Hello and Help.

[cirnil]

Hi all you wooden boat fans.

I've always wanted a wooden sailing boat and have just thrown all caution to the wind and bought one - on pure impulse (yeah I know I shouldn't do it that way).
I'm told that the boat is an East Coast, Carvel built, Gunter rigged boat, 22 foot long, 6 foot beam and 5 foot from u/side keel to top of coach roof. It weighs about 2 tonnes and was built in the early 30's.
It's been out of the water for 15 years (under covers) so will be well dried out by now and obviously will leak like a sieve.

Can anyone identify the boat (I do have other photos)?

I'm also looking to shift the boat from Dartford to Birmingham and looking for a place in the Birmingham area to park it and work on it. Can anybody help?

Thanks if you can help.

 

[oldfrank]

It looks very like a sailing cruiser from the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads - judging by the tabernacle. I'd also expect a Broads yacht to step a bowsprit.
The shed looks like a later (and amateur) addition. I couldn't recommend sailing her on the sea - even after the rebuild. Hope this helps. OF

 

[Sniper]

I'd agree with that - looks like a broads yacht. The rig sounds right too, with a gunter rig. Do you have any more pictures?

 

[cirnil]

Hi Horatio and oldfrank,

Thanks for replys.

I've attached a few more photos.

Boat does indeed have a bowsprit (see sketch).

I'm a bit concerned re your suggestion not to use at sea as I was hoping to use it to explore the East Coast. I don't want to go cross channel, just around the coast.
Can you elaborate for me?

cirnil

 

[EastCoastChris]

I'm a bit concerned re your suggestion not to use at sea as I was hoping to use it to explore the East Coast. I don't want to go cross channel, just around the coast.

Hi Cirnil,

Looks like you have quite a project there! I've really enjoyed working on my boat, I hope you do too.

With regards, sea worthiness, I think you'll be fine exploring the East Coast Rivers, but you might need some caution and choose your moment when venturing from river to river on open water. She doesn't have a lot of freeboard and might be easily swamped by a wave if things got too choppy.

I'm sure she'll be fine, if you're prudent. Charles Stock and Shoal Waters may be a suitable inspiration for your future adventures.

Chris

 

[oldfrank]

Take it easy and stick to fine days.

Looking at the photos, I'm not so convinced she is a Broads boat. I'd expect to find a forepeak hatch for the tabernacle (always a good way to sink a boat in a decent chop - but do beware of your open cockpit with low freeboard) and the construction looks a bit good for the Broads. Many Broads sailing boats were constructed for the hire fleets and some builders didn't even bother with stringers. This hull seems to have been built plenty of lateral strength. We are usually derogatory about traditional Broads boatbuilding standards but their boats survive and there are many centenarians. Maybe they knew precisely what they could get away with!