Luke Powell 44 ft Pilot Cutter For Sale

Wooden Ships Comments on this Luke Powell Pilot Cutter

Used as a successful charter business since being launched in 2009. The business is included with the purchase of the boat and she could continue to work with a new owner running charter trips around the UK, or diversifying and going further afield if desired. The business has a lot of traction and accounts for previous years are available on request.

Luke Powell 44 ft Pilot Cutter For Sale

Wooden Ships Comments on this Luke Powell Pilot Cutter

This boat has been successfully used for a charter business since its launch in 2009. The business is included with the purchase, allowing the new owner to continue charter trips around the UK or expand operations further afield if desired. The business has significant traction, and previous years' accounts are available upon request. Additionally, this yacht is well-suited to serve as a comfortable private cruising boat.

Designed and built by Luke Powell of Working Sail in 2009, the Luke Powell pilot cutter Amelie Rose is a sister ship to the earlier boat, ‘Ezra’, which has a proven design and track record.

Built for the current owner, this 44ft vessel has operated as a charter and sail training vessel since launch, contributing to a very successful business.

Maintenance and Condition

Since her launch in 2009, she has been in operation every season, benefiting from continual maintenance and inspections to keep her in top condition and meet MCA commercial coding surveyors' standards. Her Category 2 MCA certificate has recently lapsed but can be easily reinstated for a new owner.

Her design was selected for its perfect size, combining manageability, space, and comfort, providing 10 berths and ample deck space while remaining manageable by a small crew.

She gained recognition after appearing in the BBC program ‘The Hungry Sailors’ and has become a familiar sight in harbors along the south coast and in Brittany, demonstrating her speed at the Pilot Cutter Review in St Mawes.

This classic yacht is for sale in solid condition, capable of continuing her role as a charter vessel or transitioning into a comfortable and capable private yacht. An internal and external refit was completed in summer 2024.

The price is subject to VAT as part of the charter business, but this could be reclaimed by a buyer under the right circumstances.

The business is included with the boat in the purchase price. Topsail Adventures Ltd has been incorporated since 2006, and full accounts are available to prospective purchasers.

Specifications

Length on Deck: 44′

Length Overall: 61′

Length Waterline: 38′

Beam: 13’6″

Draft: 7′

Displacement: 24 tons

Construction

Hull

• Carvel planked in 1 5/8” larch planking with the garboard and next 2 strakes in full-length planks of 1 ¾”.
• The top three strakes are in oak and 2” thickness, making the hull very robust.
• All plank fastenings are bronze screws, 3 per plank, with seams caulked and payed using traditional materials.
• Frames are sawn oak of 5” x 6”, made in futtocks and fastened together in pairs using large copper rivets.
• The keel, stem, and stern post are opepe of 7.5” wide. Deadwoods are also opepe, all fastened through using 7/8” copper bar.
• Sawn oak floors across the centerline on each frame, side fastened through the frames. The keel bolts pass through each floor, creating a very robust centerline structure.
• Full-length external lead ballast keel of approximately 6.5 tons, fastened through with 7/8” bronze keel bolts spaced every 18”.
• An additional 4.5 tons of internal lead trimming ballast in the form of lead pigs secured under the cabin sole.

Decks and Cockpit

• Straight laid solid opepe deck, planks are 1 ½” x 3 ¾”, fastened with bronze screws to the deck beams.
• Seams caulked with cotton and originally payed with Sikaflex. The deck seams were completely raked out, cleaned, and re-caulked, then payed with Teak Deck Systems SIS440 in 2020.
• Oak cover board with oak stanchions mounted through it and side fastened to the frame heads. Oak capping rail on the bulwarks with removable stanchions and guard wires conforming to MCA requirements.
• Cover board, stanchions, and inside of the bulwark finished in single pack paint for a low maintenance and durable finish.
• Cavel bars and pin rails on the inside of the bulwarks for running rigging and mooring lines.
• Laminated and carved oak tiller with a solid wooden rudder hung on the stern post. Helms bench in solid oak spans the full breadth of the deck.

Superstructure

• Small coachroof amidships with opepe coamings, finished in gloss paint.
• Coachroof deck is solid straight laid opepe planking, caulked and payed, finished in gloss paint for a weather-tight and low maintenance finish.
• Sliding companion hatch and companion doors in opepe, finished in oil.
• Varnished opepe butterfly skylight between the coachroof and the mast with 8mm laminated glass and protective brass bars.
• Painted opepe forehatch for light, ventilation, and emergency access.

Rig

• Gaff cutter rig on a solid douglas fir keel stepped mast with fidded top mast.
• Laminated boom, gaff, and fidded topmast in douglas fir. Bowsprit made by Noble Spars in 2011, hollow douglas fir, easily retractable inboard to reduce overall length when required.
• All mast fittings and ironwork are galvanised steel.
• Standing rigging is 16mm galvanised wire on the lower shrouds, 10mm on upper stays and shrouds.
• Traditionally spliced rigging with splices parcelled and served.
• External galvanised chain plates with dead eyes and lanyards. Wooden dead eyes set in the spliced eyes of the rigging with synthetic rope lanyards.
• 3 strand traditional looking synthetic running rigging. All blocks are varnished ash.

Sails

All sails are in cream Clipper Canvas from Patrick Selman in 2009. Hand-finished sails provide a very traditional look.

• Mainsail with 3 reefs, 60% reduction on the 3^rd reef for heavy weather.
• Staysail with 1 reef, hanks to inner forestay.
• No.3 jib with dyneema luff rope.
• No.1 jib with dyneema luff rope (worn and suitable for light airs only).
• Main Topsail.
• Jib topsail.
• New No.1 jib from North Sea Sails in 2021 with dyneema luff rope.

• Wyckham Martin furler fitted for the jibs, attaching to the dyneema luff rope on each jib for easy sail rolling.

Winches

• 1 winch mounted on the port side of the boom used for reefing. Wilmex bronze 2-speed winch.
• Headsail sheets tensioned via 2:1 tackle with ‘widow maker’ blocks, tails make off to belay pins on the bulwarks.
• Mainsheet is on a double-tailed block and tackle with a galvanised horse across the stern, tails make off to Sampson posts by the helm.

Machinery

Engine

• Beta Marine 75hp 4-cylinder diesel installed new in 2009, 4850 hours (as of October 2021).
• Freshwater cooled Kubota based marine diesel, an excellent engine.
• Annually serviced and professionally maintained, this is a crucial safety item for a commercial boat and has been properly maintained.
• PRM 260 hydraulic gearbox with stainless shaft to a centerline fixed 3-blade bronze propeller (replaced 2016).
• Flexible engine mounts replaced in 2019.
• New starter motor in 2011.
• New SureSeal water lubricated stern gland installed in 2019.
• Custom stainless exhaust box rebuilt in 2011.
• New shaft, flexible coupling, and cutlass bearing in 2019.

Tanks

• 2 x stainless steel fuel tanks under aft berths, total capacity of 320 litres. Separate fillers and feeds help eliminate contaminated fuel issues. Manual dipsticks for tank levels.
• 2 x stainless steel water tanks under aft bunks, total capacity of 300 litres. Separate fillers and feeds. Sight glasses for tank levels.
• 41 litre calorifier heated by the engine provides domestic hot water.

Batteries

• 3 x 12 volt 100ah AH ‘Lifeline’ Deep cycle AGM batteries for domestic power, new in 2018.
• 1 x 12 volt FT410 Full throttle High Performance 28ah AGM engine start battery, new in 2021.
• Domestic and engine start circuits are completely separate and fed via high amperage slow blow fuses to BEP isolating switches and an emergency crossover switch situated forward of the chart table seat.
• The domestic supply is fed to an “always on” BEP essential circuit module under the chart table seat, which has feeds for the bilge pump, gas alarm, solar panel charging, and radio memory. Power is then delivered to the primary DC circuit-breaker distribution panel (also BEP) at the chart table, which includes a smart monitor capable of showing voltage readings for both banks and a current reading for the domestic supply.
• Engine battery charged from the standard 40 amp engine alternator.
• Domestic batteries charged from the additional Balmar 100 amp high output engine alternator. Trickle charge fed in from solar panels on deck.
• Both banks can be charged from the shore power system, which was completely renewed in 2018. All new wiring, new 13amp sockets in the cabin with new RCD and distribution panel.
• Sterling ProCharge 20amp 240 volt charger, new in 2018.
• 32 amp galvanic isolator fitted.
• The boat also has an SFC Efoy 1200w Hydrogen Fuel Cell situated under the chart table seat. This provides monitored feeds to the battery banks from sealed methanol fuel containers, emitting approx. 8A to the batteries, minimal CO2 and heat (vented to the wet locker), and a small amount of water (vented to the bilge). Operation is completely automatic and can be monitored and controlled via a control panel mounted at the chart table.
• 1000W inverter to provide 240 volts when not connected to shore power.

Accommodation

• Interior designed for charter work with maximum number of berths, ample storage space, decent galley, and a comfortable saloon.
• All LED 12 volt lighting throughout.
• Joinery is painted T&G paneling with varnished oak framing and trim. This construction method allows for easy modifications without losing the feel and charm.

Berths

• 10 berths including 2 double aft quarter berths, 4 single berths in the fore cabin, pilot berth in the saloon, and a saloon settee berth.

Saloon

• 2 sets of oak steps down over the engine box into the cabin from the entrance hatch. Galley to port and chart desk to starboard.
• Entrance to both aft double quarter berths either side of companion steps. Each berth is 6’4” long and has a deck head light, reading light, and curtain for privacy.
• Half-height bulkheads with vertical posts separate the main saloon from the galley area.
• Centerline dropleaf varnished oak saloon table with a drinks locker within. Starboard side is a full-length settee berth with shelves outboard. Port side is a short settee, and outboard is a large pilot berth below the deckhead with curtains for privacy.
• Butterfly skylight above the saloon table provides good light and ventilation.
• Ample storage space behind and below the settees.
• Sail locker to starboard in way of the mast, capable of holding all of the jibs and topsails.

Heads

• Heads compartment located to port forward of the mast. Solid oak door into the spacious heads, which has a shower with full standing headroom. Shower drains into a tray and is pumped overboard with an electric pump.
• Blakes Lavac manual sea toilet discharges directly overboard or to a black tank. Hand basin with hot and cold pressurized water. Locker below the hand basin.
• Deck prism above adds light as well as 12 volt LED lights.

Galley

• U-shaped galley with oak worktops and trim. GN Espace Levante 4 burner gas stove with oven and grill, set on gimbals. Oven is fully serviced, and the oven burner was replaced in 2021. This is a high-quality commercial-grade marine oven.
• Top loading 75 litre cool box fridge powered by a Frigoboat keel cooling system, set into the worktop with an oak lid. Very efficient fridge, runs constantly when the boat is on charter without concern for battery consumption.
• Stainless steel 1 ½ sink with pressurized hot and cold water.
• Ample storage below and around the galley, enabling the boat to carry food and cater for 10 people while on charter.

Chart Desk

• Half admiralty size chart desk in varnished oak faces outboard opposite the galley.
• Lots of storage space for charts, almanacs, and pilot books.
• Electrical distribution panel outboard with an array of navigation instruments at hand.
• Deck head light, separate red chart light, 12 volt and 240 volt sockets.

Fore Cabin

• Fore cabin contains 4 single berths, 2 up and 2 down with varnished oak sides and trim. Removable curtain provides some privacy from the main saloon.
• Each berth is 6’4” in length with dedicated kit storage space forward.
• Anchor locker on the centerline beneath the bunks.

Equipment

• Autonautic Instrumental CHE-0073 – Binnacle mount marine compass at the helm (new 2021).
• NMEA 2000 Network Comprising:

Garmin GPS 17x Antenna

Airmar DST800v Triducer Bronze (water depth, speed, and temp).

Garmin Steadycast Heading Sensor

Garmin AIS 300 AIS Receiver

Garmin GMI 10 Deck Display Head

Garmin GPSMAP 4008 Chartplotter

• Standard Horizon GX2000E DSC Fixed VHF Radio with separate RAM3 Deck Mic/Speaker and dedicated secondary GPS Antenna.
• Icom IC-M25 Handheld VHF.
• Garmin GMR 18 Radar.
• Furuno NX-300 Navtex Receiver.
• Skywatch Xplorer Handheld Anemometer.
• Plastimo Iris 50 Handbearing Compass.
• Lead line.

Safety

• Echomax Active X Band Radar Target Enhancer.
• Rule 3700 Electronic Bilge Pump with Float Switch, manual override, and warning light.
• Amazon Warrior Manual Bilge Pump (on deck).
• Nereus WG100-L Gas Alarm.
• All through-hull inlets and discharges protected by Blakes “Taper” Bronze Seacocks (Heads in/out, grey water out, engine cooling in, bilge pumps out).
• McMurdo Smartfind G5 EPIRB.
• Jonbuoy Danbouy and light.
• SOLAS/DOT Lifering.
• Rescue Sling and floating line.
• 2 x 1kg ABC Fire extinguishers.
• 1 x 4kg ABC Fire extinguisher.
• Fire blanket.
• 16 Fully auto Lifejackets with integral harnesses.
• 14 Tethers.
• Twin full deck jackstays.
• Skyline Marine 7×50 Binoculars.
• Ships Bell & Fog horn.
• Twin Ball Signals and Motoring Cone.
• NUC Lights.
• Anchor light (LED) and Aquasignal Navigation Lights.
• Full flare pack (4 parachute, 6 red handheld, 2 smoke, 2 handheld white).
• Aquasignal Bremen 12v Searchlight (with two deck power sockets 1 forward, 1 aft).
• Emergency VHF Aerial.
• Cat C Medical Kit.

• Note: Amelie Rose uses hired liferafts. A Hammar hydrostatic release system is included and fitted to the primary liferaft carrying cradle, but no liferafts are included in the sale.

Ground Tackle

• Rocna 33kg with approx. 60m of ½” galvanised chain, main anchor.
• Guardian G-55 (13.1kg) with approx. 15m ½” galvanised chain & 35m warp, kedge anchor.
• A manual handspike barrel windlass is fitted on the foredeck and is used to recover the bower anchor, tension the rig, hoist the topmast, and anything else that requires a bit of effort.

Deck Gear

• Clinker rowing dinghy and cover.
• Covers for hatches and skylight.
• 2 x gas bottles.
• Mainsail cover.
• Staysail cover.
• Various shore power cables.
• Boat hook.
• Deck brush and bucket.
• A selection of warps (from 10m – 20m), fenders, and two fender boards are all stored on deck in the dinghy. Fixed bull-rope system is fitted on the bowsprit (for holding her away from mooring buoys with wind over tide).

Domestic Gear

• Bunk and berth cushions.
• Saloon oil lamp.
• Galley equipment to enable full charter sailing.

Other

• Engine spares.
• Rigging spares.
• Paints.