An elegant classic wooden sailing yacht designed by Maurice Griffiths is for sale. Built in 1959 this yacht is a Tidewater 32’ 6" carvel timber sloop. 'Tidewater' was the first of her kind.
The vessel has a white hull and a cream-coloured and varnished timber superstructure. For her size she boasts excellent accommodation and space below.
The vessel is powered by a Petter PH2WKMR 15hp engine (original).
An elegant classic wooden sailing yacht designed by Maurice Griffiths is for sale. Built in 1959 this yacht is a Tidewater 32’ 6" carvel timber sloop. 'Tidewater' was the first of her kind.
The vessel has a white hull and a cream-coloured and varnished timber superstructure. For her size she boasts excellent accommodation and space below.
The vessel is powered by a Petter PH2WKMR 15hp engine (original). She has spacious accommodation with four berths in two cabins and a separate head.
'Tidewater' has full documentation and manuals.
The boat has an August 2022 survey which describes her as a sound example of a classic yacht, requiring some repair, but which will provide many years of happy sailing to come. She is not a project boat and her price reflects an allowance for any repair work necessary.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
“Tidewater” is a Tidewater 32’ carvel timber sloop. The vessel has a white hull and a cream-coloured and varnished timber superstructure. The vessel’s name “Tidewater” is displayed on the stern of the hull. The Official Number 300955 is shown on a carving plate in the saloon.
Principal approximate dimensions
Length overall 32’6” 9.1 m
Length waterline 26’6” 7.0 m
Beam 9’6” 2.7 m
Draft 3’6” 1.4 m
Displacement 14 tons 6,310 kg
Year of construction 1959
Builder Seacraft and Co Ltd, Leigh on Sea, Essex
Designed by Maurice Griffiths
Engine Petter PH2WKMR 15-hp, twin-cylinder marine diesel
Accommodation four berths in two cabins
HULL
The vessel has a hull of a carvel construction with a curved overhang bow and a short counter stern. Eighteen iroko planks have been riveted to oak frames/ribs and floor beams with copper boat nails. The nails have been riveted over their roves. Splines have been introduced between the planks above the waterline and stopper has been applied between the planks below the waterline. An oak deadwood long centre-keel and two iroko bilge keels are bolted to the hull. An iron keel ballast foot is at the base of the long centre-keel.
Forty-six frames/ribs per side are arranged at 8” spacing. This is generous for a vessel of this type and should provide the vessel with a good deal of strength and stiffness.
The hull is further stiffened by a transom knee, beam shelves, stringers, a breast hook, shelf clamps, a stem, a stem knee, bulkheads, semi-bulkheads and timber locker dividers. The small transom is of teak planking. Teak gunwales are screwed to the topsides.
The topsides are finished with white gloss paint varnish. The paint is a little worn and should be replaced.
Below the waterline, the hull has been painted with red antifouling paint. The antifouling is sound.
During the inspection, no dismantling of the hull took place, other than probing with a knife at 20cm intervals along each plank.
In general, the timbers of the hull are in good condition for their age.
SUPERSTRUCTURE
Superstructure (includes surveyor's advice)
The superstructure consists of a forward deck, an aft deck covering board, a cockpit sole, a doghouse, a coachroof and cockpit coamings of hardwood. Timber gunwales have been screwed to the edges of the deck.
The structure is stiffened by timber beams and timber hanging knees.
The hardwood sides of the doghouse, coachroof, gunwales and cockpit coamings are finished with cream-gloss paint and clear varnish. The paint and varnish is worn and should be replaced.
The decks, top of the doghouse and coachroof are made of plywood that have been sheathed in Cascover cloth. The Cascover cloth is worn and should be replaced.
Examination found that the forward deck has decayed and delaminated. The forward deck should be replaced.
KEEL and BALLAST (includes surveyor's observations)
An oak deadwood long centre-keel and two iroko bilge keels are bolted to the hull. An iron keel ballast foot is at the base of the long centre-keel.
The tops of the studs and their nuts were externally found to be in sound condition.
No significant movement was noted between the hull and the keel ballast block and bilge keels. Externally, the keels were found to be in good order.
BILGE and ACCESS to BILGE (including surveyor's comments)
Access to the bilge is made by lifting the cabin and cockpit sole boards and through the engine compartment.
All portable boards were lifted for inspection. The bilge is clean and dry.
STERN GEAR (including surveyor's comments)
The vessel is fitted with a two-bladed bronze propeller that is attached to a shaft running through a stern tube with a cutlass bearing.
A stern gland is fitted to the shaft inside the vessel.
The stern gear was found to be in good order.
RUDDER and STEERING GEAR
Rudder
The vessel’s rudder is keel-hung and is constructed of timber.
The rudder blade is in sound condition.
Steering Gear
The vessel is fitted with a timber tiller, which is in good order.
BULKHEADS (including surveyor's comments)
The hull is stiffened by two bulkheads and two semi-bulkheads of timber, as well as timber ribs, beams and floors.
The bulkheads, semi-bulkheads, ribs, beams and floors were found to be in sound condition.
ANODES and CATHODIC PROTECTION (surveyor's comments)
A sacrificial anode is bolted to the starboard side of the hull. It has slightly depleted, showing that it has been effective, but does not need to be replaced yet.
The anode is properly bonded to the propeller shaft and stern gland. I tested for electrical continuity between the anode and the propeller shaft and stern gland with a multimeter and found that there were good connections.
Four part depleted anodes are fastened to the rudder pintles.
No sign of electrolytic corrosion of the underwater fittings or stern gear was noted.
DECK FITTINGS (with surveyor's comments)
The following deck fittings are present on “Tidewater”:
- Bow and stern mooring cleats
- Jib winches
- Timber tender davits
- Timber grabrails on the coachroof
- Timber gunwales
- Forehatch
- Main hatch
- Pulpit
- Naval tube
- Chainplates
All the deck fittings were found to be in good order.
ENGINE (with surveyor's comments)
A Petter PH2WKMR 15-hp, twin-cylinder marine diesel engine is fitted to the yacht. It is the vessel's original equipment. The engine number is 8114 PH2W.
Externally, the engine was found to be in good condition. The engine and gearbox oils were found to be at the correct level and clean.
No dismantling of the engine took place and so the internal condition of the engine cannot be commented upon.
SEACOCKS, VALVES and SKIN FITTINGS (including surveyor's remarks)
The following skin fittings and seacocks were found below the waterline:
- Heads inlet and outlet;
- Galley sink outlet;
- Vanity basin outlet;
- Engine coolant inlet.
All the seacocks and skin fittings below the waterline were found to be in sound condition.
All the skin fittings were bright yellow when scraped, showing little corrosion had taken place.
A blanking plug is located near to the speed log paddlewheel in case of emergency.
The following skin fittings are located above the waterline and were found to be in good order:
- Bilge pump outlet;
- Engine exhaust outlet;
- Gas locker drain.
MAST, BOOM and SPARS (with surveyor's remarks)
A timber mast and a boom are fitted to the vessel.
The mast, boom, jumper struts and shroud spreaders were visually observed to head height only. The boom was found to be in good order but the mast is beginning to become soft due to water ingress.
The mast should be un-stepped. Varnish should be stripped from the mast and it should be allowed to dry out before being re-varnished. The mast should be replaced if found to be rotten once un-stepped.
MAST STEP and MAST SUPPORT (including surveyor's comments)
The mast is stepped by a spruce tabernacle and supported inside the vessel by a timber bulkhead and a timber post that runs down to the bilge above the centre long keel. The mast support system is sound.
RIGGING (standing & running) and CHAINPLATES (including surveyor's comments)
Chainplates The chainplates on “Tidewater” include:
- Substantial stem head fitting for the forestay;
- Stainless steel strap plates for the backstays;
- Six chainplates for the two cap shrouds and four lower shrouds.
The chainplates and the stem fitting are in good order and securely fastened to the hull.
Rigging - Standing
The following 6mm and 7mm 7x7 galvanised steel wire shrouds and stays with “Talurit” spliced terminals were present:
- Forestay;
- Backstays x 2;
- One jumper stay per side;
- Two lower stays per side;
- One cap shroud per side.
Bottlescrews are fitted to the bottom of each shroud. The bottle screws are secured with split pins.
The standing rigging was found to be in poor condition and should be replaced.
Rigging - Running
The following running rigging items were present:
- Genoa sheets x 2;
- Topping lift;
- Mainsheet;
- Kicking strap;
- Halyards.
The running rigging was found to be in serviceable condition but a little worn.
WINCHES
The vessel is fitted with two self-tailing genoa winches by Lewmar the cockpit coamings.
Both winches are in good order.
STANCHIONS and GUARDRAILS
A pushpit is bolted to the deck. It is in good condition. The yacht is not fitted with a pushpit, stanchions or guardrails.
SAILS
The sail wardrobe of “Tidewater” includes the following sails:
- Jib of the roller furling type with a UV sacrificial strip;
- Jib of the hanked-on type;
- Mainsail.
The sails are in serviceable but worn condition.
FRESH WATER TANK and SUPPLY
A plastic fresh water pump is located in the port side cockpit locker and is in good order. Cold water is manually pumped to the galley sink and vanity basin.
FUEL and GAS INSTALLATION (including surveyor's comments)Fuel Installation
A painted steel fuel tank is located in the starboard side cockpit locker and was found to be in good condition.
Gas Installation
A gimballed cooker with a two-burner hob, oven and a grill is located in the galley.
A Calor Gas bottle is located in the plywood lazerette gas locker in the cockpit. The gas system includes a length of copper pipe with a flexible hose at each end.
The gas system was found to be in good order.
INTERIOR (including surveyor's comments)
The yacht's interior is created by timber joinery and plywood dividers, which include a suspended floor. There is a twin-berth forecabin, a corridor heads compartment and a saloon.
The saloon has two settee berths, a chart table and an L-shaped galley with a sink and a stove.
The vessel’s interior was found to be in good condition.
HEADS (including surveyor's comments)
A sea toilet by Jabsco is located in the forecabin corridor compartment. The heads were tested and functioned well. The hoses are formed into sufficiently high anti-siphon loops.
GROUND TACKLE (including surveyor's comments)
A 7.5-kg 'Bruce' plough anchor is located in a cockpit locker shackled to chain and warp.
MISC. EQUIPMENTElectronic Gear
Present aboard is the following equipment:
- Tiller pilot by Raymarine in working order;
- VHF radio by Icom (not of the DSC type) in working order.
Safety Equipment
The following items were found aboard “Tidewater”:
- Horseshoe-shaped lifebuoy;
- Radar reflector on the mast;
- Harness clip-on eye in the cockpit;
- VHF radio in working order.
The VHF radio call sign is 2DFV3.
Navigation Lights
The following navigation lights are fitted to the yacht:
- Bow bi-colour light in working order;
- Stern light in working order;
- Steaming light in working order.
Navigation Equipment
The following navigation equipment is fitted to “Tidewater”:
- Steering compass by Silva in working order;
- Tiller pilot by Raymarine in working order.
Other Equipment
- Clock and barometer;
- Ensign;
- Fenders x 4;
- Winch handle.
The above-listed items of the vessel’s equipment were found to be in good and serviceable condition, where it could be tested and/or seen.
DESIGNER - MAURICE GRIFFITHS
Excerpt from SailBoat Data
After World War II, no one, in the English speaking world, did more to make the sport of Yachting available to those of modest means than Maurice Griffith. Before the wide availablity of less expensive production fiberglass yachts, his designs, many of which were published in 'Yachting Monthly' magazine, were conceived for the amateur builder using inexpensive materials, (most were for plywood contruction). His early sailing exploits led him to own a succession of small boats, then to write about them; First for 'Yacht Sales and Charters', and later as editor of 'Yachting Monthly'. He went on to write 29 books. A biography, 'The Magic of the Swatchways', recounts his activities in the defusing of mines during WWII, and for which he was awarded the George Medal. His last book, 'Sailing on a Modest Income', was published in 1996.
Excerpt from Eventide Owners' Club Page
Born in 1902, and spending much of his early life in Ipswich he gravitated to the water, like so many boys! His early sailing exploits led him to own a succession of small boats, then to write about them. After writing for 'Yacht Sales and Charters', he went on to become it's editor, then later Editor of Yachting Monthly. Though best remembered for his spell book 'The Magic of the Swatchways', with which he bewitched so many of us, he actually wrote some twenty titles, many still readable and apt today.
His latest 'Sailing on a Modest Income' was published as late as 1996.
He was awarded the George Medal for his work defusing mines during WW2, and was always reticent to discuss it. Reading his book, 'The Hidden Menace' and his biography, 'The Magician of the Swatchways' gave a little insight into this dangerous work, and also his unique and little known contribution to the liberation of Europe.
Post war he returned to writing and his place at the helm of Yachting Monthly. On his retirement he moved to West Mersea, Essex, overlooking the River Blackwater, latterly moving inland on the island to a modest bungalow. His study was full of boating memories and paper was always in his typewriter to reply to enquiring yachtsmen.
DisclaimerThe Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
