Carvel planked 10.6m Gaff Cutter seen for sale; Bargain?

jerrytug said:
I have a bee in my bonnet about encouraging people to do up old boats and get out there, rather than pouring cold water on their dreams.
cheers Jerry
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I think I agree with both parties in that people should be encouraged. But people also need to have an idea of what may happen. Then they can take an educated risk.

In my case, aged 45 (as I was at the time) and "comfortably off" project creep was affordable (but only just) and has been a life enhancing experience.

20 years younger, starting married life, or trying to buy a property, or building a career, there simply is not the time and money "fat" to keep a project going through the expensive and sometimes frustrating times. So, for some its better to go for a smaller, better maintained boat that can be sailed and afforded without such potentially expensive and time consuming risks.

As I say, its a balance.
 
jerrytug said:
Accepted wisdom says a gaff cutter needs a heavy solid boom though, I presume you have proved it wrong!
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I'm sure it must be lighter than a tree trunk, but it still weighs a ton - nothing like the booms I've experienced on various modern boats I've sailed on. It's quite a chunky thing, round section 7" diameter, quite thick aluminium, and of course much longer than modern booms, which seem to be getting shorter and shorter - mine overhangs the stern. I can't shift it without the topping lift (which has a tackle). The gaff is lighter though, much smaller section, and that probably does make getting the main up easier, as well as keeping weight aloft at a reasonable level.
 
Good plan to encourage someone to take over her soon, so it is great that the current owner is putting speed of sale ahead of amount of money.
 
Romeo said:
Good plan to encourage someone to take over her soon, so it is great that the current owner is putting speed of sale ahead of amount of money.
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My views entirely Romeo. In fact it's exactly what I have just done with my last yacht, resulting in her falling into very worthy hands to join the Jester Challenge.
 
jerrytug said:
Oh it's Seafish..... Snipped...

Sorry PyroJames for posting rudely, I have a bee in my bonnet about encouraging people to do up old boats and get out there, rather than pouring cold water on their dreams.
cheers Jerry
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Apology accepted Jerry.

I am very happy to encourage people to take on wooden boat restoration, but with their eyes wide open. It nearly always costs more (sometimes much more) to do a restoration. Unless one has the reserves to follow it through, then there is nothing to be gained and a lot to be lost. The restorer may lose a lot of money, and the boat may end up in a part restored state, that no one is prepared to pick up mid way through.

A complete deck replacement is not for the faint hearted, but is also not outside the bounds of a skilled amateur. If one has the free space and the time, then it could all be done at a reasonable cost, but still not likely to be cheap.

I have done two major restorations, but only on boats that were afloat when I bought them. The first was 34 feet, refastened, new interior, new deck and beams and the second 50, deck stripped of all fittings, repayed deck, new stem, new frames, re-galvanised floors, engine out, new plumbing, wiring, rigging, sails, tanks and electronics, and she's not finished yet. I have done them on the "cheap", a lot of work myself, with the work done in a farmer's yard and/or barn, which cost significantly less than a boat yard. It has still cost me as much as I could afford. If I had not had the skills, or the cheap storage and deep pockets, I simply could not have afforded it.

I know that the BCYC comes in for some stick here and from Classic Boat on occasion, but most of us are passionate about timber boats, and keen to see the larger timber boats continue to survive. More people have the cash, time and skills to restore smaller (sub 40 feet), but above that costs rocket up and it is a much bigger undertaking. The really big things like classic 12s, J-class, etc will always attract big money from the very weathly who can afford big yard restorations, so it is the boats in the middle 40-60 feet that the BCYC members keep going. Most of us work on our own boats, and are passionate about the restorations. Most of us started in small boats and have worked up. We pour as much into our yachts as we can afford. I don't see myself as any different from anyone else working on their restorations.
 
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HI
I have made contact with the 'sellers' friend over here in UK and we talked at length about the vessels condition; from my own experience I would not have thought that planking require replacement, its rubbing caused by vessel rubbing on the Brixham breakwater that has worn off the surface paintwork and scuffed up the surface planking in places. Bearing just how thick the planks probably are its fair to say that smoothing down where scuffed up, poss filed, then a paint job. Its most probable that the frames or stringers are still quite ok and so do not need replacing at all.
I understand that the engine, a Ford, is still OK.
All this is just conjecture and experience on wooden working and fishing craft, so a survey or even an inspection is a 'must'.
Anyways, I understand that some pics are on the way to me, by email, so will post as soon as I can :)

Oh I am given to understand that Heritage Grants (whatever that /they are) are poss available to repair /re-commission her.
 
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Worfolk Smack, larch on oak, built 1927 in Kings Lynn, believed to be the oldest surviving fishery research and patrol vessel for the Wash.
LOD 35ft, with sprit 48ft, 13 metric tons.
I used to see her quite often around Torbay and dried out alongside the wall in Brixham
She was for sale at £ 5500 not to long ago Brixham Boatshed.
I think she was kept at Galmpton.
Very pretty under sail, deserves to be taken in hand, hope someone does a proper job, although I fear not....
 
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:)

Yes its also on EBay, current offer of £1,500, although is stated that 'reserve not met' so bidding saga goes on for a few days yet.

Sill looks to me to be a fairly easy project to take on, most damage appears to be quite superficial with main construction still sound. Time and money expected to be spent appears to be fairly normal for this type of timber construction, after all, its repairing her to the standard of a craft of this age and finish, is it not?

Would not worry about the 'tin lid' being removed, might be interesting to know how and why if was built that way, looks to me like a 'commercial' job by a shipyard, if so, its certainly 'a proper job' not an amateur job.

There are no reports of her ribs being damaged or broken, or requiring replacement, so looks like she is still 'ship shape' not 'bloated in belly'.

Might be suitable for use as a 'live aboard' moored up in suitable port.

Do think that pyro man comments a wee bit inexperienced in these matters, although probably well intentioned, as these vessels are a 'labour of love' with time spent not counted as a 'cost', so anyone who knows and cherishes 'old timers' such as 'Sail Fish' already knows the 'score' so warnings of 'gloom and doom' are not really wanted or indeed suitable for a Classic 'timber boat' column.

Oh thanks to upcountry2 for historical details on Sail Fish, much appreciated.

OOOPS thanks to jerrytug its real name is Seafish
 
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From a 2014 For Sale ad on the 'Find a Fishing Boat' website (which I recommend btw):
Looks like Brixham. It's Seafish not 'Sail Fish' Captn. P. ;)
 
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:)

Many thanks jerrytug you is right its Seafish.

Just an aside
Regarding the 'tin lid' on 'Seafish' I had the pleasure of owning a 30s built 34ft commercial motor launch many moons ago and that had an engine room with skipper steering covered cabin that was all made from metal, all original, and very stout the metal work. The fittings, portholes, vents, cowlings, cleats, nav mast and nav lighting all in steel were very reminiscent of those found on Big Ships of the time. All in all quite a stout vessel and as stated elsewhere quite rain proof, but condensation another matter. The 'tin lid' was insulated from direct contact with the timber works by an insulation material, probably a tar /bitumen type material, so preventing direct metal to timber contact /decay. This vessel was mainly Larch on Oak construction, and very stout it was too, it had taken a lot of abuse in its time as a Thames Commercial tug /crew vessel plying from Gravesend and Harwich.

So I say again, the 'tin lid' on Seafish very probably made by professional ship yard so probably as original unless she actually plied as a Fishing Boat before hand, where a fish hold would probably have been needed.
 
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Niander said:
WHy on earth put a heavy mild steel deck onto it! that's what bloody trawlers are made off!
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Why?
1/ very strong construction
2/ Watertight
3/ quite light weight compared to timber construction
4/ vessel can take the weight (a comparative fish hold full weighs ?? )
5/ commercial vessels were by then going over to metal construction
6/ the yard probably works in metal by then
7/ tis a commercial vessel so metal is OK
8/ probably less maintenance then timber
 
Ok Maybe acceptable when new but by now surely rotten with rust
I work at a boat yard as a welder and ive seen some what happens to mild steel over time
id rather have wood.
unless a new steel boat[we build state of the art trawlers up to 26m].
 
Capt Popeye said:
Why?
1/ very strong construction
2/ Watertight
3/ quite light weight compared to timber construction
4/ vessel can take the weight (a comparative fish hold full weighs ?? )
5/ commercial vessels were by then going over to metal construction
6/ the yard probably works in metal by then
7/ tis a commercial vessel so metal is OK
8/ probably less maintenance then timber
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+1 skip.
 
Niander said:
Ok Maybe acceptable when new but by now surely rotten with rust
I work at a boat yard as a welder and ive seen some what happens to mild steel over time
id rather have wood.
unless a new steel boat[we build state of the art trawlers up to 26m].
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No I don't think she's too rusty actually mate. And so what if she did need a few bits cutting out and patching, welding's not rocket science!

(10,000,000 chavs and pikeys can't be wrong.)

Seafish needs a quick do over, and get out to sea. Not worth paying for a survey or insurance.

In fact....If I could put her in nice soft mud I would take her on, trouble is it's so expensive to lay up in the W Country. If I could find a tidal mud berth for free or very cheap, I would buy her and tow her there with Marihona.
Any one suggest a mud berth. Brightlingsea smack jetty springs to mind? Or Tollesbury?

edited for rudeness
 
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"No I don't think she's too rusty actually mate."

Really! I bet its full of rust.[all that rain dripping in for years]

welding easy...of course I do it ALL the time[coded]...its access to get to the bits that are bad...without setting fire to the wood and **** etc

do it every day mate.

But we don't know without looking do we!

God so what ! You don't need to get all upset about it...tis only a boat!

edited for rudeness...lool
 
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Go on, go for it jerrytug, you know it makes sense, on a vessel like Seafish tis mostly superficial damage (hopefully) and if found to be so, nota big job. Agree that what Seafish really wants is a 'cosy' mud berth to settle back into her environments that she knows so well, rather like a 'mud pack' with salty wind in her riggings.
If really interested suggest you contact the owners selling friend poss by way of EBay and he can give you the engineers contact for the engine service records and other contacts who have done work on her.
Anyways best wishes jerrytug whatever you do, oh, 'give a job to a busy man and it will get done'
 
Good luck to you and your project
hope it goes well for you.
I always find its as much fun and satisfying working on them as well as sailing them.
 
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