Wooden Ships Comments on this West Solent One Design W7
West Solent One Design built by Berthons Boat Co. In 1931.
She carries the number W7, however the original W7 which was also called Dilkusha, was built in 1924 for Lt. Colonel H.C. Guest. He then decided to have a new boat built in 1931, but wanted to keep the name and number so this yacht has become W7.
The class was designed by H. Jacobs and H.G. May of Berthons as a cost effective cruiser racer for the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. At the time a new W class could be bought for £600, a similar 6 meter yacht would have cost £1500 so they were well received. A total of 32 boats were built for the UK market, 5 built and shipped to Argentina and one built under licence in Bombay. The design was adopted by the Royal Burnham Yacht Club where it was known as the Royal Burnham Restricted Class.
The WSOD, also known as the W class, has seen a huge resurgence in recent years with a number of original boats given professional rebuilds, as well as one or two new examples being built. They are superb boats with exceptionally beautiful lines and have proven to be excellent classic regatta boats that only need a small crew and are still very competitive.
This is a very cost effective boat with which to take part in the big classic regattas and race amongst the finest classic yachts in the world while possibly having even more fun than those owners.
Betweenshe underwent a major professional refit in the previous ownership, in which the hull was repaired, keel bolts replaced, new deck laid, complete new rig and spars fitted and a new interior. Al this work was well documented and done to a very high standard.
The current owner became custodian of a superb yacht in very nice condition, and has simply maintained her with professional help to keep the boat looking smart and in sound condition.
Length on Deck 34’6”
Length Waterline 24’
Beam 7’6”
Draft 5’1”
Thames Tonnage 6TM
Construction
- Carvel planked in what is believed to be American Red Pine bronze screw fastened to sawn oak frames. Two intermediate laminated oak timbers which are copper rivet fastened, the majority of these timbers were renewed during the refit.
- Garboard and first plank up replaced new in 2006. All hood ends and garboards refastened with bronze screws in 2006.
- New extended mast step and internal stem arrangement fitted new in 2003 to strengthen the hull.
- New laminated iroko external stem fitted in 2006.
- External lead ballast keel fastened with silicone bronze bolts. All bolts new in 2003.
- Grown timber floors across the centreline were fitted new in the refit to replace original iron floors.
- Yacht laid teak deck glued over a marine plywood subdeck, all new in 2003. Varnished teak king planks and margin boards with varnished teak covering board and small toe rail.
- Flush decks with an elegant and original varnished teak skylight incorportated into the sliding companion hatch.
- Elegant cockpit with curved varnished teak coamings and slatted varnished teak thwarts. Locker door at aft end to access lazarette.
- Tiller steering with a chromed bronze stock.
Rig
- The rig was renewed entirely during the refit including spars, rigging and sails.
- Fractional Bermudan sloop on a keel stepped hollow spruce mast.
- Mast new from Collars in 2008. New extended mast step designed by Ed Burnett to spread the loads of the rig more effectively.
- Slab reefing varnished spruce boom new from Collars in 2003.
- Stainless steel standing rigging to internal stainless chain plates. Rigging all new in 2008.
- Sails include mainsail (Sanders Sails 2007), genoa, jib, spinnaker and asymmetric spinnaker new from Sanders Sails in 2003. All in good condition.
- Continuous line furling headsail system with a cover that is raised to protect the furled headsail from the sun.
- Pair of Anderson 46 self tailing primary cockpit sheet winches.
- Pair of Anderson 40 self tailing secondary cockpit sheet winches.
- All running rigging lines came aft through clutches on the deck so that they can be easily operated by someone in the cockpit.
- Double tailed mainsheet to a Barton track across the aft deck.
Machinery
- Yanmar 1Gm10 single cylinder 9hp diesel engine installed new in 2003.
- Stainless steel shaft to a port side offset Darglow Featherstream propeller fitted in 2013. Bronze A-bracket for shaft support.
- Plastic fuel tank under the cockpit sole.
- 2 x 12 volt batteries charged from the engine alternator.
Accommodation
- Simple yet stunning interior was all new in the major refit.
- 2 berths with sitting headroom.
- Step over the engine box into the cabin with a galley area to starboard and chart desk to port. Joinery for galley and chart desk in varnished teak.
- Galley has a single burner Origo 1500 spirit stove set on gimbals.
- Saloon settee berth either side.
- Varnished T&G teak bulkhead forward with passageway to starboard going forward.
- Forepeak is predominantly storage space. Manual sea toilet set into the joinery on the port side, discharges directly overboard.
Equipment
- Raymarine Ray49E DSC VHF
- Clock and barometer
- Double action manual bilge pump
- Sahara 300GPH auto electric bilge pump
- Fire blanket
- Fire extinguisher
- Horse shoe life buoy
- Warps
- Fenders
- Stainless steel Delta anchor with chain and warp (unused)
- Mainsail – Sanders Sails, 2007
- Genoa – Sanders Sails, 2003
- Jib – Sanders Sails, 2003
- Spinnaker – Sanders Sails, 2003
- Asymmetric spinnaker – 2007
- Spinnaker pole with canvas cover
- Pair of Anderson 46 self tailing primary cockpit sheet winches.
- Pair of Anderson 40 self tailing secondary cockpit sheet winches.
- Boom crutch with custom canvas storage bag
- Furled genoa cover
- Mainsail cover
- Cockpit cover
- Forehatch covers x 3 (recent one from 2020)
- Skylight covers x 2
- All over summer cover, new 2014 from SailTech
- Ships bronze bell
- Bunk and berth cushions
- Several ‘W7’ cushions
- Origo 1500 spirit stove
- Kettle
- Manual sea toilet
