Wooden Ships Comments on this 65′ Danish Gaff Ketch

Danish gaff ketch built as a fishing vessel in Denmark by Jensen and Lauridsen, Esbjerg in 1936.

Major rebuild in 1995/6 by Neilsen & co. Gloucester with many new frames, lots of new planking and a complete new deck, deckhouse and interior.

Bought by the present professional shipwright owner in 2015 through Wooden Ships, the vessel has subsequently had a major refit including major hull repairs, shortening of the deck house, a replacement engine, new rig, new interior and many new systems. The vessel is now licensed for commercial activity under the MCA to Category 2 60 miles from safe haven. She carries all gear and equipment required by the MCA.

The vessel also has a commercial cargo licence for carrying up to 1 ton of paying cargo which possibly makes her of interest to the recent sail cargo movement.

Licensed for 12 passengers and 3 crew, she is an easy boat to handle with the split ketch rig and a very handy size, big enough to give a decent interior volume and deck space but not so big as to be difficult to handle. The deck house is an unusual feature that gives a deck saloon, galley and chart area all with excellent all round visibility, a sheltered warm space making passages in northern climates much easier for the crew. It also increases the inside useable volume of the boat enormously.

An excellent example of the type, exceptionally pretty and well maintained by the professional owner.

Length on Deck: 65’

Length Overall: 88’

Beam: 16’

Draft: 8’6”

Air Draft: 66’

Displacement: 85 tonnes

Sail Area: 1740 sqft

• Carvel planked in 2.25” oak as is common in all the Danish boats.
• Heavy sawn oak frames fastened with galvanised boat nails.
• Approximately 50% of the planking and many frames were replaced in the previous ownership by Nielsen & Co. Gloucester. Work done in 1995.
• Many of the port side frames replaced along with some hull planking and ceiling planks.
• Approximately 12.5 tons of internal ballast comprising concrete, lead and steel bars.
• Straight laid iroko deck of 2.25”, nail fastened to the deck beams. Caulked with oakum and payed with pitch. Deck all new in 1995.
• Slightly raised aft deck elevates the helm position for good visibility and improves headroom in the aft cabin. Varnish oak aft cabin hatch.
• High bulwark all round with oak capping rail on oak stanchions mounted through the covering board. Much of the bulwark planking was new in 2014.
• Solid iroko deckhouse built in 1996.
• Varnished teak companion hatch into the aft cabin.

• Gaff ketch rig on solid wooden keel stepped masts.
• Solid wooden booms, gaffs and bowsprit.
• New main boom, gaff, topmast and mizzen gaff between.
• Main mast rigged with a fidded topmast.
• Galvanised steel standing rigging new between. External galvanised chain plates.
• Mainsail new from North Seas Sails in 2017 in Clipper Canvas.
• Main topsail new from North Sea Sails in 2020 in Clipper Canvas.
• Mizzen, 2 x jibs and staysail from Dawson Sails, 1990.

• Gardner 6LXB circa 1970, fitted into the boat in 2015.
• Self Changing Gears 4.5:1 gearbox.
• 2 blade Hundested propeller, formally variable pitch but now with fixed pitch.
• 4 x 12 volt 145ah AGM batteries for domestic system, connected to give 24 volts.
• 2 x 12 volt 125ah batteries for engine starting.
• Heart Interface Freedom 24 inverter to provide 240 volts.
• 240 volt installed shore power system.
• 1695 litres of diesel in 2 separate steel tanks on the starboard side in the engine room.
• 932 litres of fresh water in a single stainless steel tank on the port side in the engine room.
• Calorifier connected to the engine for domestic hot water.
• Main helm is connected with chains to the rudder quadrant. Inside helm has a manual hydraulic ram, this is not currently operable but could be made to work.

• 14 berths in 3 separate cabins with 2 doubles and 10 single berths.
• The accommodation is split between the deck house and below decks, with the galley in the deck house which leaves more space below.
• Aft door into the deckhouse with a seating area and table to port and the galley to starboard.
• Galley has a 3 burner gas stove with oven and grill, 24 volt fridge and a single stainless sink with pressurised hot and cold water.
• Forward to port is the chart desk and to starboard is the companion ladder going down below.
• Ladder goes into the main saloon with a heads compartment to port and Reflex diesel fired heater to starboard that heats 3 radiators.
• Large central saloon table with a settee berth and pilot berth either side.
• Engine room is accessed through a door in the bulkhead at the aft end of the saloon.
• Forward end of the saloon has storage space to port and a snug seating area to starboard.
• Port side door going forward into the forecabin which has 6 single berths and a shower cubicle.
• On the port side are 4 single berths in 2 rows and to starboard are another 2 singles. Forward to port is the shower compartment with full standing headroom.
• Companion ladder to the forehatch above for access.
• Aft cabin is access via the hatch on the aft deck and has a double berth either side, plus a heads compartment and storage space.

• Raymarine C series chart plotter.
• Icom DSC VHF IC-M323G.
• Icom DSC VHF IC-M330.
• Sailor VHF RT144B.
• Raymarine AIS transceiver Class B.
• Raymarine echo sounder.
• Navtex.

• All safety gear required by MCA for Category 2 is with the vessel
• Life rafts (on hire)
• 2 x life rings with lights
• EPIRB
• 8 x inflatable life jackets
• 10 x foam life jackets
• 16 thermal Protective Aids
• 2 x first aid kits
• Emergency navigation lights
• Fire extinguishers
• Fire blanket
• Gas detector
• CO detector
• Fog Horn
• High level bilge alarms
• Manual bilge pumps
• 4 x auto electric bilge pumps
• 1 manual bilge pump

• Manual windlass on starboard side
• 60m of 5/8” chain with an 80kg fishermans anchor
• 24 volt Simpson Lawrence Pacific Capstan windlass to port
• 40m of 12mm chain with a 60kg Fishermans anchor
• Spare 65kg Fishermans anchor
• Mooring warps
• Fenders

• Mainsail new from North Seas Sails in 2017 in Clipper Canvas
• Main topsail new from North Sea Sails in 2020 in Clipper Canvas
• Mizzen, 2 x jibs and staysail from Dawson Sails, 1990
• Sail covers
• Hatch Covers

• Reflex diesel cabin heater with 3 x radiators
• 2 x Jabsco manual sea toilets
• Toilet waste tank
• Calorifier tank for hot water
• Bunk and Berth cushions
• 3 burner gas stove with oven and grill
• 24 volt fridge
• Galley equipment

• 4 x 12 volt 145ah AGM batteries for domestic system, connected to give 24 volts
• 2 x 12 volt 125ah batteries for engine starting
• Heart Interface Freedom 24 inverter to provide 240 volts
• 240 volt installed shore power system

• Yam 310 inflatable dinghy
• Suzuki 9.9hp outboard (2023)