The Cutter 28 - a 70's version of Benjenbav's Steelaway

[Bajansailor]

Here is a scanned copy of the catalogue for the Cutter 28 - approx 400 of these vessels were built in the 1970's in the USA by the Cargile Corporation.
This is following on from the thread started by Benjenbav
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?451448-Mystery-explained
about a new Steeler motor yacht which he thought (tongue in cheek!) might be mistaken for a House of Commons cruise vessel.

I did some googling, and found this Blog about Cargile Cutters :
https://cargilecutters.wordpress.com/

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Well spotted. There's nothing new under the sun, eh?

 

[Bajansailor]

I have been trying to find more details of their historic trans-atlantic voyage with a single engined Cutter, but it is all very elusive - I know they did do it, as I remember it was widely reported at the time, but that was almost 40 years ago now.
And I am wondering if maybe they had installed storm boards over the large windows in the topsides.
It certainly was a very novel idea at the time, and a lot of people liked it, as they built 400 odd vessels.
Probably quite a few ended up as houseboats after their outdrive legs fizzled away......

 

[Friz]

I own one of these, Melrose, Florida. I have the press release you are looking for. Unfortunately "You (I) may not post attachments" - for whatever reason. Anyhow, send me an email cargilecutterboats@yahoo.com and I will send along a copy.

Friz

 

[Bajansailor]

Thank you Friz for this update.

I had previously posted scanned copies of my Cutter catalogue above using Photobucket - these were no longer visible, as I am not inclined to pay their ransom annual subscription, so I have just re-uploaded them using https://postimg.org
Although they are only thumbnails as shown above, they expand nicely if you click on them.

 

[Friz]

Great! I was able to download the catalogue/photos you posted. Thank you. I still am not allowed to post to this site for whatever reason. At any rate, there is a facebook page I started some months ago, Cargile Cutter Boats. I have uploaded the post Atlantic crossing magazine article in which you expressed interest and an advertising flyer. Please have a look. Obviously I am a bit enamored with these boats.

I followed your Barbados link. I like the introduction "civilized and orderly". The US Navy brought me there for a week in the mid-90's. Thoroughly enjoyed the port call. As I recall there where some rather nice hotels/resorts north of Bridgetown. Quite possibly the nicest Caribbean island I have visited. Oh, and by the way, first class rum.

 

[Bajansailor]

Here is a link to Friz's Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Cargile-Cutter-Boats-1055184204551481/

Friz has posted a copy of the article (5 pages) about the transatlantic journey in the May 1978 issue of The Ensign (which is the journal of the United States Power Squadron).
You can still see the article without logging in to Facebook.
However it is very small print, hence easier to save a copy, and then blow it up a bit.
And it is well worthwhile doing so - an excellent read.
They set off from New York with 1,200 gallons of fuel on board, and were 12 inches down on their waterline...... but the stability calculations said they were self righting with all this fuel low down.
They averaged approx 3 miles per gallon, and encountered a storm where they rode to 2 sea anchors in series in 40' seas, with some interesting notes on using the outdrive leg to help in these conditions.

Changing tack, thank you Friz for your kind words about Barbados - hopefully we are still reasonably 'civilised and orderly', although I am sure that if you visit now you will see a lot of changes in the last 20 years.

 

[Bajansailor]

Re the article from The Ensign, here is a more easily clickable copy with Dropbox :

 

[Lorry]

I am late to the party here but this is all great information!

I don't suppose anyone actually has an owners manual for one of these? - I am slowly restoring mine (Serial 4066) and I can work out most things by trial and error, but I am still sure I am missing things!

 

[scottie]

Normally I am not a fan of Lazarus posting but I make an exception here
I don’t think I would forget the original definition of FUGLY but it’s a good story and has the additional benefit of reminding me of a trip to Gothenburg and the new factory for the 40 Series engine

 

[Chris_d]

Re the article from The Ensign, here is a more easily clickable copy with Dropbox :

That's great reading, can you imagine if someone came on here asking about crossing the Atlantic in a 28ft American cruiser with a single outdrive!!!

 

[stelican]

That's great reading, can you imagine if someone came on here asking about crossing the Atlantic in a 28ft American cruiser with a single outdrive!!!

That's so funny, try it in about a months time.

 

[Chris_d]

That's so funny, try it in about a months time.

Someone beat me too it;
20ft cabin cruiser.
Well a bit less ambitious but similar