Ssshhhhhhh don't tell anyone I am here

[Guest]

Ssshhhhhhh don\'t tell anyone I am here

On our cruise to the West Cuuntry this year, we met a 54ft gentlemens motor cruiser by Philips circa early 60's and I fell in love with it. Now I own a Moody 38 so ask for discretion about me being here!!!!!! Not that I could or would do anything but will the assembled company give me some of the pitfalls and delights of owning a Wooden yacht motor or sail? Who knows you might pursuade me that I am totally mad and should stick to my rather nice Moody!!!!!!!!!!
Pete

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Ssshhhhhhh don\'t tell anyone I am here

A philips 50, actually 52' but yours may be different. wonderful boats, well built, a bit like my own boat, where is she? Does she have a raised flush aft deck, they made one like that! I'm a bit of an anorak when it comes to this type of boat, almost bought one, when in Dartmouth in 1970, but have only seen one since, twin perkies? widely spaced, lovely engine room, do tell!

 

[Guest]

Re: Ssshhhhhhh don\'t tell anyone I am here

We met her in Dartmouth, she is kept in North Wales and each year she is cruised for 6 months by her owners. Lovely boat and very definately not for sale...She had a raised aft deck that the orginal drawings show as the stowage for two dinghy's one sailing one pulling complete with hoist!!!!! They had her in the med a year or so ago and this year Dartmouth and Channel Islands.... just got me thinking!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Ssshhhhhhh don\'t tell anyone I am here

If the raised deck comes right out to the sides, she is the only one and the one I wanted! But if it is raised with a side decks around, then she is one of a limited few. There are some other boats like her around, as motor sailors and motor yachts, have a look at silver ormidales or 50' silver brown owls, watsons, by Mc Gruers and Miller motor boats. Thers quite a few around of different types, If your in Dartmouth, theres a beautiful gentlemans motor yacht lies just up river on a mooring opposite Philips Noss yard/marina, she was for sale. Anyway, it's your natural tendencies coming out, most gentlemen eventualy realise wood is the only material for boats! tee hee.

 

[Guest]

Re: Ssshhhhhhh don\'t tell anyone I am here

> will the assembled company give me some of the pitfalls and delights of owning a Wooden yacht motor or sail?

Delights:

* The sheer pleasure of owning and using something so lovely and also possibly historic (looks like this one has got you already)
* The knowledge that it's tried and tested for the job it does, and is probably a pretty good piece of design. You too can ignore all these tedious arguments about stability/cruising range/the aesthetics of fat-arsed French yachts, or at least feel superior.
* Knowing that osmosis is absolutely not your problem, whatever else is
* The wonderful smell of wood and varnish which greets you when you go on board, especially when she's just been done up
* The perverse delight to be had in ignoring all the folks queueing up to call you a fool
* Being able to shout "I should be obliged to you if you would mind my paint/varnish" at people
* Using this forum, which is infinitely more civilized than some others we could mention.

Pitfalls (potential at least):

* Needing a cool head about the time and money necessary each year to keep her in good nick, and having the discipline to make sure it is done
* I may be reluctantly prepared to acknowledge the possibility that my (sail) boat might be perceived by some unfeeling individuals as a money pit. But then, isn't everyone's, in one way or another?
* Having to toss all the interior fittings about when you go ashore to ensure ventilation. But at least if you leave the boat looking as if it's already been burgled...
* Let's say you've left the bilge pump on automatic, and the old girl's a bit leaky... well, it can be rather expensive in batteries.

> Not that I could or would do anything

I'm sure we all said that once, and look at us now. I reckon you're hooked... :- ))

As long as you HAVE A SURVEY DONE BY A WOODEN BOAT EXPERT. But you don't need me to tell you that.

 

[Guest]

Re: Ssshhhhhhh don\'t tell anyone I am here

Thanks for that. Still like my new Moody 38 as does my higher authority but as I slowly get nearer to retirement... At the moment I spend 2-3 hours each week cleaning, checking, maintaining my Moody, with a wooden boat what would that go to? 5 hours a week?

thanks

Pete

 

[Mirelle]

Silvers et al

A teak built boat will greatly reduce maintenance time and worry. In more recent boats, iroko is a good alternative.

The boats designed by John Bain and built by James Silver of Rosneath have quite a following - they were very much the R-R of 1930's-50's motor yachting. The Ormidale and Brown Owls are lovely but even the Silver Leaf 40-footer (several for sale) is roomy and stylish.

Dickies built several very attractive motor sailers with the emphasis slightly on the motor. Well worth looking out for.

Fredk Parker is the best known of the post war motor yacht designers and he did some lovely ones.

The Dagless "Fleur de Lys" class (designed by Peter Brown) are also very nice in a more modern idiom - iroko built.

 

[Guest]

The Morris Minor of the boating world

Have been watching the fun you're having on Scuttlebutt regarding the desirability of the Moody yacht.

Forget the Merc, the Rover, the Ford, the Vauxhall or the Citroen of the boating world. Over here we're all Morris Minors, Triumph 2000s or bloody great Bentleys... ;- ))

If I had to find an automotive comparison for my own yacht, it would definitely be a TR6.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: The Morris Minor of the boating world

Why? You got a fairey spearfish? Thats what I would say, last of the TR's, still wouldn't mind one. TR7 and 8 was a hairdressers car!!

 

[Guest]

Re: The Morris Minor of the boating world

My Beloved Other Half would sell his soul, and possibly mine too, for a TR7 or 8. (As long as he doesn't try to sell my boat...) Currently we have a Spit, a car owned or formerly owned by many, many perusers of these boards.

TR6 and yacht: both classic English sporting models from noted manufacturers who faced great changes in their respective industries

 

[ccscott49]

Re: The Morris Minor of the boating world

I'm really sorry about your other half! TR& yuck! the * tried but even then that styling, that rear suspension, a throw back to the TR4, not even IRS, rot like blazes, built by a bunch of morons in liverpool, even when they moved production they never got better, sorry they are absolute junk! Shows in the prices and how many have survived. Now the TR6, for all it's faults and there were quite a few! A good car once sorted and it shows in the prices and following, last of the hairy chested sports cars, I would like one, but I guess a phase 2 healey 3000 would come first, after maybe another V12 E type. No the healey wins, or a XK 150s 3.8 drophead! I can afford one, but retirement would have to wait another year!

 

[Guest]

Re: The Morris Minor of the boating world

Scratch a classic boat fan (the one of your choice...), and so often you find a classic car fan just under the surface. I salute your wish-list, but won't give you mine, or we'll be here all day. There's two sorts of TR7/8 on sale. Plenty of the sort you describe for about £400 and a few in rather better condition which can fetch around £2,000. Believe me, his has been looked into very thoroughly in our household...

My only gripe is that we can't drive the existing Triumph to the boat, because the journey's a bit long for the poor old girl, and her brakes are binding on one side, and you have to travel with your gear in the passenger footwell and your knees under your chin.

Sorry, Peter for hijacking your thread. Might just start a new one on this topic.

In answer to your question, I think if you are already spending 3 hours a week on maintenance and checking, you would be in an excellent position to own a wooden boat. The trick being to catch the problems and put them right before they develop into something that costs you the remaining arm and leg.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by The_Fruitbat on 13/08/2002 18:24 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[tr7v8]

Re: The Morris Minor of the boating world

Colin, how dare you throw away comments over here where you thought I wouldn't see the! ;-0
RANT MODE ON/>
I know this is biased but 7 & 8's were different and suited the market at the moment, look at what was around when the 7 emerged, Fiat x1/9 etc. All soft cars appealling to the non-hiry chested brigade. I drove a 6 last year and whilst I couldn't live with I understand it. At the same time the 6 owner drove my 7 and was staggered on how much better it handled and also how easier it was to drive.
They were both made for the american market and the yanks raved about them and sill do, they also had virtually no competition at the time.
RANT MODE Off/>

Jim
------

 

[Guest]

Re: Ssshhhhhhh don\'t tell anyone I am here

And the next silly question... What are the best magazines for
1. Classic Wood Power
2. Classic Wood Sail

any other reading material plus how do I convince my higher authority to go classic. I hasten to add that a few years ago we moved from a modern box to a listed cottage...

This is really silly, I have a nice comfortable modern cruiser but have an increasing hankering for something wood and old!!!!

Pete

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by peter_gough on 15/08/2002 09:12 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Mirelle]

Re: Ssshhhhhhh don\'t tell anyone I am here

The one that you must have is the American "Wooden Boat" magazine. If you can run to it, butn the full set of back issues as well. It tends to take a tone of high seriousness, it covers boats that wont interest you (Venetian Gondolas was a reecent case in point!) and of course it is American so some items are un-gettable here, and vice versa but it is, on the whole, the Voice of Authority.

Take a look at their website, http://www.woodenboat.com, for a start.

"Classic Boat", YM's stablemate, is OK but tends to pander to dreamers perhaps.

"Watercraft", Pete Greenfield's current baby, is very good but has an emphasis on smaller boats.

If you read French, "Le Chasse-Maree" is excellent.


As to books, the "bible" of the British wooden boatbuilder is Watts and Jurd, "Yacht Construction" - if possible this should be read in conjuction with an old copy of Lloyds Rules for Wood Yachts. Larry Pardey's "Details of classic yacht construction" offers a more exhaustive (and perfectionist) treatment. Michael Verney's books on maintenance are good, as is Ian Nicholson's book on surveying. JC Winters book on classic boat surveying and restoration is not bad. The late John Scarlett (founder secretary of the OGA) wrote a very sound book on he same subject which you might find secondhand - it is on an heroic scale and starts with keel replacement!

For sailing boats, get an early copy of Hiscock's "Cruising Under Sail" if you don't already have one. The enthusiast will add Uffa Fox's five pre-War annuals, Illingworth's "Offshore" (early edition) and Claud Worth's "Yacht Cruising", plus Maurice Griuffiths and FB Cooke.....

Good luck!

 

[Guest]

Re: Ssshhhhhhh don\'t tell anyone I am here

Thanks for that. Hiscocks, Illingworth have read but must re-read. The rest sounds like a good starting point.

Pete

 

[Mirelle]

What a good list!

A wooden boat feels "more solid" (I recognise that this is quite possibly an illusion) and is quieter, cooler in summer and warmer in winter (this is very noticeable).

On the debit side, don't leave the battery on! One of the most expensive problems that wooden boats develop is electrolysis from stray currents. Replacing the metal bits is the cleap part - replacing the wooden bits that have been turned into paper pulp by alkali buildup at the cathode is the expensive part - a rather nice Dunkirk Little Ship that I know of recently cost her owner a new shaft log this way! For the same reason, many of us no longer go in for zinc anodes.

You can leave the bilge pump off - she won't sink at her mooring - honest!

The only other Iron Law is - keep fresh water away! Leaky decks have destroyed most wooden boats. And I remember a nice 8 ton Hillyard that developed a rot patch where the washing up water had been spilt for 40 years! If the decks are really rainproof, everywhere, and she is well ventilated, you should have no trouble.

 

[Guest]

Give it a go by hiring

Why not try out the kind of boat you're interested in for a weekend or a few days by hiring? Then you'll be able to sort out your own views on the subject, and possibly also convince the other members of the party.

In Norfolk there are two, maybe three yards hiring out (IMHO) the most beautiful wooden sailing yachts. I can't think of any offhand that are doing classic cruisers at the moment, although you used to be able to hire them. Other people may know of somewhere that does.

They are: Norfolk Broads Yacht Company, Horning; Eastwood Whelpton, Upton; possibly also Herbert Woods of Potter who I think still has a couple of classics tucked away among the tupperware fleet.

Oh yes, and people will crucify me if I don't mention Hunters of Ludham, which still has its authentic 30s fleet. So authentic are they, that they have no electricity and no engines, and if the wind drops, bor, then you have to get that old quant out. And be very careful of your tides through Yarmouth. Plenty of Hunters devotees use these boards.

Hope Kim doesn't mind me mentioning the yards - it is all relevant, useful information for fellow board members, I think... ;- ))

Health warning: I did this, and bought the boat!

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by The_Fruitbat on 15/08/2002 12:33 (server time).</FONT></P>