Hillyard 2.5 ton - great, good or bad?

[siggy]

Hi All

I've been trawling the web trying to find any info on the Hillyard 2.5 ton, with little (make that no) success so far. Can anyone give a description of what they're like to sail, own, etc.

I'm coming at this as someone who's sailed a little, but is very much a beginner
(crewed for a season, which included doing the North Sea Race from Scarborough. Also, done RYA dayskpper theory).

I've never owned a boat, but (obviously) want to /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
My main interest is in cruising & I'd like a wooden / classic boat.
Also, not being a millionaire, the Hillyard seems to fall into my price range (which I realise is the least of my worries, but.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Thanks in advance / info / advice

Siggy

 

[Forbsie]

I know one that you'd probably get for a song or free but needs a 'little' work. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Mirelle]

Ask "Mariposa" - who posts on here.

(Very good choice of boat, imho.)

 

[vande9389]

Have a look at the owners association website here:
http://www.hillyardyachts.ukf.net/home.htm

There are a number of contacts you may want to speak to for opinions etc.

One of the forum members "johnlilley" is a surveyor and shipwright and owns, I think, 2 Hillyards.

regards

 

[siggy]

Thanks for the Hillyards owners assoc link.

I tried sending them an e-mail yesterday (via their contacts link) but it bounced back as undeliverable because [their] 'Mail quota exceeded' /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Just thought I'd post this to bring the problem to light for anyone involved with the HOA reading this thread.

Cheers

Siggy

 

[siggy]

Hi Forbsie

free is always good, unless it's going to cost me a fortune /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers

Siggy

 

[Guest]

My Father had one many years ago .....

I used to sleep on the floor between the two bunks. I was about 7 or 8 yrs old ... and I have cine-film of her ..... brings tears to my old eyes ...

Slow but safe and capable boats ... but all Hilyards are.

 

[kestrel1891]

I bought one when I was 17 and sailed it for 15 years.

Several boat builders built 2 1/2 ton yachts in the 1930's through to the 50's, Johnson & Jago, Dann Webb and Hillyard being the main ones. They were originally advertised as the £100 yacht (less engine) As 2 1/2 ton yachts go, the Hillyard was a finer hull shape and hence looked prettier, sails very well but has less accomodation.
A Stuart Turner was the favourite engine which in my opinion is best used as a mooring weight.
Being built for £100, the build isn't top quality. Areas to watch for are a rotten keel, broken floors, broken ribs, decks and weak hoodends and of course keel bolts. The brightwork is particuarly lightweight and needs lots of maintenance.
They sail like a dream but being small can get exciting in a big sea.

As a first classic yacht which is cheap to buy and relatively easy to fix and maintain they would definitely be my recommended choice. I loved mine dearly and it broke my heart to sell.

 

[Mirelle]

My former boat Mytica is not a Hillyard but is if anything even finer on the same basic dimensions; she was an unauthorised knock off of Harrison Butler's "Paida" design, built "out off offcuts from Navy M/L's" (all teak, on yacal, Broad Arrow on some metal bits. Indian rupee coins used as clench washers") at Trincomalee, and shipped home in 1947.

Lovely little boat. Had her 12 years, and she got me across to Holland and back twice..."You crossed the Nordzee...in that little boat...let me buy you a beer...!" /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[siggy]

So the 2.5 ton is a sea-kindly boat, capable of a jaunt across to Holland (with the right experience & weather /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )?!?

Hmmmm......

 

[vande9389]

Try Michael Waldron's email. Click on the Officers link on the website and scroll down to the commodore's picture. They have used yellow font which is not easy to read but the email address is there. I have pasted it here too:
Michael@mwalden.demon.co.uk

I own a ketch rigged 12 tonner and she is a very comfortable and safe boat. She has a solid cockpit doghouse which keeps us out of the worst of the weather. Hillyards are not the fastest things on water but they are not all that slow either. Snoqualmie "picks up her skirts" when there is a F4 or above on the beam or abaft the beam and settles down to an acceptable 5 to 6 knots indicated.

Regards

 

[Wansworth]

Small boats are good for the soul!

 

[Jeremy_W]

[ QUOTE ]
My former boat Mytica is not a Hillyard but is if anything even finer on the same basic dimensions; she was an unauthorised knock off of Harrison Butler's "Paida" design, built "out off offcuts from Navy M/L's" (all teak, on yacal, Broad Arrow on some metal bits. Indian rupee coins used as clench washers") at Trincomalee, and shipped home in 1947.

[/ QUOTE ] And your present yacht is heavily influenced by Harrison Butler's "Metacentric Shelf" ideas unless I'm mistaken. You must like the designer's ideas.

 

[Gordonmc]

I had occasion to help a gent out with some work on his Hillyard 2.5 tonner at Tarbert (Loch Fyne) a few years ago. She was just about the prettiest boat on the pontoon and he had her very snug down below.
Sadly the owner may have gone to the big yard in the sky as I haven't seen him or the boat for a while. It was partly because of seeing the boat that I bought my 8-tonner.
When Mariposa began filing on the forum I thought he might have bought the Tarbert boat, but no, apparently his came from the East coast.
On the whole the Hillyards are a good introduction to wooden boat ownership as there are few dark arts needed for keeping them going. Most fittings apart from the hull rivets are galvanised mild steel rather than bronze so replacing them won't break the bank.
The makers are still going strong in Littehampton and I have found them helpful with advice.

 

[Blueboatman]

Nice.I am sure they have been featured at some time-Classic boat?-in an ownership cost comparison versus owning a grp boat,does the article ring any bells anyone?
Another boat to look out for is the similar Mashfords 2/1/2 tonner,some to be found in the west country as they were built at Plymouth...

 

[Mirelle]

Yes. Certainly. And a cruise down the length of the English Channel, to Cornwall and back.

Somewhere in the RCC Journals for the 1950's is an account of a cruise round Biscay in a 2.5 ton Hillyard.

 

[Wansworth]

roving commissions 11 june 1971.I posted a picture about a month back,it was gunter rigged witha stuart Turner,cross the channel thro canals to the Biscay and back to POOLE.A classic summer cruise in black and White without electronics.Boat was called DECIBEL built 1935.

 

[Mirelle]

Thanks; took it off the shelf and read it last night! A good unvarnished account, including a fight with a fishing net across most of the Channel.

(So, that makes two of us who enjoy reading old "Roving Commissions" and RCC Journals... )

 

[RupertW]

And me - but I lost/gave away the 5 books I had a long time ago.

 

[luddites]

Hi just read through this thread and nobody has mentioned that the post war boats differ insofar as they have an extra strake in ther topsides and I think a little more beam which is basically a different boat.
I had a pre war 2.5 some years ago and she really was a delight to sail and NOT IN ANY WAY SLOW. Sorry to shout but the original 2.5 is probably the fastest Hillyard ever when size is taken into accout, a real capable little ship. Go for it.