Nick Smith Traditional Motor Launch for sale in Devon United Kingdom

Wooden Ships Comments on this 18′ Nick Smith Traditional Motor Launch

18’ varnished clinker motor launch built by Nick Smith of Salcombe, a skilled and experienced boat builder who has a reputation for building exquisite motor launches. This boat was completed in 2021 and first launched in the spring of 2022.

His designs are based on the traditional working boats of Salcombe with a straight stem, full bilges and an elegant sheer line.

Derived from the inshore fishing boats of Salcombe, this launch is an excellent sea boat with the full bilges giving good internal volume and excellent stability, while the full bow sections and high sheer line make them dry boats and very capable at sea. They are also superb river boats, slipping along at hull speed with next to no wash and turning heads in any setting.

Fitted with a Beta 14hp diesel engine which will give an estimated 6 knots cruising speed.

Commonly these boats are built with a small aft deck and foredeck, however this one is completely open giving more useable interior space. In the bows is a large V-shaped thwart which provides ample seating space but also a safe step for stepping over the bow when coming into a pontoon.

Used for only 2 seasons and wintered ashore under cover. She comes with an excellent road trailer, all over cover, warps, fenders etc and is ready for immediate use.

Further details available on the builders web site:

• Length: 17’11”
• Beam: 6’4”
• Draft: 16”
• Weight: 650kg

Clinker planked in Khaya mahogany, copper rivet fastened to steam bent oak timbers.

Oak stem and iroko keel with iroko transom. Brass rubbing band on the stem.

Grown oak bow and quarter knees fastened through with copper rivets.

Douglas Fir inwhales and mahogany capping rails. Bronze fairleads on the bow.

Iroko thwarts with sawn oak knees. 3 thwarts with a straight laid mahogany lower foredeck acting as a seat and also a step when stepping out over the bow onto a pontoon.

Slatted pine sole boards finished in grey paint.

Varnished mahogany engine box.

Transom hung iroko rudder with bronze hangings and oak tiller.

Beta Marine 14hp 2 cylinder diesel installed new in 2020.

Stainless steel shaft to a centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propeller. Gives approximately 6 knots cruising speed at an estimated 1 litre/hour.

Vetus single lever engine control.

20 litre stainless steel fuel tank under the fore deck with flexible rubber fuel hose.

12 volt battery in a varnished mahogany battery box in front of the engine.

12 volt auto electric bilge pump.

• Galvanised road trailer
• Fitted all over cover with supporting frame
• Beta Marine 14hp 2 cylinder diesel
• Varnished mahogany engine box
• 20l stainless steel fuel tank + fuel filler funnel and spill mat
• Vetus single lever engine control
• Auto electric bilge pump
• Portable manual bilge pump
• Rudder and tiller
• Painted sole boards
• Triangular cushion for forward thwart
• 4 x other thwart cushions
• 4 x fenders
• 4 x mooring warps
• Anchor with chain and warp
• Boat hook
• Deck brush
• 2 x paddles