Early Halcyon 27...?

[NealB]

As stated, the old girl was lifted out of the water today without too much hassle! i even treated her to a pressure wash. I'll upload some pictures tomorrow once I have my laptop with me, she has a VERY large amount of anti-fouling to be removed (someone's applied it with a brick by the looks of it)!

I'm considering removing the bowsprit (which will mean purchasing a different sized jib), but also considering leaving the toerail in place.... Undecided yet, but the companionway doors will be staying for sure!

I have another couple of questions re: the boat... I have been told by someone in the harbor that the second jib was never on the halcyons, and that it too is an after thought from someone - he said that the adjustable back stays that had been added when the sail was added are insufficient to hold the mast when tacking....?

Also, the pushpit and pulpit have both been removed by a previous owner, along with the stancions (which have been hack sawed off)!? God knows why, but that's not my question;

Is there anywhere I'll be able to find another pulpit/pushpit? Where would be the best place to start looking? Or am I better off having them bent up at a shipyard?

Thanks for the input guys. I'll post some pictures soon.

H

I'm guessing here, but the H27 was a bermudan sloop, but yours looks like she's been converted to a cutter.

I assume the original forestay runs from the masthead to the outer end of the bowsprit, and the inner forestay (for the staysail) runs from somewhere below the masthead to the stem.

The running backstays would presumably have been added to counteract the load from the staysail.

If you removed the bowsprit, the forestay could then go down to the stemhead fitting, and the runners done away with.

Caution: I'm not a rigger, I'm just describing how most H27's were rigged.

Not sure about pulpit and pushpit, but certainly no harm in asking for a few quotes from fabricators.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Look on ebay for pulpits & pushpits - even if they need adjustment, will be cheaper than new ones. Join the members club as mentioned earlier, they are very helpful, and you may get some idea of sized(I had a Halcyon 23 and loved it).

 

[AntarcticPilot]

As stated, the old girl was lifted out of the water today without too much hassle! i even treated her to a pressure wash. I'll upload some pictures tomorrow once I have my laptop with me, she has a VERY large amount of anti-fouling to be removed (someone's applied it with a brick by the looks of it)!

I'm considering removing the bowsprit (which will mean purchasing a different sized jib), but also considering leaving the toerail in place.... Undecided yet, but the companionway doors will be staying for sure!

I have another couple of questions re: the boat... I have been told by someone in the harbor that the second jib was never on the halcyons, and that it too is an after thought from someone - he said that the adjustable back stays that had been added when the sail was added are insufficient to hold the mast when tacking....?

Also, the pushpit and pulpit have both been removed by a previous owner, along with the stancions (which have been hack sawed off)!? God knows why, but that's not my question;

Is there anywhere I'll be able to find another pulpit/pushpit? Where would be the best place to start looking? Or am I better off having them bent up at a shipyard?

Thanks for the input guys. I'll post some pictures soon.

H

As others have said, the original rig was a masthead bermudian rig, with hanked on jibs - most people had a genoa and a working jib. We also had a storm jib, but I never say that unfolded! There was a single backstay that (I THINK!) went to a wire strop at the stern. To me it looks as if the inner jib on your photos is the original forestay, and the bowsprit is used to set an outer jib.

Lots of useful information HERE

I wouldn't go to a boatyard for stainless fabrication - you'll get a cheaper job by going to a metal working shop. As long as you specify the right grade of stainless (913, I think) and provide a drawing and a template for the mounts (think big sheets of cardboard) they'll probably do a much cheaper job that is just as good..

 

[Kelpie]

I likewise bought a boat that had no stanchions, pulpit, or pushpit. I was fortunate to stumble across someone who had stripped and scrapped a similar sized boat and I was able to buy the complete set for under £200, a fraction of the new prices. The pulpit needed to be bent to fit, and the pulpit is not fitted yet as it is too wide and I will have to cut out a section and get it welded, or possibly sleeve and rivet it myself.
It would be worth looking out for a boat that is getting scrapped or disposed of, as these items are generally fairly simple to remove.

 

[halcyon]

Is there anywhere I'll be able to find another pulpit/pushpit? Where would be the best place to start looking? Or am I better off having them bent up at a shipyard?

It may not have been fitted with a pushpit, mine does not have one.

One thing to check is the beam that the mast sits on, they have a habit of going soft from old age.

Brian

 

[[163233]]

Greetings!
Firstly, hello to everyone! I've just bought (what i believe to be), an early example of a Halcyon 27 and will begin overhauling her over the next 6 months (provided a survey comes through to my liking)!

Is that the Up Spirits in North Wales? I saw the advert when I was looking for my boat, if so, congratulations on getting to see her at all, I got the impression they didn't want to sell.

The test of a modified rig is perhaps the usage of it, if the previous owner covered substantial distance over a significant time with it, then it's probably good.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

I'd be wary of removing the bowsprit just yet. There's lots of people who don't have them who wish they did - when you fix the spreaders try some sailing trips, the cutter rig can be very flexible and that bowsprit will look superb once it's varnished/woodskinned.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

It may not have been fitted with a pushpit, mine does not have one.

One thing to check is the beam that the mast sits on, they have a habit of going soft from old age.

Brian

+1 - I don't think my Dad's had a pushpit, either.

 

[duncan99210]

I did my Competent Crew on one of the JSSTC Halcyons back in 1977..... My memories are a little hazy on the topic but I can recall a fairly cramped interior (I seem to recall five students and a bosun/instructor somehow shoehorned on board), fun to sail and much beer in various places down the Solent.

 

[up_spirits]

Good evening!

I think (going by most suggestions), that i'm going to restore everything as stands for now, leaving the bowspirit/toerail/cutter rig in place - sea trials will inevitably decide what will be changed (if anything)!

Quote Originally Posted by NealB

I'm certain the OP's boat is not an H27 Clipper.

As you say, the coachroof is wrong (the Clipper has: a full width cabin, ie no sidedecks and doesn't have a doghouse). Also, the Clipper has a plank bow sprit.



I'm sure the OP has got the real thing!
They did make them with side decks and normal doghouse, but late production possibly, only true way is side view.

There was also the Nantucket Clipper that was 31 foot.

Brian

I have taken a few pictures of the coach roof (side view) to help clear things up;









These are the holes left in the mast from the original spreaders - the mast is a 'sparlight'.







...and these are the spreaders;







Pretty big holes in the mast! I'll be interested to see what the survey brings up on them (10am next Tuesday morning)! Ive been told that the spreaders would have had a compression tube connecting them, which would open up out to the size of the holes...?

This is the mast base - there seem to be a screw or two missing which might need looking at!! some silicone around the timber, but it seems pretty solid and the roof hasn't 'dished' in anyway, which is good!



As for the pulpit/pushpit, i'm 100% confident that the boat used to have them - the pulpit stanchion mounts point to it having been there (hacksaw'd off) and the aft screwholes are in the correct places to have held the pushpit (having scoured through many google images to confirm)! I'll check ebay for anything and speak to a fabricator about a price...

I managed to get one side of the hull scraped off today with a tungsten scraper - I've decided to take the hull right back and apply Gelshield. The amount of antifoul was ridiculous, but its off now and ready to be sanded. I'm really looking forward to it (along with stripping the rudder - what a fantastic piece of timber)! I'm guessing that it's mahogany...? looks red!

I assume the original forestay runs from the masthead to the outer end of the bowsprit, and the inner forestay (for the staysail) runs from somewhere below the masthead to the stem.

The running backstays would presumably have been added to counteract the load from the staysail.

It looks like the cutter rig was all one unit - the sail and roller furling and a stainless mast attachment (comprising of two running back stays (which are tied to the original aft lower shroud point), one forestay and an extrusion for a block to hoist the sail).





This is the lower end of the running backstay;



And finally, some more pictures (in the following post) of the lift, the boat and the hull scraping! Please feel free to comment!

Thanks guys,

H

 

[up_spirits]

Pressure washed!






Pretty chunky!



Not much left of the anode!























Somewhat thick...



Complete - let sanding commence!







H

 

[halcyon]

Pressure washed!

Standard rig H27




Brian

 

[up_spirits]

Cheers Brian.

Managed to get her pressure washed today - she looks much better for it!















Does anyone have any suggestions for a fresh water tank? I found a 100l bag in the bilge, but it appears to be in a pretty poor condition (to say the least)!



It was a bit rough in there!



Hopefully, I'll have the starboard side scraped clean tomorrow and ready to be sanded back to the Gelcoat - someone's got to do it at some point!

H

 

[halcyon]

Hopefully, I'll have the starboard side scraped clean tomorrow and ready to be sanded back to the Gelcoat - someone's got to do it at some point!

H

I was lucky, our hull had been striped and epoxy tarred.

Had a interesting water storage when we bought the boat, 20 x 5 litre plastic containers, theory was a tank puncture mid Atlantic only lost 5 litre. Fitted plastic water and diesel tanks port and starboard cockpit lockers. But would not do it again, would look at using keel space in cabin as it's weight in a better location.

Alt cockpit, during cooker change.



Brian

 

[NealB]

What a difference....... Great work up_spirits.

 

[up_spirits]

I was lucky, our hull had been striped and epoxy tarred.

Had a interesting water storage when we bought the boat, 20 x 5 litre plastic containers, theory was a tank puncture mid Atlantic only lost 5 litre. Fitted plastic water and diesel tanks port and starboard cockpit lockers. But would not do it again, would look at using keel space in cabin as it's weight in a better location.

Alt cockpit, during cooker change.

View attachment 58711

Brian

20x 5ltr containers!? That sounds like fun!

As you said, I think it will be best to keep the weight in the centre of the boat. I was considering having a stainless tank made up to fit in the bilge, but maybe I'll keep that on the back burner for the future. I'll get a replacement bag for now and keep it in the centre (and try to keep it a bit cleaner)!

Looks like you have plenty of storage! What a lazaretre!!

I started on the bright work yesterday with the heat gun - it's coming up lovely! I'll post an update soon.

Cheers!

H

 

[halcyon]

Looks like you have plenty of storage! What a lazaretre!!

Cheers!

H

The boat is 100% storage, totally rebuild by previous owner trans-Atlantic cruising, behind the cooker are two 4 inch diameter cockpit drains.

Nice to see what it should look like when built.

Lovely sailing boats, enjoy.

Brian

 

[shoestringsailor]

It may not have been fitted with a pushpit, mine does not have one.

One thing to check is the beam that the mast sits on, they have a habit of going soft from old age.

Brian

Aha, top tip there on the mast support. I've just adopted a neglected old H27 myself and am thoroughly enjoying our first summer together before the hard Winter work begins. I'll definitely take a good look at that timber. Looking for some good second hand sails for her too if anyone has some going spare.

 

[shoestringsailor]

I still think she looks pretty good for an old girl and I agree with the idea of getting her back together as she stands to try the cutter rig out. Easy enough to get rid of stuff later if it turns out you don't like it. The shrouds on my H27 attach to the side decks with stainless "u" bolts which have a reputation for corrosion and failure, I see you have some more substantial stainless plates there. A bonus.