Colin Archer type Gaff Cutter

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments on this Colin Archer type Gaff cutter

Built at Gweek Quay boatyard between 1987 and 1990 by Ferro and Skua Marine to a design inspired by the Colin Archer yachts of Scandinavia.  The builders were experienced professionals in working with ferro cement and had built a number of yachts previously all with great success.  The build was overseen by Cornish surveyor David Cox at every stage to ensure the armature was correctly assembled, the proper materials were used and that the plastering was carried out in the correct manner.  The same surveyor has regularly inspected the boat since her launch so there is a comprehensive description of her condition from the day the keel was laid down until today.  From the reports it is evident that hull is still in very sound condition with many years life left in her.

 

The large beam of this boat means there is a vast amount of space in the interior and the decks are large and clear making it very easy to work on deck.  She is never going to be a race winning yacht, but her strength, weight and solidity mean she is a superb blue water cruising boat that will look after her crew through any weather.  In recent years she has been sailed in coastal waters around the English Channel, quite often single handed, proving that she is an easily handled boat.  The mainsail can be set by one person and the winches make for easy handling of the headsail sheets.

 

Currently ashore for the winter.  2011 survey available.

 

Length on Deck                 36′

Length Overall                   50′

Beam                                    13’4″

Draft                                      6’6″

Displacement                    18 tons

 

 

Construction

 

Hull and Deck

 

Constructed of steel reinforced ferro cement with 10mm rat tail steel rod over laid with galvanise mesh to create the armature.  This was then plastered in one hit with a carefully calculated cement mix and after going hard was kept wet for 30 days in order for the cement to cure properly. Full details of the construction are available in the surveyors report.

 

The deck is also steel reinforced ferro cement so there is no vulnerable hull/deck joint as with some of these boats that have a wooden deck.

 

8 ton external Iron ballast keel.

 

Bulwark all round with a heavy wooden capping rail set on galvanised stanchions bolted through the deck.  She has a heavy Iroko rubbing strake fastened with mostly new stainless bolts.

 

Varnished teak bench seats aft by the tiller make a secure and comfortable seating position while at the helm.

 

The deck is very spacious due to the large beam, the foredeck being especially clear and easy to work on.

 

 

Superstructure

Teak coachroof coamings with a sheathed marine plywood coachroof deck.  Centreline sliding hatch for the companionway.

 

Lewmar hatch forward giving access to the forepeak and suitable for dropping sails into the sail bin.

 

 

Rig 

Gaff cutter rig on a solid varnished spruce keel stepped mast.  The mast was new in 2004.  Varnished wooden boom, gaff and bowsprit.  Main mast with a fidded topmast.  Bowsprit can be reeved in and stowed on deck with relative ease to reduce the overall length.

 

Galvanise wire standing rigging with spliced eyes to galvanised bottle screws and external galvanised chainplates.  Chainplate bolts replaced in recent years.  Twin lower shrouds to the hounds with a single cap shroud to the head of the top mast.  Rigging new approximately 2000.

 

Running back stays to the main mast head and top mast on tackles, tensioned with the lazy jib sheet winches.  Topmast backstays in s/s new in 2013.

 

Standing inner forestay in stainless steel, new in 2011, from the stem head to the hounds.  Takes the staysail with bronze piston hanks.

 

Outer forestay from bowsprit end to the top mast takes the strain when the jib is not set.

 

Double tailed mainsheet to a bronze traveller over the tiller.

 

Sails 

Mainsail by SKB sails, 2000.  450 sqft with 3 reefs.  Good condition

Topsail approx. 1995 in good condition

No.1 Staysail by McKillops 2011, excellent condition

No.2 Staysail by Daniels approx. 1990, serviceable condition.

No.1 Jib 1996 in serviceable condition

No.2 and No.3 jib 1990 in serviceable condition.

Jib Topsail in serviceable condition.

 

Mainsail stack pack bag system with lazy jacks fitted in 2010.  This makes the job of dropping and stowing the main far simpler.

 

Winches

2 x Barlow 2 speed jib sheet winches

2 x single speed staysail sheet winches

 

 

Machinery

 

Engine

Lister Petter Alpha series 4 cyl 45hp fresh water cooled diesel, believed to have been installed in 2000.

 

Single lever control with a stainless shaft to a centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propellor, prop new in 2010.  Gives 5.5 knots cruising speed.  Vetus air extractor fan in engine compartment.

 

A well maintained engine having had thorough and regular annual maintenance, plus other large jobs over the years including injector service, new cutlass bearing, new flexible coupling, fuel tank cleaned and new fuel hose.

 

Tank

22 gallon Vetus polyprop fuel tank in the lazarette with new fuel hose and water separator primary filter.

 

60 gallons total of water in two flexible plastic tanks.

 

Batteries

2 x 12 volt batteries securely fitted in the lazarette.

 

Charged from 90 amp engine alternator or through the Newark 15 amp mains smart charger.  Fitted shore power system RCD unit.

 

 

 

Accommodation

 

Berths

7 berths including 2 saloon settee berths, a pilot berth, 2 singles and a double berth.

 

Saloon

Steps down over the engine box into the main cabin with ample headroom under the coachroof.  Galley to port and chart table to starboard.  Forward facing chart desk with a seat, secure stowage for charts and deep sliding drawers under.  Entrance into the aft lazarette through a passageway on the starboard side of the engine box with a wet locker outboard.

 

The lazarette is a large space with a work bench against the hull on the starboard side, the fuel tank at the stern with a large shelf above and the batteries and electrics against the forward bulkhead.

 

Small step down into the main saloon to keep good headroom forward of the coachroof.  Centreline dropleaf table with storage in the centre.  Full length saloon settee berth either side with dry storage lockers beneath.  Pilot berth on the port side and lockers on the starboard side behind the settee berths.

 

Half height bulkheads at the forward end of the saloon with a doorway to starboard of the mast giving access to the forward sections of the yacht.  Two single berths with lee cloths against the hull to starboard.  To port is a large double with storage bins under.

 

Colin Frake “Faversham” solid fuel cabin heater mounted at the aft end of the saloon.  All LED interior lighting saves battery power.

 

Central doorway to the forepeak with the heads to port, sail bin to starboard and the anchor locker under.  Right in the bows is a locker for stowing fenders and warps.

 

Galley

Galley with a Force 10 3 burner gas stove with oven and grill.  Ceramic tiled worktop with ample amounts of storage space all round.  Single stainless steel sink at the aft end with manually pumped fresh water.

 

Heads

Blakes Lavac sea toilet in the forepeak pumps directly overboard. New hoses in 2014. Single stainless hand basin with manually pumped fresh water.  New

 

Equipment

 

Steering compass

Raytheon ST30 log and sounder

Raytheon fluxgate compass

ST40 Bidata repeater at chart desk

ST40 wind indicator new in 2010

Standard Horizon CP180 chart plotter

AIS feed to plotter

NASA GPS speed read out

 

Jackstays

Fire extinguishers plus auto engine extinguisher and fire blanket

Carbon monoxide, gas and smoke alarms.

3 manual bilge pumps and 1 electric

RFD 6 man liferaft serviced April 2015

 

45lb plough anchor

150′ chain

45lb Fishermans anchor

150′ chain and warp

Simpson lawrence manual windlass

Spray hood 2012

4 x fenders

Warps

 

 

 

Disclaimer:

These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.