Westcountry Fishing Lugger

Full specification

Wooden ships comments on this Westcountry Fishing Lugger

New build Westcountry fishing lugger, built in 2004 to the lines of a well known  in Edgar March’s ‘Sailing Drifters’ that fished out of Moushole, Cornwall, as a Mounts Bay pilchard driver.  These traditional fishing luggers were fast and seaworthy, having to work in the unpredictable waters of the English Channel all year round.  Traditional design with a straight stem, long keel, slightly raked transom and a transom hung rudder.  These boats were typically very full in the bilge to provide inherent stability and good internal volume for carrying large quantities of fish.

This boat was originally launched without an engine and completed an engineless trans-Atlantic circuit in 2009/2010.  Although she is a very traditional design, the owner and builder was not afraid to venture into modern materials where it could make a difference, most notably with the lug yards which are made of carbon fibre, making them extremely strong and most importantly lightweight.  This makes handling her while shorthanded much easier and increases the efficiency of the rig by reducing the weight aloft.  She has since been fitted with a very reliable diesel electric propulsion system that can provide silent running for up to 4 hours.

Planked in 1 ½” larch, fastened with copper nails and roves to 3” x 2” steam bent laminated oak timbers at 11” centres.

Straight laid deck in scrubbed Iroko, caulked and payed with oakum and pitch.  Fastened to laminated Iroko deck beams on a solid larch beam shelf.  Galvanised steel breast hook.

Iroko clamp in way of each mast to the add rigidity and strength required for the lug rig.

Oak backbone with a mix of massive wooden floors and galvanise strap floors.  3.5 tonnes of internal lead ballast with 1.9 tonnes of external lead ballast keel fastened with bronze keel bolts.

Coachroof and pilot house of marine plywood, epoxy sheathed and finished in cream paint.  2 large bronze portholes each side in the pilot house, 2 smaller bronze portholes each side in the coachroof coamings.  Long opening skylight in the coachroof deck providing light and ventilation.

Ample deck space due to the generous beam with a nice 8” bulwark all round.  Galvanised deck fittings stem head fitting incorporating the chain roller on the starboard side and the gammon iron on the port.  Simpson Lawrence manual windlass on the centreline of the foredeck just aft of the foremast.

Galvanised fairleads on quarter with cleats across the stanchion posts.  Galvanised tiller to the transom hung timber rudder.

Rig                 

2 masted dipping lugger with standing lug mizzen.  Keel stepped, oiled solid pine masts, bowsprit and bumpkin.

Notable are the painted carbon fibre yards which make handling the rig a joy.

Standing rigging is galvanised steel wire.  Replaced 2012.

The standing rigging on a lug rig is very simple and minimal, fixed with detachable block and tackles to galvanised eye bolts.

Main No.1                   Jeckells             780sqft                        2004                Servicable

Main No.2                   Dart Sails        780sqft                        2005                Good  (battened)

Mizzen                         Jeckells             470sqft                        2004                Servicable

No.1 Jib                                                                                           2004                Good

No.2 Jib                                                                                          2004                Good

Mizzen Staysail                                                                            2005                Good

Accommodation        5 berths

If ever there was a boating Tardis then this is it.  Her hull shape gives an enormous internal volume that is hard to believe when looking at her from the outside.

There is an open plan layout to the interior of this boat which was designed and built with the needs of the current owner in mind.  It provides very comfortable and spacious seating and berths, with full standing headroom throughout the saloon and galley.  There is plenty of scope for modification if required, but the current layout does work extremely well indeed.

Traditional sliding hatch into the pilot house, with a comfortable sea berth to the starboard at deck level.  Navigation instruments at the forward end where they can easily be seen from the deck.  Companion ladder down to the main saloon.

Coachroof with long skylight provides full standing headroom and plenty of light into the main cabin.

Galley along the port side with 2 burner Smev gas hob and oven below, new in 2010.  Porcelain Belfast sink with running water pumped from a foot pump, all set in a varnished oak work top.  Ample deep storage lockers behind against the topsides.  Galley sink pumped overboard.  100L plastic water tank under the aft bunk.

Full length settee along the starboard side which provides 2 berths with more than enough sitting headroom under the deckhead.  Spacious lined lockers under these berths provide dry storage space.

Enormous berth under the aft deck that splits into 3 good sized single berths with lee cloths, divided by the mizzen mast which is stepped through the deck at this point.  Pair of bronze port holes in the transom.

Antique French solid fuel stove on the forward bulkhead of the saloon.

Passageway offset to starboard gives access to the forepeak.  This area currently has a small single berth, but this could easily be converted to make use of the space in a different way if required by a new owner.  There is an obvious space to the port side of the mainmast that would be very well suited to a heads compartment.

The internal space of this boat is simply stunning and has real feeling of being a proper traditional boat that is sturdy, dry and comfortable.

Machinery

LMC 30hp Electric motor, installed 2008.

Bronze shaft offset to port to a 3 blade folding bronze propeller.

The electric engine was originally installed with the theory that as the boat moved under sail, the prop turning in the water would create enough power through the motor to recharge the batteries.  In reality this didn’t work so a generator was installed to create an efficient diesel/electric propulsion system.

Peguro 10kva diesel generator fresh water cooled.  Located in a wooden box in the saloon, doubling as a saloon table.  50L plastic diesel tank in the starboard saloon setee locker.

6 x 12v gel batteries connected in series to provide 72v for the motor.  Located under the aft bunk.

With the generator in use it will provide charge for continuous running of the electric motor.  When relying on the batteries there is approximately 4 hours of running time, depending on the speed.

Plastimo compass

Log

DSC VHF

AIS receiver

Garmin GPS

Large Fishermans anchor

25kg CQR

Danforth kedge

100m 10mm chain

70m 14mm warp

7’ GRP dinghy

Beaching legs

Sail covers

Mooring warps

Fenders

It is difficult to portray the feeling of space, structural integrity and quality of this classic yachts for sale in photographs and words.  There is no doubt about the quality of materials and craftsmanship that went into her original build, and the design has been proven by years of fishing in the harsh conditions of the English Channel.  As a traditional Westcountry working boat, she is second to none.

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.