Info wanted on Charles Greene, yacht designer and founder of Cruiser Kits

[Rich the Scribbler]

Hi
I'm looking for any information about Charles Greene, the East Coast yacht designer and founder of Cruiser Kits, which was based in Bungay, Suffolk back in the sixties and seventies. I believe the firm may have closed about 1977 due to the imposition of VAT on kit boats (they were previously exempt from the old purchase tax).
The reason: I've bought what is probably one of the last remaining boats he designed, a Santa Barbara 32.
I've found out a little about Greene's history from the Norfolk Broads forum (see brief biog below). He sadly died in 2007. I've also talked to a guy who used to work for him, and have a collection of photos from the old works where the kits were assembled.
I'm a journalist, and I'm trying to gather as much info as possible so that I can start to put together a Wiki page for him. So anything that can help - a copy of a Cruiser Kits catalogue, copies of PBO (or any other magazine) that featured reviews – I believe there were a few, including a challenge to build one of his kits. And any more info about the company – I'm told at one point it was very successful, with the catalogue being translated into three languages. (Digital scans are fine if you don't want to part with the originals.)
I'm hoping there are also one or two other of his boats still afloat, and if so it would be great to touch base with the owners.
Many thanks!

Charles Greene bio (courtesy Norfolk Broads forum)
Charles Ernest Greene, a contemporary of Maurice Griffiths, sadly died in 2007 [in Beccles, Suffolk, aged 86]. Affectionately known as “Ginger”, at the age of 16 he went to the Isle of Wight to learn boat building, thus becoming fully conversant with the traditional method of boat construction.
He later went to Walton Yacht Works until he could join the forces at the beginning of WWII. In 1949 he moved to Weybridge where he made a dinghy from an old plywood landing craft and realised what good material it was. He obtained more such craft and from them built one of if not the first ever plywood cruiser, 30ft long and named it “Shelley” after his daughter.
Great interest was shown in the press and some plans and kits were sold. He later moved to Bungay Staithe, Suffolk and his company, Cruiser Kits, sold a range of over 50 boats up to 60ft in length which were exported to many countries, the catalogue appearing in three different languages. He also designed and built a 44ft trimaran, “Hesperides”, which he sailed with his family to the South of France.
This was moored at the then new port of Menton where the family lived with a view to semi-retirement. However, semi or otherwise “retirement” was not in Ginger's vocabulary. Ginger spent the rest of his years writing, designing and inventing up to the last. He was a “one off” who can hardly be replaced and will be much missed.

 

[Tranona]

Can't help with anything about Charles himself except for speaking to him in around 1972 when I bought a kit from him for a 14' sailing boat with a cuddy. It eventually got built, but I never sailed it because by the time it was complete having moved to Poole to work for British SeagulI I was in a position to move up and built a GRP Seawych and sold the 14'. Sailed that for a couple of years then moved up again to another ply boat, a 1963 Hartwells built Eventide which I kept until 2019. I now have one of her bigger sisters, a Golden Hind 31. Although the obit says Charles was a contemporary of MG, I am not sure they were ever really acquainted more than just designing ply boats at the same time, long with Robert Tucker and many others. Very short period of time in the history of small yacht development, less than 15 years. I had hoped to find my copy of the Cruiser Kits brochure - I can picture it now and the place it should be - but it is not there. It was 30 years ago that I filed it. Will keep thinking about as things like this have a habit of popping back into the memory. I know it came to the house I live in when I moved in 1982!

I remember seeing the details of your boat a few years ago, and seem to remember a potential buyer posting on here asking for information. Was it in Poole at one point? I can picture the builder putting it together and equipping it with all the "right" gear from the 1960'e and 70's. That was my boatbuilding era but it all seems old fashioned now!

Sorry can't be more help. These are photos of my 2 MG designed boats which you might find interesting.

Ps you might get more response posting on the Classic section of this forum.

 

[Rich the Scribbler]

Hi - Many thanks for getting back to me. Stunning boats – you have obviously lavished a lot of time on them. I love the lines.

Interesting that you spoke to Charles in the early 70s. It seems Cruiser Kits was quite a big operation in those days, exhibiting at the Boat Show at Earls Court. It's hard to believe there seem to be so few left now. Maybe the plywood just didn't last the course – mine has been sheathed in GRP, which I believe was the recommendation, though I guess they may not all have received that treatment.

If you find your copy of the brochure, do let me know! Anything else that comes to mind that might help piece together the jigsaw would be helpful.

My boat was in Poole – that's where she was lying when I found her. She was being used as a houseboat, and I had to replace all the running rigging, VHF aerial and DC panel. The deck was cracked in one place where she had been T-boned at some stage and it's going to cost me about £2,500 to repair, I've been told, as the water damage has spread beyond the decks. Not such a bargain as I thought! Still, it's good to own a piece of history. Hopefully I can restore her to a good state and pass her on in good nick when I decide to hang up my sailing boots. The interior is beautiful - the guy who built her did a good job.

I'll stick my post in the Classic section, too.

Fair winds.

 

[Tranona]

Once water gets into ply the damage can spread. The Eventide was sheathed in Cascover from new, but water had got in on one side through a leaking fastening of the stanchion before my time and there was a line of rot along the bulkhead. Not enough to damage the structure but impossible to repair sensibly. The upper part painted white is not sheathed and I did several localised repairs over the years, as well as on the unsheathed deck before I eventually laid teak on it. Before I bought the GH I very nearly bought a wooden hulled one (mine is GRP) but discovering similar rot put me off, although the owner did have it repaired. The deck and coachroof on the GH is sheathed ply and again localised repairs where the sheathing has broken down.

I have only had the GH for just over a year and am in the middle of a major refit - far more extensive and expensive than the value of the boat justifies but it is my very enjoyable retirement project. Just finishing veneering the saloon table. Have rewired, new engine and sterngear, bow thruster and rerigged. I post progress from time to time on the PBO forum. Much the same project as refitting the Eventide 30 years ago!

 

[Rich the Scribbler]

Sounds as if you has similar problems, then. I've had one or two splits in the glass sheathing on the coachroof, too, and have cut the ends at 90º to stop them spreading and filled them with epoxy. I'm hoping that does the trick. As you say, sometimes the repairs aren't cost-effective – I'm certainly not adding value to the boat with the deck repair, but it would be criminal to write it off. I'm just hoping there won't be any more nasty surprises in store.

I did have a full survey, and the surveyor said the deck damage was localised, but I left it exposed for a winter before getting it fixed (long story), so down to me. I've certainly learnt my lesson.

 

[Pete54]

I can add a little information. My father ran a small boatyard in Dun Laoghaire during the early 1960s - Marine Sportscraft. He built at least two large plywood cruisers and I think supplied a couple of kits to local purchasers. He used the same adverts as Charles Greene - "Boatbuilding without brainstorms, blisters or bankruptcy", this was also the title of a book published by Greene.
The cruisers were 30 ft and 44 ft. The 30 looked quite dated in appearance, the 44 modern for 1964-5. The 44 footer ended up sinking in Dun Laoghaire harbour after slipping its mooring during a fairly fierce gale.
He also built a 12 or 13 ft runabout from a Greene kit in the hallway as a project before he went into the boatyard. It had a pronounced keel rocker and with a 28hp(?) Perkins created a huge sheet of spray - so naturally was called the 'spray machine'. That was sold prior to the boatyard venture.
During the time he ran the boatyard, he also bought a 23-26 ft daycruiser with a largish outboard, from I think Charles Greene, that had a very American look to it and it was sold on quite quickly. He bought it to make a crossing from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire, after a failed crossing by a chap (whose name escapes me) who tried it in a Pearly Miss and ended up being rescued. The poor publicity apparently crimped sales a little, but the successful crossing did not get the same lelve of media attention!

 

[Rich the Scribbler]

Hi Pete. Many thanks for the info - really interesting. They were a good size, then. I didn't know they went up to a 44ft. My 32 looks dated in some ways, but I guess you could say she has classic lines for her era. She would have looked even better had the builder stuck to the plans, which came with the boat, but he made her a bit more rakish at the front end, which doesn't suit the overall design. Real shame the bigger boat sank. I don't suppose you know whether the 30-footer survived longer term? I guess it was a long time ago. I must confess I wouldn't cross the Irish Sea in a day boat. Made a crossing in my old Moody (76 model) pre-Covid. Forecast was 4-5 and it turned out 6-7, gusting 8, and the waves were building. I was worried it might turn into another Fastnet! Strangely by the time I reached Kilmore Quay, the wind had dropped and it was quite flat. Many thanks for the information, and if anything else comes to mind, or you have any photos, please do let me know..