What boat is this?

Philthy

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 Jul 2010
Messages
96
Location
Dawlish, Devon
www.skidvd.co.uk
This yacht may be coming up for sale, and I'd like to find something out about it.
yacht.jpg


Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
Absolute certainty. The designer lived just up the road from me and they were built about 2 miles away. Were very popular here in Poole and still have a strong following.
 
Doing some research now.
It is looking like an ideal first boat. Having a little power on board without having to carry a battery home to charge would be nice. I'm guessing outboards can charge batteries nowadays?
 
My mate in my club has an Islander boat.
Looks very similiar.
I started off with a Jaguar 22ft lift keel, sailed like a brick but was a good solid boat for me as a newbie..
Dont be put off by a little dirt, that soon washes off.
Long as rigging ok and sails not bad, because thats where the money is.
Wish you well...
 
Looks a great starter boat. Good luck.

I have a contemporary photo and a page of info on the boat. Give me a PM with your address and I will send you a copy.
 
The main may be in reasonable nick (if stored inside cabin or at home) but that R/R jib is dead & nothing will bring it back to life. But there may be a non-RR genny available & it is possible to convert it for RR use yourself. The halliards & topping lift will need replacing as will the jib sheets and the RR line. The main killer is UV & chafe, most of the algae will wash off, but the ropes will still be weakened.

O/B charging is insignificant but a decent solar panel will make a difference if you stay low tech with LED lights & oil lamp & minimal use of electronics.
 
Thanks all :D
We are taking a look later on. Who knows, it might be perfect inside ?
Apparently, the sails (notice the plural there) are stored at home. We had figured the standing rigging is knackered, and are wondering what sort of cost to replace it? I will be getting more photos later.
From where we are, it could be a lovely little boat to get some more experience in, along with some lessons. Maybe even the "islands" :) which are almost due south of here. I presume that is what was meant by the reference earlier on to an "islander"?
 
She is definitely a Kingfisher 20 (or perhaps a 20+ which was 22' IIRC).
I have a scanned copy of the Builders catalogue from the mid 70's if anybody would like a copy. It also has a fair bit of info about the junk rig versions that were available.

Some pals of mine bought one about 22 years ago for GBP 2k, in reasonable nick with a Mariner 5 hp O/B motor. They had about 5 years of fun sailing her every weekend and holidays in the summer, and then sold her for what they paid for her.
I often used to go sailing with them - on one occasion there were 5 of us on board for a week, during which we got to Poole from Southampton, with many pubs visited along the way......
 
Definitely a Kingfisher 20, not the bigger 22 which had a different transom shape. Prices, according to the Owners Association site:
" Price Guide (Personal Opinion) based on other yachts of equivalent age and size.

£1000.00 - £2000.00 Poor Condition and/or little or no equipment.
£2000.00 - £3500.00 Good Condition with standard inventory.
£3500.00 - £6000.00 + Superbly maintained, fully equipped with many new parts."

. A new set of sails could set youback £800 - £1000, but you may be able to pick up second hand for a few hundred, so check them carefully.

Engines, originally ran well with a big Seagull (is that an oxymoron?) but will goes very nicely with around 4 - 6hp long shaft.

A very solidly built seaworthy boat with surprising amount of space below decks. Well worth it if the price is right.

All you need to know from the Owners Association here: http://www.kyoa.org.uk/
 
Last edited:
Yes it's a Kingfisher

Yes - unmistakably a Kingfisher - designed by "RAGS" Nierop .Looks a bit plain, built to last forever and sails like a dream

KINGFISHER 20 (Mk1) 1959 to 1959. Sail Numbers 1 to c.6
Keels moulded out of fibreglass as part of the hull. Transom hung rudder, large transom locker, engine well with removable seat sited at aft end of cockpit, fore hatch on the fore deck

KINGFISHER 20 (Mk2) 1959 to 1967. Sail Numbers c.6 to 267
Cast Iron keels. Later versions housed the engine in the transom locker using a pivot method similar to the 20+. Otherwise as per the K20 (Mk1).

KINGFISHER 20 Fin Keel. Year and Sail Number unknown
One produced and exported to Scandinavia.

KINGFISHER 20+ 1967 to 1978. Sail Numbers 268 to 464
Rudder shaft inboard through the transom, engine on swivel mechanism within the transom locker, hinged fore hatch located on fore cabin roof. There is also a long cockpit version primarily designed for the American market. Extra 70lbs of weight.

KINGFISHER 20+JR 1975 to 1978. Sail Numbers as K20+ but with JR at the end of the number. As 20+ but junk rigged. Fore hatch back on fore deck because mast stepped though the fore cabin roof. Came with either standard windows or portholes.
 
Re the electrical issue with outboards - this boat would need around 4HP and those engines don't come with electrical output as standard. You need to add a lighting coil (which produces around 12v AC) then add on a rectifier/ regulator. Output will never be great, just enough to run lights and instruments. If you don't want to run the noise machine for long periods you'll need a solar panel or small wind generator to replenish the charge while moored.
 
Top