Wooden Ships Comments on this 41′ Gaff Cutter
Built in California in 1904, she is a typical Victorian plank-on-edge design with a deep draft, narrow beam and elegant counter stern.
The boat underwent a major rebuild 1982/1983 with new frames and planking, new deck and new rig, imported into the UK in 2003.
Wooden Ships Comments on this 41′ Gaff Cutter
Built in California in 1904, she is a typical Victorian plank-on-edge design with a deep draft, narrow beam and elegant counter stern.
The boat underwent a major rebuild 1982/1983 with new frames and planking, new deck and new rig, imported into the UK in 2003. Unfortunately the rig balance was not correct, so when she eventually came into the present ownership, Ed Burnett was asked in 2011 to design a proper well balanced sail plan that has proved to be very successful. All spars apart from the mast were replaced by Collars, new sails made by SKB in Falmouth and the boat now balances properly, is thought to be quite fast and looks far more elegant.
She is a yacht that will appeal to the purist for classic racing and cruising, all rig controls are block and tackle without winches and other modern gear to spoil her lines.
Interior joinery has been fitted in the present ownership to suit her current use which is weekend cruising and regatta sailing, so she now has 8 berths, plenty of headroom and good size saloon allowing the whole crew to sit and socialise.
An impressive and powerful gaff cutter that has been used regularly and continually maintained in recent years, capable of performing well in the classic regattas if desired. She has the reassurance of a largely recent hull, rig and machinery and regular survey inspections. Kept covered all year to protect the decks and varnish.
2023 insurance survey available on request.
Length on Deck 41′
Length Overall 58′
Beam 9′
Draft 8′
Construction
- Carvel planked in Douglas Fir, all bronze screw fastened to steam bent American white Oak timbers.
- Double planked below the waterline to a total thickness of 2″. This extra layer of planking was fitted during the rebuild and is laid over new planking, not old damaged timber. Sheathed externally to the waterline to protect the hull from worm damage.
- No external ballast keel. She has 6 tons of lead ingots under the saloon sole.
- Some stainless steel strap floors aft can be seen. Floors through the centre of the boat are likely to be either stainless straps or timber.
- Beamshelf and full length clamp supported with new steel brackets giving stiffness and strength to the hull.
- Swept deck using a tight grained Oregon pine, repayed with Sikaflex in 2014. Screwed to the deck beams over 2 layers of T&G Douglas Fir planking. Wide teak king plank.
- A very substantial toe rail all round made of laminated horizontal layers of Oregon Pine with a varnished Mahogany capping rail.
- Heavy duty mooring posts and bronze fairleads
- Cockpit has no well so does not impinge on space below decks. Varnished mahogany coamings mounted on the deck with drain holes lead into a varnished mahogany companion hatch and combined skylight. Forward of the mast is a varnished forehatch.
- Tiller steering
Rig
- Rig was totally redesigned by Ed Burnett in 2011 to get the boat properly balance under sail. This was achieved by changing the shape of the mainsail and increasing the area of the headsails.
- Gaff cutter rig on a solid Douglas Fir mast, believed to be from 1990. Douglas Fir topmast made by Collars in 2011.
- Slab reefing boom from Collars in 2011. Gaff built by Collars in 2013, bowsprit by Collars in 2017. All new spars built in Douglas Fir.
- Galvanised wire standing rigging, parcelled and served in the traditional way, new in 2005, serviced in 2011. Forestay and bobstay in stainless steel in 2011. Backstays in stainless steel new in 2005.
- Dead eyes and lanyards to external bronze chain plates over channel boards to get more width on the rigging.
- Running backstays to main mast and topmast on tackles. All sheets are tensioned with tackles.
- Running rigging is all traditional 3 strand with varnished wooden blocks and belay pins.
- All working sails by SKB of Falmouth in 2011, main topsail 2013. She also carries a Yankee, jib top and asymmetric spinnaker. Mainsail cover used at all times when not sailing to protect the sail.
Machinery
- Volvo Penta D2 55hp 4cyl marine diesel installed new in 2006.
- Single lever controls with centreline shaft drive to a 3 blade feathering Maxprop. 5 knots cruising speed.
- 2 x 12 volt batteries charged from the engine alternator or through the installed shore power system.
- 60 litre plastic fuel tank under the aft deck.
- 2 electric bilge pumps and 1 manual bilge pump.
Accommodation
- 8 berths in open plan accommodation which makes the most of the space below decks.
- Steps down from the companion hatch, engine box behind the base of the steps. Chart desk to starboard faces aft with a seat, drop down desk, flag locker and electrical switch board.
- Passageway to port of the companion steps into the aft cabin with 2 single berths and storage space.
- T&G covered plywood bulkheads separate the saloon from the aft end of the boat. Single saloon settee berth either side with a pipe cot above. Centreline dropleaf table made from rich varnished mahogany.
- Varnished pine bulkhead at the forward end of the saloon with a centreline passageway. Galley split either side of the boat with a single stainless sink to port with a bronze manual water pump and storage below. To starboard is a worktop with a portable gas stove secured in its own space. Two portable 12 volt cool boxes.
- Heads compartment to port with a Jabsco manual sea toilet which discharges directly overboard.
- Starboard side passageway to the forecabin with a V-shape double berth and forehatch above.
Equipment
- Steering compass
- Tack Tick wind, speed and depth instruments
- Cobra DSC VHF
- Handheld VHF
- Signal flags
- 10 x lifejackets
- 2 x fire extinguishers
- Fire blanket
- Flares
- Patay manual bilge pump
- Rule 2000 auto electric bilge pump
- Back up auto electric bilge pump
- 45kg CQR anchor
- 25m of chain
- 50m of rope
- 10kg Fortress anchor
- Fenders
- Warps
- 8′ dinghy
- 2hp Yamaha outboard
- Mainsail cover
- All over boat cover
- Bunk and berth cushion
- Portable gas galley stove
- Jabsco manual sea toilet
- 2 x 12volt 105ah batteries
- Mainsail (SKB Sails 2011)
- Staysail (SKB Sails 2011)
- Jib (SKB Sails 2011)
- Main topsail (SKB 2013)
- Yankee
- Jib topsail
- Asymmetric spinnaker
- Mainsail cover
