guess that there are more boats (project) killed by people with good intentions than are lost at sea, Yes i will get a survey but! If there is any one who has been there and done that it would be great to have their input

 

[sailorman]

"Vashti" Class ??

 

[EASLOOP]

Try getting hold of Alan Buchanan, he is alive and well and living in Jersey. I have a 1963 Buchannan East Anglian. For a modest fee he was able to provide a complete set of drawings of her and also some considerable history. Turns out that my boat was wrecked off Alderney in the 70's and it was Alan B who organised an inurance re-build.
Good luck

John

 

[boredinthecity]

Thanks for the lead - I will follow it up. The owner describes the condition of the boat "as needing work all over". Could you tell me where you have had the most problems it may give me some forwarning

 

[EASLOOP]

Hi,
Do you have a long piece of paper?
I bought my boat through a broker - Wooden Ships - who took me through the boat pointing out all of the problems I would face and some that could not be seen. He was a very genuine person and most helpful to the point of telling me that if I couldn't make a committment to the boat then I should not buy it. So I went in fully armed.

Beam shelf Port side - rotted out in way of galley (steam no doubt with inadequate ventilation.) Also rot where water had gotten through under the covering board. So replaced 10 foot length of beam shelf.

Deck beams in way of heads rotten out at the carlin - 4 beams replaced along with another 5 foot section of beam shelf where the joints with beams had rotten through. Coupled with a five foot section of the carlin being replaced

Athwartship beam supporting forward and of cabit housing. Rotted through so complete replacement here

Both king planks replaced along with 70% of the covering boards and half of the forward deck (laid teak replaced with Iroko).

50% of sheer strake replaced on port side.

Transom renovated due to rot at plank ends (all fastenings replaced as well).

Replaced all four chainplates (added two for security of mind). Redid the chainplate fastenings as the original galvanized ones caused rot at the fastenings.

Several plank edges (carvel hull) rebuilt die to edge rot.

etc. etc. etc. plus routine maintenance.

May I suggest that you get a long a very sharp probe (like a sharp fat needle) with a strong handle and use it to probe areas of the boat likely to have rot. Your probe should not go more than 2 mm into the wood. You will know when you have found rot - the probe just vanishes into the wood. Check all joinery (hull) to make sure no nasties are lurking in unventilated areas.

I started my project (27' 10" loa in her socks) in 1992 and I am still working on her. My time on the boat is severely limited though. But when she is finished I will know her inside out so won't get any surprises at sea.


Best of luck

John

 

[rjp]

I'm just completing refit of a Buchanan 32. I can second EASloop's comment about Alan Buchanan, very helpful and interested in his old boats. In my case the deck was glass sheathed ply and water had got in around the chain plates and at the deck to cabin joint where the seal had failed. This caused delamination of the deck, a rotton carlin to starboard side, and rotted deck beams. I've replaced all myself working very much part time over 3 years and am now on the point of completion. Sometimes it's a pain, but I know the boat inside out now and will have a beautiful boat with more than a little character.

John

 

[boredinthecity]

Thanks for your interest

Finaly have the old surveys and have talked to the Boat Builder who has worked on her in the past. She was built in Sydney Aus out of steel, She was fitted out in Cedar, much of which has been covered in ply and pained with green house paint!!!. Appers that I will need to replace a strip of plate down both sides, It looks like PO had decided it was easier to run a metal scraper along the watrerline to "keep her clean" I know more next Wednesday when I haul her. From those have had a look it looks like I will be best to strip out the guts and save as much of the internals as possible. Sand blast inside and out replace the plate near waterline which is down to 3mm from the orignal 6mm, acid surface rust repaint and reinstall as much of the orignal fitout as possible. Easy said /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[sailorman]

not a sailor then /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[EASLOOP]

And here's me thinking it was wood!

 

[cleeve]

Hi Just found this site and your enquiry. We are currently rebuilding an Alan Buchanan Vashti, the Cavalier of Kent built in 1963. We are happy to chat about our experience and love of this yacht. We have just completed the hull and soon to start the fitting out. It has been a major rebuild with enthusiasum, love and total commitment by myself and my husband. All the best from the Blakes!

 

[cleeve]

Forgot to say we contacted Alan Buchanan who is now 87, he very kindly sent all the documentation,plans etc.... as a very small cost. We also had the pleasure of meeting him two years ago whilst we were in Jersey and spent the afternoon listening to his life experience, a privalige to say the least, his comment about the Vashti Class was ' it was one of the best designs he ever produced'. We are thrilled to own one! Blakes!

 

[halcyon]

Someone else with a non wooden Buchanan then.

Brian