If Cornish Crabbers built a schooner...

[doug748]

Not a cutter but I passed one of these on her mooring yesterday:

http://www.easternyachts.com/lutra/index.htm

Has some of the visual feel of a schooner and probably even nicer in the flesh than on the screen.

PS

Owner's Comments are worth reading.

 

[FWB]

Lovely boat Doug, uplifting when you see boats like that.
Such a pity that the market these days means that accommodation comes before beauty and seaworthiness.

 

[Serin]

Not a cutter but I passed one of these on her mooring yesterday:

.

Holman design, I believe. He designed some lovely boats.

 

[Serin]

Lovely boat Doug, uplifting when you see boats like that.
Such a pity that the market these days means that accommodation comes before beauty and seaworthiness.

Interesting to consider that the designs both the old gaff cutters and the modern yachts have been dictated by utility. In the work boats - pilot cutters, smacks etc. utility brought forth handsome boats. In the modern yachts, not so much.

Mind you, looking at photos of the Essex smacks, for example, in their fishing days, they looked pretty scrappy. But the basic shapes and proportions were there.

 

[PeterWright]

Holman design, I believe. He designed some lovely boats.

Yes, this was one of Kim's many designs. His legacy is that none of the boats he drew looked less than beautiful and all excelled both at sailing fast and sea keeping.

 

[sailorman]

Yes, this was one of Kim's many designs. His legacy is that none of the boats he drew looked less than beautiful and all excelled both at sailing fast and sea keeping.

Holman & Pye ( inc David Cooper ) designed some great yachts & i have had the privilege to own one for over 18 yrs

 

[DoubleEnder]

A friend of mine converted a Mackwester Kelpie to gaff schooner rig. It was very slow but quite good fun. A 14 foot open boat.... could be very deceptive at about a half mile range

 

[Greenheart]

Anybody else detect a bargain, here? £9,000 for an '83 Crabber... http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boat.phtml?id=525115

Not perfect - needs new deck-paint and a good general polish. But she looks like a nice genuine no-tech trad-reproduction.

On this boat, I really like the fact that her only electrical system is the navigation lights.

 

[DownWest]

Dan, would that boat have wooden deck and cabin? It sounds low for a Crabber, but high for a 24ft boat from that date. Sails might be a bit tired?
When they they first came out, I asked about plans to build a ply one like the original. But only offered a GRP hull kit, with ply deck and cabin. Looks nice though...

 

[Greenheart]

I can't answer that, Downwest...it's just described as a "Mk I GRP Cornish Crabber 24."

There doesn't seem to be any pretence that it's brand spanking new, or tricked out with modern kit...

...quite the reverse, she seems to take GRP traditionalism very seriously. But as you say, I think she looks very nice.

 

[LittleSister]

I think she looks very nice.

All it needs is a wheelhouse and serious sized motor, don't you think, Dan?

 

[Greenheart]

I reckon a wheelhouse on a Crabber, would be even harder to get right aesthetically, than on a Centaur. Got me thinking, though.

Actually when I get into gaff-mode (sadly limited to memories of Mirror dinghies and daydreams) I leave my dislike of harsh weather, on shore. All of a sudden I'm in hero-mode, aboard a Grand Banks schooner with Lionel Barrymore and Spencer Tracy. Good grief, how did that film suddenly get to be eighty years old???

As I say, daydreams.

 

[michael_w]

Cherubini 48 Modifed L Francis Herreshoff design. Not in the same league as a CC.

http://www.cherubiniyachts.com/48.html

 

[DownWest]

Cherubini 48 Modifed L Francis Herreshoff design. Not in the same league as a CC.

http://www.cherubiniyachts.com/48.html

Don't think £9K would get you far there...

 

[fisherman]

Anybody else detect a bargain, here? £9,000 for an '83 Crabber... http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boat.phtml?id=525115

Not perfect - needs new deck-paint and a good general polish. But she looks like a nice genuine no-tech trad-reproduction.

On this boat, I really like the fact that her only electrical system is the navigation lights.

I looked at that, but how popular are lifting keels? Another big hole in the boat to me, but many advantages in re mud berth and creek crawling

 

[Greenheart]

If you're going to answer your own question...

 

[banger]

Think theMk 1 is wooden topsides, the Mk 2 is all grp, anyway 9k is very high , but he may be lucky.

 

[NUTMEG]

Nine grand is about right for a mk1 in need of 'tidying'. I went to look at this boat last summer. Not bad but I reckon she needs a good few bob spending to bring her up to scratch.

I recently looked at another in Woodbridge for £15000. That too needed a few bob spending.

Happily the owner turned down my offer of £13000 because a week later a really nice Mk2 turned up on eBay for £14000. And, as far as I can tell, fingers crossed, she needs very little, if anything, spending on her. Although I am installing a heater.



My new boat

 

[FWB]

The boat looks very well cared for. Just be aware that the deck can go soft due water ingress. Walk around on it to see if it’s ok. I had a Mk 1 for many happy years. I had the deck repaired around the hatch....a weak point I recall.

 

[Greenheart]

I thought £9.000 looked cheap. Usually there's a fair number of Shrimpers (19ft) of similar age, asking more money. Unless I've lost touch completely with values.

Not that I'll be making an offer myself, but I'd think she looks like a good deal for someone, assuming her condition is fair.