help with identification please

a1154 said:
It is looking a tad unloved isnt it? What can i find out? Manufacture date? Is there a register it should be on? I would love to know a bit of its history. If you give me some really basic info on restoration i will try and make it look good again, though i need to start with several black bin liners as its full of rubbish. It has 2 wasps nests too yak.
Click to expand...

Could have been made any time from just after the war up to 1980's. Doubt you will find any documented history. Although Chesfords were well established their output was very small and I expect that boat was probably a one off, although the basic hull form would have been used in other boats. Clinker boats are easy to build (if you know how!) with the minimum of design and tooling. Most of their boats were smaller than that, the 18' being relatively common. I can imagine a customer coming along and saying "build me one like that, but bigger". a bit of pipesucking, few scribbles on a piece of paper and the design agreed!

There is no compulsory register of yachts but you might find a registration number on the main beam. Easy to spot as it will be carved in starting with O/NO for official number. This will mean it was originally on the Part 1 register, but all the old records are now archived so not easy to search.
 
a1154 said:
View attachment 60545
Click to expand...

That is such a well proportioned motor sailer, It has very nice lines and it deserves to be restored. One word of caution is that lifting it onto a hiab to transport it may crush the deck so make sure the driver uses spreaders on the lifting strops. The other risk is the lift may break her back if the keel and or the keelson is rotten.
 
Hi, the lifting and moving is done. The straps crushed some rotten ply but i think that will have to be removed anyway. I cant see a number but im not sure how to identify the main beam.
I have done quite a bit of clearing out, its full of junk. Im thinking of power washing, as its v damp and mossy.
I wish i knew its name, im just calling it the boat!
 
For cleaning her up, a power washer used judiciously shouldn't be a problem. I hope that as you get further into her, that ID markings will become apparent.
 
a1154
Find someone who understands clinker wooden boats and get an opinion about condition, before expending any loot on this one. It could be any where between a nice project and a box of matches on the fifth.
The caulking project elsewhere on here is a similar size, but with a canoe stern and has quite a few areas of rot. The hull is OKish, but it is a marginal restoration due to problems in the bulkheads and cabin sides plus the cover boards and toe rails. A new member of the team is a cabinet maker and is keen to tackle these bits while I sort out the hull.
 
Found an advert for a similar boat to yours in the February 1971 edition of Practical Boat Owner. The following is the text from the advert.

The Chesford
4.5 Ton TM

23 ' x 7 ' 6" Motor Sailer complete with 5 HP Stuart Turner engine with Reverse Gear and sails etc £1985 10HP motor £60 extra.

Heavily clinker built of solid mahogany on oak keel and deadwoods. 5HP Stuart Turner with reverse gear, Bermudan rigged, 190 sq ft, iron ballast keel and bilge keels, Four 6 ft berths in two cabins, Separate toilet and galley space, Ample lockers under berths and decks. Designed for open sea, wheelhouse £55 extra
Send PO for 10 shillings for large scale plans and full specification.

I love it, send 10 shilling for details :)

BTW, according to one historic inflation calculator the purchase price (NO VAT) of £1985 is equivalent to approx. £23,000 at todays value
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top