Vintage trailerable bilge keeler with arched companionway ~ What might she be?

[Morgan A. Johnson]

I've discovered a 'mystery' boat and would like to educate myself to what make and model she might be.
Anyone have knowledge of this design? All information is much appreciated.

 

[Bajansailor]

Morgan is in the USA (the boat is as well) - he initially asked this question on the Sailboats section of the Boat Design forum -
What is she? ~ Vintage trailerable twin keeler with arched companionway.

However she appears to be much more British than American (re the twin keels), hence my suggestion to Morgan to post his question on here as well.

 

[Morgan A. Johnson]

I inadvertently placed my initial inquiry about this boat in the YBW Classic and Wooden Boat forum. Upon Bajansailor's suggestion, have since posted here.

Below are two additional images I have been provided.





It appears the rudder/tiller has been removed. Any ideas as to what else this image may indicate?

 

[Wansworth]

There used to be a book called Bristows and it was published every year in the 1960s and that would be the sort of craft they featured,an early grp yacht of which there were many.

 

[wombat88]

Arched hatch is Pandora 'esque', the rest is not.

 

[pvb]

Arched hatch is Pandora 'esque', the rest is not.

Arched hatch is also very like the Seahawk 17, but again the rest of it isn't.

 

[Bajansailor]

Arched hatch is Pandora 'esque', the rest is not.

Yes, that arched hatchway was very much a Van de Stadt trademark.
Pandoras have similar windows, however they are not tapered towards the front like this one. And this boat appears to have a transom hung rudder (that is missing) whereas I think that Pandoras have inboard rudders?
Morgan, have you measured her overall length?

 

[Refueler]

There used to be a book called Bristows and it was published every year in the 1960s and that would be the sort of craft they featured,an early grp yacht of which there were many.

Just been through my '68 Bristows and nothing like the above boat in it ...

As an aside - I knew Philip Bristow when I lived in UK as he was not far from from my home and was very sad when he stopped producing his annual book.

 

[Aja]

Yes, that arched hatchway was very much a Van de Stadt trademark.
Pandoras have similar windows, however they are not tapered towards the front like this one. And this boat appears to have a transom hung rudder (that is missing) whereas I think that Pandoras have inboard rudders?
Morgan, have you measured her overall length?

As was the Invicta et al.

No idea on this though. Privateer shaped bow.

Donald

 

[Bajansailor]

That bow is very Privateer'ish, the cabin window as well, but the companionway is different.
SailboatData.com - PRIVATEER 20 Sailboat

 

[Morgan A. Johnson]

I've received a few additional images. Hopefully, these will offer clues to her identification.

 

[Bajansailor]

Is the cockpit in the photo above nearly full with almost frozen water, or is this an optical illusion?
She appears to be about 17' - 18' long at the most?
If she didn't have such a pronounced sheer forward, she would be looking a bit Hurley-esque.

 

[Morgan A. Johnson]

Yes, you are seeing correctly. Unfortunately from the images I have received, she appears to be full of water and coated with ice!

 

[DownWest]

Not much spent on the fit-out either?. Trailer looks binable too. Bit of a DIY bodge.

To add: with that much water in her, probably stuffed the suspension units.

Apart from ID'ing her, do you have plans?

 

[William_H]

If OP is considering taking on this project then any more than one squid would be too much to pay for it. I am one who loves boats and reckons any GRP boat is restorable but this does look sad. A cockpit full of frozen water, Shiver me Timbers that is horrible. Especially from a poster in Barbados. ol'will

 

[Bajansailor]

I would agree with Ole Will that her poor timbers must be shivering in that cold - and complaining about the weight of all that icy water on board. The boat is on the Northeastern Seaboard of the USA and she looks like she has felt the effect of that major storm they had up that way just recently.

Morgan, here is a little Westerly 22 which was found in similar circumstances a few years ago outside Baltimore, however her history is well documented over the past 50 odd years (and the two photos below were taken approx 50 years apart).
'A friend in a field'

 

[Morgan A. Johnson]

DownWest, I'm keen to resurrect her, however, unsure if that will happen. Not many unique, small sailboats I run across that spark my interest such as this one. I thought she might be identifiable and I could get a feel from other owners on her attributes, but she's proving to be quite the mystery.

 

[DownWest]

DownWest, I'm keen to resurrect her, however, unsure if that will happen. Not many unique, small sailboats I run across that spark my interest such as this one. I thought she might be identifiable and I could get a feel from other owners on her attributes, but she's proving to be quite the mystery.

Good luck, if you do.. You have a basic hull and spars. The rudder will need replacing and you have to find some sails. Likely the standing rigging is in need of replacing, but you could consider Dynmea synthetic, there are some threads(pun intended..) on the Wooden Boat Forum. Likely find some sails on Craigslist or similar. Lots of DIY in view. Good look at the bilge plate fixings, esp after that load of water in her.
DW

 

[Morgan A. Johnson]

Still tracking down info. I have been provided with an image of the sails and equipment included with the boat. Does anyone recognize the logo on the non-Laser sail? I do no know if that sail is original to the boat, I know the Laser sails and part are not. Again, hoping this image might lend a clue.

 

[Morgan A. Johnson]

She was delivered today, so here are more images that might help with her identification.







Will start clean up and sorting this week. Excited to see what I find ~ hoping for a mfg. plate or tag in hiding, yet to be found.